Two weeks into the season we are excited to be 2-0 but the challenges only get bigger in that the Ferrum team we will play on Saturday is the most athletic and probably the best team we have faced thus far. Coming off of their last second loss to Emory and Henry and with two weeks to prepare for us it will be a game where our “A” game will be needed. Their wishbone offense is a tough game prep on a short week for us. The fact that Ferrum has only played one game (vs. E & H) makes the game planning a little easier and we can make it as much about us as them. In the final two games before conference plays start there are a checklist of questions we have to get answered. I hope the quality of our competition will harden us for the ODAC run that follows.
On the down side, today was a difficult day for us, in that we learned that David Arguad our captain and Senior starting TB will be lost for the season with a knee injury. Beyond the impact it has for us on the field (we are losing a multi-purpose TB who was a complete player) the real pain involved here is for David as a person. He was coming back as a fifth-year senior and brought a level of maturity we don't see often in Division III. As I told the kids, football is a great game but sometimes it matches life in that it is not fair and just plain sucks. It was not fair to David today, but he is also a great student who has been able to treat football for the bonus it should be. He will be a success story without it, but will be missed by BC on the field.
We hope that Teley Tate will continue to improve and Nate Jackson and Brad Jones both showed up in August prepared to play and will get their chance. It is a business where things can change quickly and the staff conversations we had two weeks ago about how we were going to keep our stable of running backs happy was a lot of wasted time minus David and Darrin McKenzie now.
Our JV group beat Shenandoah last Sunday 24-3. JV games, although they put pressure on our varsity game prep, are fun. Our kids play hard, everyone plays, they want to win, but nobody loses sleep over the score at the end. It's athletics at its’ purest I guess. But as coaches, it gives us a peek at the future and playmakers usually show up during these games. They are easy to find.
On a fan note, Peggy Erwin whose son played for us and she has been a loyal fan ever since does great photography work at our games and at Bridgewaterphotos.com players, parents of players, and fans have access to her work. Things are reasonable and a great way to capture a memory.
-Coach Clark
(Click HERE to send questions or comments about the BC football program to Coach Clark.)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Coach Clark: Post-Camp Update
The decision has been made to start Hagan Driskell vs. Averett University on Saturday. At this point we feel the arm of Hagan gives us the best that chance to keep our playmakers involved in the game. In our pre-season contest he was quicker and more decisive with the ball and although he will not ever be the type of QB who has a little bit of tailback in him, he has worked hard to improve foot speed and decision making. Vince Reese still brings a lot of intangibles to the table, but some shoulder soreness impacted his throwing as camp went on. He has game experience and that is always a good thing to have standing next to you on the bench. In the FUMA game Jacob Hutchinson with the third offensive line moved the ball with his unit on a defense that had 11 Division I players on it. He is the fastest of the bunch and we will continue to get him up to speed on the offense itself.We will have to take a pro approach with the offensive line. Between seven or eight guys we have to keep five spots covered. We took a hit when Matt Gammon was forced to quit football because of back problems last week. In the freshmen group, there is great potential and good athletes by o-line standards, but right now they need to develop that mental maturity to play hard every play and learn a complicated position. We enter this Saturday with fingers crossed and as the season progresses a couple in the young group will need to grow up.
In the last couple of days injury hit the skill groups with the exception of TE and FB. Darrin McKenzie will miss this game on Saturday and we are hoping the weekend rest pulls some others in this group off of the IR (Injured Reserve) list. In a game of match-ups we have some kids who make the first guy miss. Fast guys make good coaches. I was pleased with how hard and strong the young RBs ran in the pre-season game vs. FUMA.
On the defensive side our first group has played pretty consistent through most of camp. They are a tough group to keep blocked and if we secure the coverage aspects of defense I think the group will be a real challenge for our opponents to block. The Secondary is improved and experienced and although the loss of Damien Ward will impact depth, every player in the umbrella part of our defense has game experience.
Several freshmen in the offensive line will crack the two deep. On defense, Joel Francis has that chance in the defensive line but the majority of these kids’ contributions will be in the kicking game and in our JV and support structures. This is how it should be in good programs although I know it is frustrating for young and athletic kids to accept this sometime.
We will choose a placekicker this week, Tim Newman will punt and look for kids like Leigh Bradley, who make quality contributions in all phases of the kicking game, to stand out. We put our best players on these teams and our goal is to get them out of neutral. You cannot just exchange the ball with the kicking game; good teams gain an advantage with this 20% of the game.
Sunday we took our first day off since August 15th. I told our coaches to stay away from the office. Our next off day is in October so at this point both the coaches and players need a fresh face and voice to see and listen to.
We’re still undefeated in 2009 and the Averett team that we have studied on film at the end of 2008 is much better than the group that opened against us. It will be a good challenge and measuring stick for our group.
With the Dukes starting late we are the only Saturday show in town. It is a cheap quality ticket, come out and give us a chance. Go Eagles.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Pre-Camp Update
We are winding down our final pre-season preparation and look forward to getting the kids back on campus next weekend. Gave the coaches off last weekend and advised them to do something fun other than football which will consume us to some extent for the next four months. The ODAC coaches’ poll reflects the balance in the league. I think you had six of the seven coaches in a very confident state of mind at that event. Nobody is beaten in August in Division III, and that is how it should be.
I have stated throughout this off-season that just having people back does not necessarily make you better. For the most part I think our kids have bought into this and we will bring improved people back who are both bigger and stronger.
There are four areas we will need to improve in 2009 to position ourselves for a title run.
1. The production at the quarterback position must increase and play there, although it does not necessarily have to be fantastic, it has to be consistent. Both Vince and Hagan have worked better in the off-season and they will get the first shot. The first 7 to 10 days will be open competition between those two and some of the more athletic younger kids in the program. We have speed at the skill positions that needs to be fed somewhat. I doubt we will have big number (statistic) kids at the RB/WR/TE positions because we have excellent depth and a lot of people will play, but as a group we look for big production here.
2. Securing the offensive line is a must. Here we have a core group returning, but our numbers are razor thin. The seven returners in the program need to hold together and if there is a window for a young player to contribute it is here. We will need to move any quality freshman who wants a shot to play here to try to develop some two-deep depth. Coach Martiny will have to take a pro approach where kids play multiple positions. Without a secure line of scrimmage, speed does not show on the outside. The sack issue last year which by no means was solely an offensive line problem needs to be reduced. That involves all the offensive positions and schemes themselves.
3. On defense we need to secure the coverage aspect of our defensive package. Over 33% of the touchdowns scored on us last year were the result of confusion or misalignment. You have to make people earn points and this was a platter of free goods we need to take away. Our speed on defense will eventually make plays if we make an offensive unit work for it the hard way. We return three players (2 of whom had All-ODAC credentials) to this side of the ball from academic layoffs in 2008. If you play great defense and are sound in the kicking game, you will always have a chance to win in the fourth quarter.
4. We need to get the kicking game out of neutral. The past two years we have been right down the middle with this 20% of the game. Special teams start with the kickers and then it becomes about space and speed. If the kickers do their part, we will put our best athletes around them and try to gain an advantage in this phase of the game. The “Didn’t help you, didn’t hurt you” approach of the last two seasons must change.
I encourage our fans to come out to the Pigskin Preview on Saturday the 22nd. Details willbe on the website Monday. Also, our Sports Information office has done a great job on the Presto Sports Website and following the Eagles will be easier again in 2009. Plan to keep you in the loop.
Go BC,
Coach Clark
(Click HERE to send questions or comments about the BC football program to Coach Clark.)
I have stated throughout this off-season that just having people back does not necessarily make you better. For the most part I think our kids have bought into this and we will bring improved people back who are both bigger and stronger.
There are four areas we will need to improve in 2009 to position ourselves for a title run.
1. The production at the quarterback position must increase and play there, although it does not necessarily have to be fantastic, it has to be consistent. Both Vince and Hagan have worked better in the off-season and they will get the first shot. The first 7 to 10 days will be open competition between those two and some of the more athletic younger kids in the program. We have speed at the skill positions that needs to be fed somewhat. I doubt we will have big number (statistic) kids at the RB/WR/TE positions because we have excellent depth and a lot of people will play, but as a group we look for big production here.
2. Securing the offensive line is a must. Here we have a core group returning, but our numbers are razor thin. The seven returners in the program need to hold together and if there is a window for a young player to contribute it is here. We will need to move any quality freshman who wants a shot to play here to try to develop some two-deep depth. Coach Martiny will have to take a pro approach where kids play multiple positions. Without a secure line of scrimmage, speed does not show on the outside. The sack issue last year which by no means was solely an offensive line problem needs to be reduced. That involves all the offensive positions and schemes themselves.
3. On defense we need to secure the coverage aspect of our defensive package. Over 33% of the touchdowns scored on us last year were the result of confusion or misalignment. You have to make people earn points and this was a platter of free goods we need to take away. Our speed on defense will eventually make plays if we make an offensive unit work for it the hard way. We return three players (2 of whom had All-ODAC credentials) to this side of the ball from academic layoffs in 2008. If you play great defense and are sound in the kicking game, you will always have a chance to win in the fourth quarter.
4. We need to get the kicking game out of neutral. The past two years we have been right down the middle with this 20% of the game. Special teams start with the kickers and then it becomes about space and speed. If the kickers do their part, we will put our best athletes around them and try to gain an advantage in this phase of the game. The “Didn’t help you, didn’t hurt you” approach of the last two seasons must change.
I encourage our fans to come out to the Pigskin Preview on Saturday the 22nd. Details willbe on the website Monday. Also, our Sports Information office has done a great job on the Presto Sports Website and following the Eagles will be easier again in 2009. Plan to keep you in the loop.
Go BC,
Coach Clark
(Click HERE to send questions or comments about the BC football program to Coach Clark.)
Monday, July 13, 2009
BC recruit killed in auto accident
On Thursday Robbie Miller (the campus chaplain) and I made a difficult trip. We went to Page County H.S. to attend the memorial service for Casey Amos a recruited linemen who was scheduled to attend BC and play football for us in the fall. The previous Monday night he was killed in a single car accident close to his home in Page County. It is never good when a football coach gets a call at home at 11:15 pm, and that happened to me on that Monday evening. Throughout the service it was very apparent that Casey was a person of both strong faith and family and, in the times when life is not fair and just plain sucks, those are great trump cards to play.
I also think we can all use this as a great perspective keeper as we look to define the opportunities and blessings in our own lives we take for granted. Take a minute and say a prayer for his family. Although most of the huge crowd there will move on with their lives, the Amos family will have daily battles for some time to come.
Tell the people important to you that you love them and when you go to work or to work-out today remember the challenges that come are both an opportunity and gift that should not be taken for granted. In Casey Amos, we have an Eagle who now soars quite high.
Go BC,
Coach Clark
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Summer Update
I get a lot of questions about Travis Gantt, Julius Delbridge and Damien Ward - two who were All-Conference players in 2007 - but ineligible in 2008. The kids have finished Summer 1 work and paired with the work they did in the spring we anticipate them being in good standing for the fall. All are in good standing with school but they have to establish GPA standards that the department requires them to have to participate in sports.
The team had a great spring academically overall. Team GPA was 2.77 and we had 34 kids with better than a 3.0 GPA. We reduced student athletes with less than 2.0 to 12. That improves the mean score, too. Kids should be proud of that effort and a lot credit goes to Coach Healey in academic support. He goes the extra mile with these kids in some of the difficult classes.
The staff has been finalized for the fall of 2009 also. Eight of last year’s staff will return in the same capacity. In some of my restricted positions it is our gain that Adam Martiny, Troy Shaffer, and recently Ben Taylor are committed to return in ‘09. We get high value and experience in positions that most people have to fill with young guys that sometimes you have to spend a lot of time teaching. Tyler Corvin, who recently finished his Masters at Virginia Tech, will join us as an offensive assistant. He will fill the role Graduate Assistants fill at the Division I level and take the lead in a lot of the off the field and computer type work that is done to support the program. He will help on the offensive side of the ball and has special teams background which we plan on using.
As coaches we spend the summer doing the behind the scenes work to prepare for August camp. We had our final freshmen orientation on Friday and the admissions and financial aid people have done a great job in securing a 500+ freshmen class with elevated standards. More people want to come than are beds available but in recruiting we are always on the lookout for the late gem that might be out there. Our numbers are good, and retention is high from the spring, but I am going to withhold judgment until we find out how many “players” are on the team versus “members.” There is an important difference in this respect.
Go BC,
Coach Clark
The team had a great spring academically overall. Team GPA was 2.77 and we had 34 kids with better than a 3.0 GPA. We reduced student athletes with less than 2.0 to 12. That improves the mean score, too. Kids should be proud of that effort and a lot credit goes to Coach Healey in academic support. He goes the extra mile with these kids in some of the difficult classes.
The staff has been finalized for the fall of 2009 also. Eight of last year’s staff will return in the same capacity. In some of my restricted positions it is our gain that Adam Martiny, Troy Shaffer, and recently Ben Taylor are committed to return in ‘09. We get high value and experience in positions that most people have to fill with young guys that sometimes you have to spend a lot of time teaching. Tyler Corvin, who recently finished his Masters at Virginia Tech, will join us as an offensive assistant. He will fill the role Graduate Assistants fill at the Division I level and take the lead in a lot of the off the field and computer type work that is done to support the program. He will help on the offensive side of the ball and has special teams background which we plan on using.
As coaches we spend the summer doing the behind the scenes work to prepare for August camp. We had our final freshmen orientation on Friday and the admissions and financial aid people have done a great job in securing a 500+ freshmen class with elevated standards. More people want to come than are beds available but in recruiting we are always on the lookout for the late gem that might be out there. Our numbers are good, and retention is high from the spring, but I am going to withhold judgment until we find out how many “players” are on the team versus “members.” There is an important difference in this respect.
Go BC,
Coach Clark
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