The Coaches Office: Behind the Scenes of HS Football w/ Chuck Smith & David Buchanan: Season 1 Soundtrack

 

Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get- Dramatics

September- Earth, Wind & Fire

We're An American Band - Grand Funk

One Fine Morning- Lighthouse

Make Believe - Toto

Fight The Good Fight- Triumph

MNF Intro - 1970

Back Stabbers- O' Jays

Monster Mash- Bobby Pickett (Football Halloween Party version)

Strawberry Letter 23- Brothers Johnson

Long Way Home- Supertramp

Boogie Nights- Heatwave

You Know I Love You, Don't You- Howard Jones

Clocks- Coldplay

Podcast Music.... where does it come from?

 Every week we change up the opening music for our podcast. Chuck and Donald Mac have been kind enough to let me choose our music. 

For most all of us, we have strong memories that are connected to music. That certainly comes out for me each week when our Podcast gets cranked up. 

Early in the season, it's probably an old tune from a hot August or September Friday night in central KY.  October is a great month for football, and usually reminds me of homecomings from long ago. As a head football coach, I always enjoyed going to the Homecoming Dance and seeing our kids happy after a big win. In our Paris days, I had to hustle to the Homecoming Dance because Stephanie was in charge of it since we were both teaching there at the time. We both enjoyed those nights being with our kids. 

This past fall, one weekend was like a snapshot of heaven. My Dad's old players(Boyle County) invited me to their Class Reunion for 1970 and 1971. Here I am with Stephanie, sitting at a table with two of my heroes and their wives (Monty & Wanda Wilkinson, Ervin & Paula Vanover) from when I was 4 years old, listening to the old music that I love. A big reason I have loved that old music for 50 plus years, it reminds me of those wonderful people and great times. It was overwhelming and really, almost too good to be true.

Hanging out with Monty Wilkerson

November music... it goes to a whole other level. Until 1986, I had never experienced November football.

Now, our crosstown rivals, the Harrodsburg Pioneers, were still playing after the leaves fell from the trees,  across the street from our house in Green Acres. My Dad and I would walk up the street and watch Henry Parks, Nick Yeast, Venus Meaux, and those very good teams in blue and white. It was cold and they were awful good. 

As it turns out, my last game coaching the Titans at Alvis Johnson Field was a cold November playoff game. That last ballgame during pregame, I looked up where my Dad and I would stand and watch those games. Yes, missing him. But, even more, counting my blessings... and too many to count. 

JCB, Trosper, & Larry Harris, November of 2021
Our last game & win @ AJ

I can also remember (November of 1977) going to Shelby County to watch Chris Jones and the Danville Admirals, coached by our wonderful friend, Steele Harmon. That was probably the LAST game I ever saw a HS player wear a tear-away jersey. He was a GREAT player. 

But, my point... I WAS JEALOUS. I wanted to experience November football. It finally happened in 1986 at Mercer County when we won the first district and region championships in school history, reaching the state semifinals. After that, what a blessing the next 36 years to coach a bunch of teams that were good and could make a run in November. 

And, it always meant the most when we could go in as the district champion... because that is how it was in the old days, you had to win your district to even make it to November.  

Or, if went in as a 2nd or 3rd seed, and found yourself in the quarterfinals or even semifinals, those were good weeks of November football. 

Those old songs from November in the 70's sounded pretty good when we were finally playing football ourselves in the postseason.  

And, it's not just the really old songs.  Until the day I die, when I hear Clocks by Coldplay I will feel the cold wind blow, and see that snow flying across my face, just like it did the Friday after Thanksgiving in Fort Thomas, in November of 2003.  Sometimes, blowing snow, freezing cold wind and being unable to feel your face... is a good thing.

  

2003 Semifinals, Mason Co. at Highlands

The Last Snap: October 1983

My college football career amounted to being the scout team QB at Centre College. Yes, I was at the bottom of the depth chart. But, everyday, I got to play QB against the first string defense and to say I enjoyed every snap would be an understatement. Those were great days. 

 In the car today, on the radio, was the countdown of the Top 40 from this week in 1983. It sure brought back a bunch of memories to my last day of football. 

It was a Wednesday (October, 1983). I remember heading down that hill to the practice field. It was a sunny, cool day. Perfect. Everyday in class I would look forward to the afternoon and this was going to be another great day. 

Early in team defense that afternoon, throwing the ball to my left, one of our scout team lineman got caved into the outside of my right knee. It hurt bad. I struggled to put weight on it. And, it felt strange. But, after missing one play, I could walk on it. In those days it was sort of standard... if you can walk, you play. No one coerced me. I WANTED to play. I jumped back in the huddle and kept going. About 5 plays later, rolling to my right, I planted my weight on that right leg to throw the ball. I felt a big pop in my knee and hit the ground. At 18 years old, that was by far the worst pain I had ever experienced.

After that pop, the knee started burning. My teammate, Charlie Royse, tried to help me cope with the pain. I remember squeezing his hand inside of those lineman gloves (black, padded, open fingers). I can still see those gloves. I will always appreciate Charlie for being there and trying to help me. The sky seemed particularly sunny and blue. I guess when you're on your back, staring up into the October sky, it will seem that way. 

As it turned out, I had a torn ACL. And, it also turned out, that was my last play of football, ever.  When the day started, I had no idea I would be facing one of the most significant milestones in my life, ever. 

I don't have much in common with my Quarterback heroes growing up, Bart Starr and Fran Tarkenton. But, one thing I do have in common with both of them,  every player in Canton, and every HS kid that will take the field this Friday night, we all have our LAST SNAP. It may be an injury, graduation, or just a decision to hang up the cleats. It may be in practice, or a game, even the Super Bowl.  But, we all have our LAST SNAP.

As we head toward the end of October, alot of guys are facing their last snap over the next few weeks.   Be the best you can. Enjoy it. Feel great about your effort and investment that you give your teammates on the field, in the weightroom, and preparing each week. Be in the moment. Be where your feet are. It is a special, special time. 

When I scratch the inside of my right knee, I feel it on the outside. Very strange sensation. But, I am thankful for anything that reminds me of a bright, sunny, cool, perfect October day, playing football... even if it was the last one of all.

 

Alvis Johnson: It's a Hog, Not a Wildcat

The rest of the world calls it the “Wildcat.” At Mason County, we call it “Hog” and it’s variations are “Henry,” “Jack”, and “Venus”. One of the most popular trends in football right now is a form of the old fashioned single wing. No one runs the single wing today as well as Alvis Johnson’s teams did at Harrodsburg High School back in the 70s and 80s. Harrodsburg and Mercer County merged school systems in 2006. But, when my dad went to Mercer, and then when I played and coached at Mercer, the Harrodsburg “Hogs “ were our rival- and they were very good. Coach Johnson’s teams were unique on both sides of the ball. Offensively, it was the single wing. Defensively, it was an even front with man coverage and lot’s of blitzing. On our schedule, the two best teams were Boyle County and the Hogs. I still remember a lot about both of those teams from when I was a player. As good as the Hogs were, Coach Johnson made the biggest impression on me in how he treated me as a player and a coach. 

 Henry Parks was the best HS football player I had ever seen play the game until I came to Mason. And, I would still have to say, I have only seen two or three guys that might have been as good or better. The first time I saw him play he made an impression. I was on the sideline with my dad in 1975 when Mercer was playing at Harrodsburg. On the opening kickoff, the Mercer return team opens up a huge hole and our returner has probably 15-20 yards on anyone else on the field. I see this #25 coming across the field like a freight train. He didn’t tackle our ball carrier- he ran over him! 

 In high school, I played defensive end against the Hogs’ Single Wing. It felt like every play was an off-tackle play and half the town of Harrodsburg was coming to kick out the defensive end. My senior year of high school, 1982, it was a big deal when the Hogs put in some offense that required a QB. 

Excited to meet Henry Parks, on HIS field in NOVEMBER (2018), when he was our "Hog" 

 Jack Robertson was an outstanding offensive lineman at Harrodsburg High and then we coached together at Mercer. Later, Jack was back on the staff at Harrodsburg after I came to Mason. Jack has been a great resource for me as we have incorporated some of the single wing concepts in our offense. “Hog” is our base single wing set. “Henry” (Parks), “Venus” (Meaux- another great Harrodsburg player), and “Jack” (Robertson) are the variations that we also use. We have blended those ideas with our base offense and it has been very good for us. 

 Still, it was Coach Johnson’s defense that affected me the most. My senior year, we played the Hogs the week after we played Boyle. Although we had lost, our offense had enjoyed quite a bit of success moving the ball against a very good Rebel defense. Boyle played a 6-2 defense and did a great job with it. But, there were opportunities to throw the ball against that defense. Like most defenses in that time period, it was heavily geared toward stopping the run. As our QB, I knew there was really only one blitz that we had to be concerned with and one simple audible handled that the only time they ran it. 

 The Harrodsburg defense was completely different. They blitzed our passing game all night. The facemask of one of their linebacker’s was usually about 3 feet from my facemask before every snap and they were fast. Our offensive line made a good effort to pick up those blitzes but we were outmatched. That was the most beat up I ever got in a game. 

 Between the white lines, Coach Johnson made life tough. But, what stands out more to me was how he treated me. He was always very nice to me and complimentary in person and in the media. It seemed like he went out of his way to do that and I thought it was first class. We struggled my senior year of high school football and I was especially appreciative of the kind words. 

 The only time I got a bad vibe from Coach Johnson was in the fall of 1987. We were playing the Hogs in the opener for both teams. Coach Johnson and Coach French had one heck of a game of cat and mouse that summer hiding when we would each scrimmage. It felt like he stared a hole through me when I made that long walk down to what is now Alvis Johnson Field to scout their scrimmage. Supposedly one night a couple Harrodsburg coaches were sitting near 127, waiting for our bus, to follow us to our scrimmage. Coach French had us take the back roads out of town. We won that opener in overtime that season. The Hogs and Dogs had some great games. 

 The Saturday before Stephanie and I were married, we traveled to a school in western Kentucky that offered me their head coaching job. Before they interviewed me, they had already offered me the job, and it was from Coach Johnson’s recommendation. The single wing and that defense were impressive. But, Coach Johnson was always first class to me and I will remember that the most.

Mindset: Turning a Football Program Around

Down 17-0 @ half/ 24-12 with 5:41 to play; 27 yards rushing.... and WON

This time of year, most KY teams are getting into district play. In some of those districts, the teams at the top seem permanent. Those looking up at them can feel like they are facing insurmountable odds to get over the hump and beat those teams. And, the feeling is understandable. Beating those teams, some times, for the first time ever, is TOUGH!

When we got started at Mason County in 1996, there were three really good teams in our district... Russell, Newport & Erlanger Lloyd. Mason County had never beaten any of the three.  I definitely picked up on this mindset.... everyone else on our schedule, we can beat. Those three.... never and no way. 

Confidence comes from preparation and hard work. Without those pieces, the chances of success drop dramatically. 

But, in addition to the physical work, the proper mindset goes a long way in doing things that have never been done before. 

One day in the locker-room, I asked a scary question that no one wants to truthfully answer. "How many of you believe we can beat ______________ (Russell, Lloyd, Newport...fill in the blank)?"  They tried to look through the tops of their eye brows, but heads pointed down, and a few hands, slowly went up, because they thought that was the right thing to say.  A few were honest and never started to raise their hand. 

I said, "Ok forget that question. How many of you think we can win ONE play?"  They sat up and looked straight ahead. You could tell the wheels were spinning. Eventually, slowly, all hands up. All heads up. It was unanimous.... the answer was, YES!

 I told them, "Great. Don't even think about winning the GAME. That is too big for us. Just focus on winning, one play at a time.  After we win that play, get ready, and let's win the next play.  If we can keep stacking plays together that we win, the rest of it will take care of itself. "

The other phrase that I used with them often, I told them, "We are going to MAKE you do it right, over and over again. Some night, no matter how hard you try to screw it up, we are going to win ANYWAY!" 

I thought that perspective was important. I KNEW that even when we would finally win those big games, we were going to do some dumb stuff during the game. I wanted the thought to go through their mind, "Coach said we would screw up, but we are still going to win."

And, I wanted to give them some CONTROL of the situation. When you face teams that historically are much better than you, there can be a feeling of hopelessness that no matter what you do, you are going to lose. By saying that we are going to do what we do, over and over again, they now know there is a direct link between their effort/reps in practice everyday and winning on Friday nights. 

In some of those early, big wins, it would look like we were trying to throw the game. Our guys, at times, were overwhelmed by the moment and they lost their focus on doing what they were coached to do. But, eventually, the overwhelming amount of reps kick in and your guys begin to execute. 

Why do some programs turn around and others don't?  The ones that turn it around are stubborn and they keep doing what they do. They get good at what they do. Are adjustments and tweaks part of the process? Absolutely. We had several of those that paid off big time. But, the overall plan, the base offense, defense, etc. remain a strong foundation. 

In 1996, we lost to all three of those good teams. In 1997, we beat every one of them in tough, close, ballgames. There are no quick fixes (legal ones, within the rules). But, the proper mindset will get you on the right track. And, that mindset will pay off for them as adults over and over again because they will no longer view any task or problem as impossible. 

After we won those three games, our guys never doubted that they could win. Now, that brought on a whole other different set of issues.  But, I'll sure take that over the alternative. 

The right mindset can go a long way in helping anyone do something they have never done before, no matter how big the challenge. 

The LAST Third Down

Ernie, Stephanie & Trosper celebrating the 2011 victory over Tennessee from section 232

My father in law, Ernie Trosper,  has been a UK football and basketball fan his entire life. For football games, he spent almost 50 years of Saturdays in Section 232(before the renovation & now, Kroger Field) of Commonwealth Stadium. The 232 crowd could get pretty vocal when things were not going well.  He would get just as angry as anyone else. 

When my father in law got frustrated, he started making bets on 3rd down. He would always bet a quarter and he would bet that the CATS would not get a stop or they would not get a 1st down. Now, he was FOR the CATS and wanted them to win. But, when he would hit the wall, he started making those bets. He would get out his quarter and smack it down on the ledge right in front of his seat.  

This past Saturday turned out to be his last UK game, but we were watching it on TV. I am not sure how much he was aware of what was going on, but the best we could, we were trying to do normal things, and watch the UK football game together. The CATS were facing a 3rd & 7 on the Youngstown State 16. Sitting next to him, I said, "Coach, I will bet you a quarter they get it. " Sure enough, Will Levis hit Tayvion Robinson across the middle for a 1st down. I told him, "Coach, not only did I win the quarter, they almost scored!"

That turned out to be one of his last 3rd downs. He died just a few moments later. He has had a rough road but fought a great fight. My wife Stephanie made every 3rd down taking care of her Dad, and he knew that. He never bet a quarter against her. 

I am not sure how heaven works, but I can picture him and my mother in law eating Kettle Corn and watching the 2nd half from 232, Saturday afternoon. No more smacking quarters on the ledge. 

My Father In Law, 1st All American @ Union College... great shooter

Early Season Struggles... why?

Often times when the season starts, especially with a loss, the common question for everyone is what went wrong? I've been there too many times to count. 

Here are some common issues to early season problems:

1- Their legs are shot. During those hot August practices, we over did it, and our guys have not recovered. I hate to admit this, but I have cost our teams wins in the early part of the season because we didn't have our legs under us. And back in the old days, to make it worse, we said, "our guys are not in shape!" and we ran them some more!  Once you hit August, if your guys give a solid effort in practice, run to the ball full speed, block the sled full speed, run drill work full speed, etc. I am not sure how much "conditioning" you need after that. 

One week at KY All Star, as our coaches(from all over the state) were sitting around talking, comparing notes, we all realized we were killing our kids for those early season games and needed to do better.

It took me 5 years to figure out how to navigate the two bowl games on Saturdays at Mercer. The final plan...during the bowl weeks, Thursday was a stretch, walk through, lift, hydrate, video day. Friday was a normal "Thursday" practice... on script and fast... a simulated game. Once we went to this format, we played MUCH better in the bowl games. 

The Monday after bowl games, going into the Anderson game, was also a walk through, lift, hydrate, video day. Tuesday was normal. Wednesday was our first 6 am practice of the season which was BIG in helping us play better. First of all, 6 am in September is much cooler. Our practice was much more productive. Extreme heat leads to fatigue. Fatigue leads to injury. Plus, your guys get an extra 12 hours of recovery for their legs and bodies from the last contact practice of the week.  2019, we do NOT upset Anderson County or CAL without the Wednesday morning practices.  

2- Relationships. If a team gives a poor effort, or acts like they don't want to play, I question the relationships we have as coaches with our players. One time after a very uninspired performance, my staff said our guys are not tough and they are not in shape. Can we be tougher... sure! But, I would notice the other team played their tails off for their coaches.  As coaches, we can be quick to blame the kids.  Whenever things go wrong, my first look is in the mirror.  No coach WANTS to own a loss. But, you sure do grow more as a person, leader, and coach, if you hold yourself accountable before anyone else gets blamed for anything. 

3- Dehydrated.  We became more intentional about extra Gatorade after practice and making sure everyone got one about an hour and a half before game time.  

4- Special Teams Details. We start every practice, all season, with special teams. The first thing we do on July 10... snap, kick, punt, and catch punts. If I had a nickel for every time Seth Faulkner said on a Thursday or Friday, "You never know when one point will win or lose you a game," I would be a rich man.  Preseason, you have to evaluate your special teams daily, just like you would after a loss. 

Early season games are stressful because we are never sure what to expect. If we can protect our kids bodies, keep them hydrated, build relationships, and be meticulous with special teams details, our chances of success improve dramatically.