Spring Ball in Full Swing

We have moved into the last week of our non-traditional season and with the ODAC track season complete we will operate at close to full strength over the next four practices. We are proud of the four football players who captured individual championships on our track team last weekend. Damien Ward (High Jump), Leigh Bradley (Triple Jump), Julius Delbridge (200 meters) and Tyler Beiler (100 meters). I reminded our young kids that three of those four are kids who have really bought into the explosive training our strength and conditioning people push, and it is a great example of buying into a process and letting the product take care of itself.

I was able to see our baseball team celebrate a team championship last Sunday too, and I was reminded how fun those can be. I miss them and we will do the pushing of the process so we hopefully will get another generation of players the chance to experience them.

On a down note, Rudy Jackson underwent re-constructive knee surgery about two weeks ago and his status will be uncertain for the 2010 season. He is a good student who is on track to easily graduate in 2011 and at the Division III level potential Red-shirt issues involve some big and sometimes tough choices for athletes and their families.

I will be taking part in one of the live chats tonight with Asst. SID Tim Leister, go to http://www.bridgewatereagles.com/livechat3 if you want to follow at 6:30 pm or ask any questions.

Go Eagles,
Coach Clark

*(Click here to send questions or comments about the BC football program to Coach Clark.)

Spring Testing in the Books

We have just completed our spring testing and it is a high enough priority in our evaluation that we give up non-traditional practice days to do it. Top lifts were posted on our Facebook page and, in general, team strength is higher in the skill positions than it was a year ago, but behind in both lines of scrimmage. The maturity of the positions is shown by this data, and no question the forced maturity we talked about in the lines will have to take place throughout the spring and in the summer months.

There are only about 25% of kids testing at award level and our play-off teams of the past averaged about 40%. Self scouting is important and that is what this allows us to do. There is a lot of work to be done, and if you are a young linemen out there on either side of the ball, add strength and we will look at you in the fall.

~Coach Clark
*(Click here to send questions or comments about the BC football program to Coach Clark.)

Happy Easter

Have a blessed Easter weekend. I'm going to watch the "Wahoo’s" practice on Friday and will pick up a tip or two to help the Eagles I hope.

I posted a spot on former player Brain Stanfield who is finishing up his MBA and is currently a Captain in the US Army stationed at Fort Bragg N.C. I remember when Brian was activated as a reservist after 9-11 while a student athlete here at Bridgewater. He missed those early play-off runs serving, but we still sent him one of the first Championship rings.

If you hang around a place long enough and one of the paybacks is you get to see former players doing well as adults in life. I'll never be a millionaire coach at this level and you hustle to be a “thousandaire,” but some things are priceless and make it all worthwhile. Go Eagles.

~Coach Clark

*(Click here to send questions or comments about the BC football program to Coach Clark.)