Are they worth a helicopter?

Friday morning, 10/17/14, Mason County Football Field

It turned out, it would be the last home football game I would coach at Mason County. We had senior night (10/17/14) coming up and our field was getting hammered all week with rain.

We had a GREAT turf guy in Chad Asbury. Our field was in very good shape, but the surface was thin from hosting football and soccer all season, and an all day band contest earlier in the fall.

With the amount of water on that field, the game was going to be a mess. And, we would do damage to the field going forward.

To remove some of the water and improve our playing surface, I decided we should bring in a helicopter to dry the field. For Maysville, Ky, this was a radical decision. And, I really appreciated my bosses supporting me in doing so.

We paid for the helicopter with fundraising money. It did not cost the taxpayers a dime. But, not everyone understood that. And, even some of those that did thought it was a waste of money. I was also criticized by those that thought our kids should be tougher, able to play in the mud, I was being soft, etc. It was  not a popular decision and I got a bunch of criticism over it.

We already had a ton of money invested in that field, much of it taxpayer money. I didn't want to do damage that could be avoided. I also wanted our kids to be able to play on the best surface possible, if there was a way to do so.  Often times for me, weather decisions are driven by finances. Mud significantly increases wear and tear on equipment and/or takes an incredible amount of valuable time for cleanup & repair. If I can avoid it, I do so because it saves money and benefits everyone in the athletic program.

The helicopter made a big difference in removing water from the surface. Our field was in much better shape because of the decision we made. Even after leaving Mason County and being at Mercer for 3 years, I still have people bring up the helicopter story.

Besides the reasons listed above, I wanted to send a message to our players. #1- You are important to me. Important enough for me to do something"crazy" like get a helicopter to dry the field. #2- What we do is important. We have much invested. This game coming up matters. Anything I can do, we can do, to help us win, we will do it.  #3- I wanted to communicate to people OUTSIDE of our program that our kids were very important to me. We had lost a tough game and played very poorly the week before. I wanted to make sure EVERYONE knew my kids were important to me and I still believed in them.

In fact, the more criticism that I got, the better. Every time the coach is willing to stick his neck out for his kids, that is a positive for the team.  The kids are smart enough to figure out, our coach is getting blasted for this, but he is doing it for us. If the coach is all in for the players, it encourages the players to be all in for the program and the team.

As the new week approaches, how can you be "radical" for your team?  What are steps you can take that communicate to your student-athletes.... "You are extremely important to me and what we do matters!"

Any time we can do more than everyone thinks we should or is required, it makes our team stronger. Over the years, the most successful people seem to be the ones that don't mind doing things that appear unusual, excessive, over the top, etc.  The easiest way to never be criticized.... never do anything or make a decision... especially something unconventional.

When Monday morning hits, go find a "helicopter" for your team. They are worth it.