Colorado Coach Diary I Audio Days 1-20
I cannot believe we finally arrived in Colorado. This is the most difficult part of my life I will ever experience. Thankfully, my three boys Josh, Jake, and Jaiden are all doing well with the move from inner city Chicago.
I received a call from an assistant coach in Denver who removed himself from the Denver Cherry Creek High School coaching squad due to an incident with a girls track team.
Wow! The superintendent said that the Denver Post already reported that we were hiring Coach Stevens.
The team meeting with the parents is tonight. Everyone is anxious. Despite our team winning the Illinois state championship last year, there was no media surrounding practices or team meetings. We were unknown and just played football at Manion High School in inner city Chicago.
I awoke today amidst a sea of rain. These Colorado storms can be brutal; and near tornado weather occurred prompting the school district to delay classes two hours. I will get Josh to school and Jake to preschool.
We won the game Saturday night v a great Denver team and program. The game was fast and furious. I felt we had the better prepared players; but the ability of the opposition was perhaps a step above our team. We employed on defense a 3-5 set-up (3 down linemen and 5 linebackers).
The coaches meeting went well despite the nanny showing up a half hour late. I am at a crossroads with having to obtain a nanny for every step out of the house. Nannies have schedules also.
I awoke on Sunday morning after staying up late with the kids playing games last evening. They had tremendous fun and slept well.
School has been very busy with my English, phonics, and literature classes. I have full classes and have been asked to add more students and classes – though my schedule is stuffed this semester.
Life can be tumultuous teaching in high school modernly due to social media, parental, and administrative pressure. Working as a high school teacher, you become a mini-celebrity. As a coach, you become the icon if you win; and the toilet if you lose.
Today was a crazy day for myself. I am struggling to keep my diary continuing – always thinking of Janae wanting me to record our family for our future kids, grandkids, and other family members.
What a day! Practice was great because our team hit the blocking sleds with motivation and spirit. These guys want to win football games. I can handle a loss if our team gives 110%.
Love is the very last thought on my mind. I am struggling with my job, the kids, coaching, and impediments emotionally and physically. I have started to jog (a millennial sport).
I awoke the next morning early and arrived at a thought of playing with nine men on the line offensively for the upcoming game. Denver. I have received calls from Missy Bradford (the Denver Post reporter) asking questions about the team strength with the upcoming duel in Denver under the lights.
We prepared well with second string lineman and won the football game on a fumbled 2-point extra point attempt after the favored Denver school drove 80 yards in the last 3 minutes to get within a point of our school, Colorado Sports Academy.
On the very first life coach encounter I was quite pleased. Sandy Swift said I had a few issues to resolve. Grief is still highly present and can linger and destroy one’s life.
The kids all came down with red cheeks today; and all had runny nose, slight cough, low grade fever, and congestion. I obtained a pediatric appointment early and was not late for my English class. The pediatrician (Alison Maples DO) was compassionate, knowledgeable, and cute.
We experienced an intense coach’s meeting today after practice. We have a couple linebackers with grade issues. Thus, we are bringing in their parents and discussing the situation. Both players need to advance and improve their grades; or, they are not playing or practicing football (the rule).
We won the game Friday night on a late field goal kick that hit the upright and fell through. Our team was extraordinarily happy because we are undefeated at 4 games into the season and now ranked #3. The Denver Post with Missy Bradford covering us has highlighted our team players and coaching staff
The date with Missy Bradford went well. I talked to many other coaches and players who took note of Colorado Sports Academy High School’s football program this year. Many were asking about the pro and wishbone set on offense, the reverse on kickoff returns, and our blitz packages. The food was Mexic