FB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Fear the Poet]

I suppose I'll have to go to the Redlands-Whittier game to watch the game AND the Pop Warner shenanigans of those not playing.

it is pretty embarrasing but I've learned to make peace with it. 

[RFB]

The guys are fired up and ready to go. They look sharp. Hammer is preaching "every game is the biggest game of the year" The goal is conference championship, just putting up a fight is no longer acceptable. If the Poets can improve on the turnovers and mental mistakes, dare I say I believe they can compete for the title.

Wow, what a stirring message. Listen, if Coach Hammer ever runs out of inspiring things to say like "Every game is the biggest game of the year," then give him this list of Really Banal Coach Speak and he can string together a bunch of clichés in no particular order for a rousing speech to the Poets:

Turnovers will be the key.
The intangibles will be the key.
That's the key to the game.
You take what the defense gives you.
This is always a tough place to play.
We don't play these games on paper.
Both teams are playing at a high level.
These two teams don't like each other.
There's no love lost between these two teams.
When these two teams get together you can throw out their records.
It's gonna be a war out there.
It's going to be a battle of epic proportions.
This is a game for the ages.
This is a pivotal game for them.
This is their watershed game.
This game is for the bragging rights.
They match up well.
He gets the most out of his players.
There are no easy games in this league.
The season is a marathon - not a sprint.
On any given day any team is capable of beating another team.
They really have to take it to them.
They have to play with their ears pinned back.
They need to turn up the intensity.
They have to step up and make plays.
They have to come out of the locker room fired up.
They're loaded for bear.
They have to go out and take care of business.
They can't let the crowd faze them.
They have to get after it.
They have to rise to the occasion.
They have to leave everything on the field.
They have to stay hungry.
They can't look past these guys.
They can't take these guys lightly.
They have to avoid a big letdown.
They have to come together as a team.
They have to believe in themselves.
They have to play within themselves.
They have to play like they're capable of playing.
Josh Scurlock has a rifle for an arm.
They'll have to find a way to contain Josh Scurlock.
They'll have to find a way to limit what Josh Scurlock can do.
They can't expect to shut Josh Scurlock down completely.
They can't be intimidated.
They must control the tempo of the game.
They have to dictate the tempo.
They have to stick to their bread-and-butter offense.
They should stick to the fundamentals.
They have to eliminate the mental mistakes.
They have to dig deep.
They have to suck it up.
They have to crank it up.
They have to turn it up a notch.
They need to step up to the next level.
They have to take advantage of their opportunities.
They have to bend but not break.
They have to stretch their defense.
They have to shore up their defense.
They have to pull out all the stops.
They're playing for pride.
They should just go out there and have fun.

OxyBob

Ha!

[RFB]

Juice boxes at practice? No one ever brough me juice boxes... I feel so unloved.

We're talking 'bout practice here.. practice? We're talking about practice!

FTP - You are fortunate. Can't remember whether it was Hammer or his brother. Regardless, I played against one of them when I was a freshman. Their pedigree is tremendous. Wabash and their love and dedication to football is incredible. I was on the end of a spanking from them. The players there know about winning and about dedication to a program. When I heard Hammer was coming to coach the Poets several years ago, I knew they were going to turn around and become a solid team. The 'Bash hates losing and expects to win the NCAC every year. Expect the same out of Hammer once he builds the program to his specifications.
So yes, what coaches say is cliche`. Not a single coach ever really has anything insightful to say to his team when it comes to motivation. It's all about how they say it and the loyalty and passion they have already inspired in their players. After playing 'Bash and watching them play on other occasions, Coach Creighton could have talked to them about furry little puppies and they would have come out and kicked the other team's a$$. So, I expect Hammer to be inspiring the same love and passion in the Poets.
Enjoy Hammer and hopefully he is around for your son's 4 years.

Coach Hammer has impressed me from the first day I met him during recruiting. His younger and bigger brother(Blair) was the Def Line Coach, but left to go back home and is no longer coaching at Whittier. I spoke to their parents at Puget Sound and they said Blair is actually playing football on a semi pro team and looking for teaching job. I was dissapointed he left, considering Little Ricky is a DT. As it turns out, the Coach who replaced him is outstanding and LR loves him.

thank you

Whittier's problem as a program has been no coaching stability. I agree that if Coach Hammer is there for the long haul the program will take off. But if he has other aspirations Whittier will be the same, sorry program they have been for a long time.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

I think that we've forgotten:

Rules?  There aint no rules in a knife fight.

You were not hired for your brains, you hippopotamic land mass.

You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!

and

Hey, hey, hey. Don't be mean. We don't have to be mean because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

[oldgiant]

Don't forget Bear Bryant's "Dance with the one who brung you."

[oldgiant]

OxyBob - Daryell may have borrowed it from Bear, but it was Bear's quote.  I had the pleasure of living in Alabama during Bear's tenure, and he used those very words several times.

[snoop dawg]

OB....you missed your calling, you should have been a comedy writer.

Go Dawgs.

[D O.C.]

OB, that gives me an idea for a reality show. Talk to you about it Saturday.

snoopdawg, you free for a year in a couple of months? 

May the games this weekend be injury free...

[snoop dawg]

DO.C.          How did you know I am a frustrated actor?

[Pat Coleman]

Probably from the frequent costume changes.

... sorry, had to say it

[downtown48]

Ouch...

+k

[tigersports]

Not to flagellate the necrotic equine, but....

They got a great football PROgruhm over there
Coach [...] has done a great job over there
We gotta win the turnover battle
It'll come down to special teams
It'll come down to who wants it more
It'll come down to who makes the fewest mistakes
It'll come down to who's more ready
It'll E 2, France 1
We have to play to our strengths
We gotta take em one game at a time (C.Davis, Bull Durham)
They put their pants on one leg at a time just like us

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Plus k for "flagellate the necrotic equine . . . "

OB . . . I'm waiting for your flagellate/fellate wordplay.

[snoop dawg]

PC.....very funny, I always appreciate a ...good....sense of humor.  Your buddy, three dawgs pissin' on the wall.

[snoop dawg]

The blows delivered dont seem to be felt.....hopefully the same will hold true tomorrow.

   OB........Your computer skills ar unequaled.