Guys, sorry haven't had much time since last Friday to thank each and everyone of you who took the time out of your schedules ... be it work, vacation, relaxation, whatever, to come down here to Seguin for our Clinic last week.
I think we ended up with 91 folks attending, might be 92 or 93 once I really sit down and count everything, but I think there were only something like four or five "no-shows," and at least three of them I knew about (usually there's closer to a dozen). I think it's the largest crowd that has shown up for the event.
About a dozen of us were in Wimberley on Thursday night to eat and talk football. Our host, Bruce Collie, a former Super Bowl champion, owner of the Wimberley Brewing Co. and coach of the San Marcos Home School team, shared with some of us how he found Christ during his pro football career. It was a great story and I'll make you take a trip to his place to tell it. Just a great opportunity for fellowship and football!
I really wish I had put the Clinic on video as in past years, but it just didn't work out in terms of time and effort. I guess spending the previous week or so in hospitals, with doctors and a trip to the cath lab threw things for a bit of a jolt (by the way, everything came out clean in the tests; no damage ... probably more muskoskeletal than cardiac). Everybody did a great job and there was great interaction and discussion. If you were there and didn't learn something, you probably need to see my cardiologist, because you may be pretty close to dead.
Kade Kittley (Miami) and Matt Arrufat (Boerne Geneva) did a great job starting out the day; Kade with his 2-3 defense, and Matt with his offensive scheme and practical applications that he learned during his 13-1 season to the TAPPS D1 finals. Matt helped us out by filling in for Mark Coley who couldn't make it for health reasons.
We've tried the last year or two to talk about something other than x's and o's; I call it the "Alex's and Joe's," or building young men to be leaders as men, husbands and fathers, through football. Jim Faulk from FCA in San Antonio put me in touch with a legend in the San Antonio coaching fraternity -- Jim Rackley, from Converse Judson. Folks, that was one heck of a ride from when Jim started to his finish. I'd heard bits and pieces of this from television stories about his career (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmPMRnWpHqc).
He closed with a great story about their 2010 state semifinals. Judson took on Houston Northshore, who was rated #1 in D1 signings in the state and nation. Game was at Rice stadium and even the local San Antonio paper was writing off the Rockets. The team was in their locker room, and as was their practice, prayed and recited Phillipians 4:13. They headed off for the field, and were held up at the door by a game official as the opponent was taking the field through a shared tunnel.
As they were waiting, hearing the sound of cleats on the cement floor through the door, Coach Rackley was at the front, waiting for his team to be allowed to continue. He started hearing rustling behind him and as he turned around, every member of his team was on his knees, holding his teammates hands, praying "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."
The final score: Judson 28, Northshore 7. I was near tears hearing the story.
Cody Martin (Summit Christian) covered receiver drills and I saw folks at our workouts tonight using those ideas.
Jerry Burkhart (Richland Springs) talked about his defense drills ... and a lot more. Some have ragged on my good friend about things this spring, but he shared why his family and his faith are most important in his life.
Also, thanks to John Rabon and Kenny Coffman here at Lifegate for their help in the chalk-talk sessions on the spread offense and the kicking game.
As I mentioned, this is probably the last year the Clinic will be here in Seguin. My plans are still very much up in the air and what happens may determine whether I will be able to continue this gathering. I have had some discussion with others who would like to provide a venue for me to work this through in the future, and we'll see where that goes.
By the way, six-man coaching clinics are not a real profitable venture, and if I ever figure out what I really spend (in terms of time and such) on this, in a good year, I might be lucky to clear about 75c per hour. But it's really fun to spend a day with a group of solid, Christian gentlemen, talk football.
Thanks to all who came ... and to those who were kind enough to call or text me that night or the next day. I was as blessed to have you here for the day!
And you know, that ain't a bad way to spend a day.
