Download pdf - USA Football Magazine Issue 7 Fall 2008

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contentscontentscontents issue 7 • Fall 2008Features

2 Kickoff with scott Hallenbeck

11 Meet a usa Football

Board Member: Deborah Yow

13 Meet a usa Football staffer: Kiley Bishop

DepartMents

Front Coverphotos by Christina Holmes

league enHanCeMent

oFFiCiating

HealtH & Fitness

14 Football’s Mental Weight room now open

15 Football Facts, stats & Figures

32 What Football taught Me Dr. randy pausch,

Carnegie Mellon university

4 “I Played” How america’s favorite sport helps us reach our potential By Danny Hotochin & Michael Coppinger

8 Commemorative Ball Tour usa Football tour reaches More than 30 states

10 World’s Best Coming to America High school-aged national teams spanning four

continents bound for Canton By Steve Alic

12 America’s Coach: Chuck Kyle ohio prep Football legend to lead america’s Best in 2009 By Danny Hotochin

28 Setting the Standard america’s largest youth organizations turn to usa Football By Michael Coppinger

22 player Health Food for the Head By Danny Hotochin

23 What Football Has taught My sons: Mary greisen by Michael Coppinger

24 a new page for Fundraising playbooks By Michael Coppinger

25 usa Football regional Managers

26 priceless protection By Dave McMahon, Special to USA Football

30 When to Call Holding & When to Hold off By Tony Michalek

CoaCHing

16 What if? By Danny Hotochin

17 Quick-Hitter grid Thoughts from

USA Football Members

18 the play-action Fake

19 Meet a usa Football Coaching Member: Charles “Kale” ane

20 Defensive line stunts By Tim Polzer

21 High school Coach aspirations?

By Danny Hotochin

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01 Contents.indd 1 8/20/08 3:42:48 PM

KickoffKickoffKickoff

usafootball.com

Chairman Jack kemp

Executive DirectorScott Hallenbeck

Usa footballeditorial staff

Managing Editor

Steve alic

Contributors:kiley biSHop,

micHael coppinger, Danny HotocHin, Dave mcmaHon,

tony micHalek, tim polzer

To contact USA Football: (703) 918-0007

traction media staff

PublisherruDy J. klancnik

Editorial Directortim polzer

Designerwilliam briDgefortH

Traction MediaEditorial Offices7115 Tartan Trl.

Garland, TX [email protected]

Editorial Department Phone (972) 896-8006

Custom Publishing (972) 898-8585

USA Football Magazine is published by Traction Media, LLC©. All rights reserved. Traction Media does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts or art. No part of this magazine may be reprinted or otherwise duplicated without the written permission of the editor.

Dear readers,

like a football sitting atop a tee, the 2008 season is ready to kick off. uSa football shares your anticipation for another autumn filled with the excitement of america’s favorite sport.

you’ve been busy preparing for the 2008 schedule since november and so have we. Since January, uSa football has conducted nearly 40 coaching Schools, more than three dozen State leadership forums, facilitated two dozen officiating clinics, and held our first two player academies to sharpen youngsters’ skills. The time to play is now.

in the following pages, see how uSa football advances a sport that captures our imagination and develops youngsters into young adults. read how to be part of the national “i played” football-story sharing forum at usafootball.com; get to know chuck kyle of cleveland St. ignatius High School, the head coach of america’s first Junior national team in football; see what one mother with two boys playing professional football says the game has taught her

sons. These are just some of the exciting stories to share with you – the dedicated people who power this great sport.

applications for our $500,000 equipment grant program await you at usafootball.com. based on merit and need, this program strengthened more than 400 high school and youth football programs in 2007. uSa football’s coaches Handbook and new coaching and skill-development DvDs are also available on our site. and we proudly offer $500,000 in volunteer background check subsidies for every youth football league in america in the fight against sexual predators; something that no other sport’s national governing body in the country is doing.

our non-profit office is driven by one mission – to work for you to ensure great football experiences for everyone connected to the sport. we exist to serve you – the players, parents, coaches, league commissioners, game officials, and volunteers who make football our favorite game.

you’re a toll-free phone call (1-877-5-football) or a few mouse clicks away from us at usafootball.com. also, our six regional managers (pg. 25) are hard at work near you – connect with them. our job is to serve you.

together, we’ll continue to move the chains for the good of the sport and for the good that it represents.

Have a tremendous season!

Sincerely,

Scott HallenbeckuSa football executive Director

2 USA Football Magazine

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“I Played”

W hile growing up in Houston, Texas, football started to become an integral chapter in Johnny Benjamin’s life. Now, the game has continued to play an important role in Benjamin’s life

– who is now Dr. Johnny Benjamin – as he claims his experience on the gridiron has helped him perform as an orthopedic surgeon.

“The biggest thing about football, especially being the quarterback and ultimately becoming an orthopedic surgeon, is that you have to

be confident in your abilities,” said Benjamin, who currently serves as the Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic

Surgery at Indian River Medical Center and Director of the Joint Implant Center and the Medical

Specialties Surgery Center in South Florida. Benjamin advanced in the sport to eventually

become a quarterback at Baylor University. “When you go on the field or go into the

operating room, you have to feel supremely confident that you can do what is necessary

and bring your team through.”Benjamin would later go on to earn

a Bachelor’s degree in Science at Baylor before acquiring his medical degree at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. In an effort to further his career, he completed a general surgery internship and received

his orthopedic surgery residency at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia and attained his

surgical spine fellowship at the Florida Spine Institute in Clearwater. Even after practicing as a doctor and being engulfed in the study of medicine for the past several

years, Benjamin, who now lives in Vero Beach, Fla., still enjoys reminiscing about playing youth football in Houston.

“I played youth football for as long as I can remember,” Benjamin said. “For me, it was a great opportunity to play a game I loved, be with my friends, and have a lot of fun. I really grew up my whole life playing football.”

Aside from how many times his team scored a touchdown or won a game, the youth football memories that Benjamin cherishes most are about the lessons he learned and the friendships he made.

“Those things were everything to me – teamwork and camaraderie are things that you really can’t explain to someone who’s never experienced it before,” Benjamin said. “When you play sports, especially a team sport like football, and everything’s on the line and you’re in the trenches together … you just can’t replicate that.”

Dr. Johnny Benjamin


Marcos MoralesMarcos Morales of Avondale, Ariz., owns

a property developmental corporation and a real estate company with offices in three states. A proud father of five and grandfather of four, Morales points to football principles for his success.

“Football taught me that if you let your guard down, there’s always someone who is willing to take your place. There’s always someone else vying for your job or your clients. When I was a starter in high school, I constantly had to compete for my position. If I didn’t show up for practice or if I was late, I might have lost that position.

“I had a great coach who has since passed. I remember him pulling me aside and saying, ‘You’re smaller than most, but you’re not afraid to get in there. Just keep that spirit up and you’ll go far.’ I don’t know if he meant far in football or life in general, but he helped me to focus and understand that as long as I give effort and I’m seriously committed to it, I could be great in football, my career, and in life.”

How America’s favorite sport helps us reach our potential BY DANNY HOTOCHIN & MICHAEL COPPINGER

GARY LAUTSBAUGH As an Air Force sergeant and Special Operations member, Gary Lautsbaugh has

served the United States for more than 30 years. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the Harrisburg, Pa.-area native compares the lessons learned through America’s favorite sport to some aspects of his military career.

“I’m so proud of my time with Special Operations because it’s a family, each one took care of its own – it’s exactly how you feel when you play football,” said Lautsbaugh. “Everything was for the unit or the mission, it was an accomplishment. If you failed, the whole mission failed. Like in football, if you do something not in the game plan, it’s going to cost you the game.”

An accomplished high school football player, Lautsbaugh took part in the Ohio-Pennsylvania “Big 33” all-star game, was a member of the Chambersburg (Pa.) Cardinals semi-pro team, and played in the Air Force’s intramural football leagues.

“Football is a great kick-start for life,” he adds, “because it builds character, both mentally and physically, and helps teach you how to become a strong team member.”

JAY HEDLEYJay Hedley of Arlington, Va., having earned his MBA

from Harvard Business School in 2001, now finds himself as the Senior Manager of Accenture, a Fortune Global 500 company. Accenture provides 94 of the Fortune Global 100 companies with management consulting, technology services and outsourcing. In his spare time, Hedley flies jets for the National Guard. Through all his success, Hedley credits the game of football for paving the way.

“I started playing football in ninth grade, in the small town of Weston, Conn.,” he said. “I excelled at the sport in high school and decided to give it a try in college.

“My college coach stressed that dealing with adversity on the football field applies to life and how if you’re playing hurt, well, there’s a correlation to that in the real word. When things aren’t necessarily going your way, do you still get up in the morning and put on your suit, which is your ‘uniform’ that day – or whatever it is you do – and get after it? There are just so many lessons to be learned on the football field that can’t be taught anywhere else.”

Photos by Christina holmes

USA Football’s nationally-televised “I Played” message features six extraordinary people from various walks of life. These are their “I Played” stories. Share yours at usafootball.com.

5

PEGGY EVANSPeggy Evans of Glen Mills, Pa., near

Philadelphia, has had great success in the business world running her own realty business.

After years of playing in “pick-up” football games as a youngster, Evans went on to excel in athletics as a student at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa. A decorated athlete, she ascended to become the 1985 NCAA Division III National Triple Jump Champion. Also part of the college’s basketball and volleyball programs, she is quick to point out that football was – and still is – her sporting passion.

A mother of two children, Evans eventually became a starting receiver for the Women’s Independent League’s Philadelphia Liberty Belles in their inaugural season and scored the team’s first touchdown.

“I grew up in Pittsburgh and you have to love football growing up there,” she said. “As a business owner, you always need to lead people and motivate them to do what their job entails, and by playing football, you learn that. Football is all about heart and passion and competitiveness and having fun.”

TOM KANEServing the Philadelphia Fire Department since 2003,

Tom Kane embodies the passion and characteristics fostered by football. He continues to play today as a member of the Philadelphia Blue Flames, a football team comprised of Philadelphia firefighters and police personnel that plays against those from other cities.

“Firefighters depend on each other in dangerous situations to save people’s property and often, their lives,” said Kane. “Football is a mere game, yes, but it teaches the fundamental qualities like teamwork and sacrifice that are directly tied to my vocation. It’s important for people to share what the game taught them.

“Making a last-minute decision, a last-second decision, being able to take direction and go with it … scenarios like these along with the aspect of teamwork, are some prominent similarities between playing football and being a fireman.

“In so many ways, football is the greatest game on earth.”


Walt JusticeProfessor of Health and Exercise Science, San Diego, Calif.

My most compelling story about football begins with my son, Dylan. During my tenure as a coach, Dylan really never was excited about football. The same year I stopped coaching college football was the year he says to me, ‘Dad, I want to play Pop Warner football.’ I volunteered to head coach his team.

To me, this was the ultimate coaching experience. To be with my son and watch him grow and teach everyone about the fundamentals of football. We went 27-10 in three years and the greatest compliment I ever got as a coach occurred over and over. ‘Coach you love those boys and this game.’ Yes, I do!

Jack PlunkettTeacher/Coach, Jenkintown, Pa.

My professional career has been as a teacher and football coach, as I have coached at Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia for the past 34 years and have been an assistant and head coach during that time. Coaching football is the best job in the world. Players can learn so much from the effort that they put into the game. They learn technique and strategy of positions, teamwork and respect for teammates, opponents and officials. They also get to challenge themselves and see what they are made of. These skills can help them compete on the field, in the classroom and in life. There is no greater way for a young person to invest their time than to play the game of football.

USA FootbAll’S “I PlAyed” televISIon meSSAge FIrSt AIred nAtIonAlly on AUgUSt 3 during nbC’s telecast of the Pro Football Hall of Fame game between the Indianapolis Colts and Washington redskins. Since the minutes following that 30-second message, hundreds of people have shared “I Played” football stories at usafootball.com. below are excerpts of some of those submissions:

William SmithPilot, Northridge, Calif.

From those lessons, I was fortunate to go to the Air Force Academy and be a military pilot and leader, culminating my career on active duty flying with some of the best test pilots in the world at Edwards Air Force Base. I’m currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserves and am an international pilot for FedEx.

Life comes at you every day, but whatever the challenges, I can handle any of them because of those lessons that sports and especially football taught me – always play to the whistle and play your heart out until the clock reads zero – that’s what life is all about!

Dr. Mark A. ColicchioVeterinarian, Spanish Fort, Ala.

Without a doubt my head coach Marty Apostolico was an immense influence on my life. His credibility and faith won my respect as a player. He was a true role model. Football teaches us life-lessons in a microcosm, working together for one goal. Giving whatever it takes to help the team.

Chris Pulley Recreational Specialist/Athletics, Woodbridge, Va.

Football meant many things to me as a kid growing up in Northern Virginia. The smell of freshly cut grass and field chalk during the dog days of August. The glisten of the morning dew as the sun gently kissed the field on a chilly Saturday morning in September. The aroma of chimney smoke soaked in the crisp autumn air in October and November. I loved all these things about football.

Gregory Echt Physician, Dallas, TexasPlaying high school football was as much fun as about anything I have done. We worked

hard, learned about discipline and teamwork and overcoming adversity. The accomplishments of those days are still important to me. And the lessons I learned helped me in my career path to becoming a doctor. 7

F rom April through August, USA Football’s Commemorative Ball Tour traveled across America, reaching football destinations and enthusiasts in more than 30 states. The Commemorative Ball is a symbol of the sport’s integral values of teamwork, responsibility and leadership and personifies how the game and country

are melded together with its stars-and-stripes on leather. The ball’s national tour made stops at several of USA Football’s 40 coaching schools and officiating schools, player academies, high school all-star games, NFL training camps, the NFL Draft, college campuses, Pro Football Hall of Fame Weekend, ArenaBowl XXII and dozens of grassroots football events. Pictured here are some of the stops featured on USA Football’s Commemorative Ball Tour. For more Commemorative Ball Tour photos, visit usafootball.com/comm_ball_tour.

Commemorative H Ball Tour H

Touches Down!are melded together with its stars-and-stripes on leather. The ball’s national tour made stops at several of USA Football’s 40 coaching schools and officiating schools, player academies, high school all-star games, NFL training camps, the NFL Draft, college campuses, Pro Football Hall of Fame Weekend, ArenaBowl XXII and dozens of grassroots football events. Pictured here are

Former Green Bay Packers linebacker Brian Noble, now co-owner of the af2 Green Bay Blizzard, takes a timeout with the ball in Boise, Idaho.

USA Football & the National Recreation and Park Association team to strengthen the game for youngsters like these in the shadow of University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

The St. Louis Komen Race for the Cure is among the country’s largest and most successful events conducted to fight breast cancer.

USA Football Tour Reaches More Than 30 States


08 Ball Tour.indd 8 8/22/08 5:16:16 PM

NFL Commissioner and USA Football Board Member Roger Goodell with USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck at the NFL Draft.

Army soldiers from Fort Bragg, N.C. visit Carolina Panthers training camp.

ESPN’s “Pardon The Interruption” hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon.

Silver Star and Purple Heart Recipient Sgt. Tommie Rieman and Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive guard Joe DeLamielleure in Canton, Ohio.

USA Football Central Regional Manager Scott LeVeque and Minnesota Vikings Linebacker Chad Greenway at USA Football’s Minnesota Coaching School, presented by the Vikings.

Chicago Bears rookies (back row) help run the Bears’ summer football camp.

The top six selections in the 2008 NFL Draft (left to right): Glenn Dorsey, Chris Long, Jake Long, Matt Ryan, Darren McFadden, and Vernon Gholston.

USA Football Event Organizer in New Orleans Leroy Hollins and Les Miles, head coach of the 2007 National Champion LSU Tigers.

The top six selections in the 2008 NFL Draft (left The top six selections in the 2008 NFL Draft (left The top six selections in the 2008 NFL Draft (left to right): Glenn Dorsey, Chris Long, Jake Long, Matt to right): Glenn Dorsey, Chris Long, Jake Long, Matt to right): Glenn Dorsey, Chris Long, Jake Long, Matt Ryan, Darren McFadden, and Vernon Gholston.Ryan, Darren McFadden, and Vernon Gholston.Ryan, Darren McFadden, and Vernon Gholston.

The 2008 Indiana North High School All-Star Team, prior to Indiana’s North-South All-Star Game.

9

to AmericAto AmericAto AmericAWorld’s Best coming

AmericA.The word is oxygen for people the world

over who seek undeniable rights. This is how we got here; calling one of 50 states our home. And people continue to come, pursuing dreams through hard work.

Dreams will bring the world’s best teenage football players to Canton, Ohio, next summer. High school-aged national football teams from eight countries spanning four continents will compete in the 2009 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship.

Fifty-two countries have had national federations dedicated solely to football for as many as 70 years. As these national federations grew, IFAF, the sport’s international federation, was created in 1998 near Paris, France, to organize and further develop the game globally.

All Junior World Championship games will be played in Canton’s historic Fawcett Stadium, home of the NFL’s annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Between June 27 and July 5, 2009, each team will play three games in the city where the NFL was born in 1920.

“On behalf of IFAF and the more than 50 countries on five continents that love and play organized football, we are ecstatic to have the world’s best compete in the world’s greatest football setting,” said IFAF President and Sweden native Tommy

Wiking. “It is known throughout the world that Canton, Ohio, is the crib of the game. It is most fitting that football’s first international competition of high school-aged players will be held in Fawcett Stadium next summer.”

As the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, USA Football will assemble Team USA – America’s first national team in the sport composed of

teenagers. All Team USA players will be members of the country’s 2009 high school graduating class. Chuck Kyle, the legendary Cleveland St. Ignatius head football coach, will lead America’s team (see page 12).

“USA Football shares in the excitement and great anticipation for this historic world championship played in the shadow of the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” said USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck. “For every Team USA member, playing in this atmosphere against the

world’s best competition will be an incredible experience.”

Through cooperation with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), all 50 state high school athletic associations and the District of Columbia are invited to nominate at least 10 players for Team USA’s roster. This will serve as a primary talent pool from which Coach Kyle and his

staff will select America’s roster next spring.

The U.S. earns an automatic bid as the tournament’s host and will be seeded No. 2. Canada earns the No. 1 seed due to the long-time strength of its junior national team program and its recent dominance in international exhibitions.

National football teams from Germany, Sweden and France, respectively, recently earned the opportunity to compete in Canton next summer. The three nations earned respective first-, second- and third-place

finishes in the eight-nation European Junior Championship held in Sevilla, Spain, this past July. The European Federation of American Football (EFAF) is to confirm which teams will represent the continent in Canton by September 15.

The tournament’s remaining open seats will be claimed by February 2009 in the Americas, Asia and Oceania.

Stay tuned to usafootball.com for upcoming details about Team USA and the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship.

The 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship’s logo is composed of primary colors blue, red and yellow. The entire spectrum can be made from these three colors, representing the multi-national composition of next summer’s tournament field of eight countries.

High school-aged national teams spanning four continents bound for CantonBy Steve Alic


Meet a USA Football board MemberMeet a USA Football board MemberMeet a USA Football board Member

Helping steer USA Football in its role as the sport’s national governing body on grassroots and amateur levels is an 18-member Board of Directors spanning all levels of football. This issue of USA Football Magazine features Deborah Yow,

director of athletics at the University of Maryland. Among the most decorated professionals in her field, Dr. Yow was recently named president

of the Division I-A Athletic Directors’ Association. In this position, she serves as the voice of Division I-A athletic directors across the country, working closely with the NCAA on topics of mutual interest. Dr. Yow is the first woman to serve in this leadership role.

How did you gain a love for football? I gained a love for football through my father primarily and attended my first college

game at age six. My brother signed a scholarship with Clemson in the late ’60s after an outstanding high school career in North Carolina. I have been around the game my entire life and appreciate its complexities.What do you enjoy most about being a USA Football Board Member?

I appreciate the emphasis by the entire board on the character-building aspects of the game, especially at the grassroots level. From my experience, our board is 100 percent committed to protecting the game’s integrity at all levels.In your tenure as a board member, where have you seen USA Football make its greatest advancements?

We cannot over-emphasize the need for and value of training coaches for our youth programs. Other important initiatives include safety and background checks for coaches (Editor’s Note: read more about USA Football’s background check subsidy program on pages 26). What does football mean to the University of Maryland?

Football, along with men’s basketball, is the face of Maryland athletics. We have 27 varsity teams and 700 student athletes, yet the best known are in our two revenue sports (although women’s basketball is growing by leaps and bounds). The joy of our fans after a hard-fought victory is a reminder of the power of sports to draw people to the campus —

Deborah A. Yow

USA FootbAll’S boArD oF DirectorS

University of Maryland

Ray AndersonExec. V.P., Football Operations

National Football League

Jason BelserSenior Regional DirectorNFL Players Association

Joe BrowneExec. V.P., Communications

& Public AffairsNational Football League

Jon ButlerExecutive Director

Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.

Tom CovePresident & CEO

SGMA International

Carl Francis Director of Communications

NFL Players Association

Alexia GallagherDirector, NFL Youth Football Dept.


Bob GardnerChief Operating Officer

National Federation of State High School Associations

Roger GoodellCommissioner


Scott HallenbeckExecutive Director

USA Football

Jack KempChairman, USA Football

Former U.S. Congressman

Mark Meana Chairman

Fairfax County (Va.) Youth Football League

Art MonkPro Football Hall of Fame Wide ReceiverPresident, Alliant Merchant Services

Keith RuckerHead Football Coach

Cincinnati Mt. Healthy H.S.

Frank SanchezVice President

Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Grant TeaffExecutive DirectorAmerican Football

Coaches Association

Deborah YowAthletic Director

University of Maryland

both alums and the general public. That makes the reputations of our football student athletes even more important, as junior high school and high school players are watching everything our players do.You are a former basketball coach.How has your coaching experience helped you in your work as a high-profile athletic director?

There is no replacement for having coached at the collegiate level. I’ve been in the trenches, so I know first-hand the heartache of an upset loss, the exhilaration of an overtime win, the patience required to effectively recruit and then, teach, college-aged student athletes.

My initial leadership and organizational skills were learned as a coach.

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11 Board.indd 11 8/22/08 5:05:37 PM

Until June, Cleveland St. Ignatius High School head coach

Chuck Kyle’s primary source of concern was Ohio’s finest prep programs. Now, after being chosen by USA Football to be the head coach of America’s first junior national team for the 2009 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship, Kyle has to prepare for the world’s best national teams.

Announced as Team USA’s head coach in mid July, Kyle, 57, is no stranger to success, owning a career record of 248-56-1 (.816) and an Ohio state playoff mark of 49-11 (.817). Coinciding with those victories, he has led the St. Ignatius Wildcats to nine Division I state titles, the most of any Ohio school since the employment of the state’s playoff format in 1972. Under the direction of Kyle – who also teaches English and a senior elective course on the literary works of Chaucer and Shakespeare – the Wildcats have advanced to Ohio’s state playoffs in each of the past 20 seasons, the state’s longest active postseason streak.

“Chuck Kyle personifies everything we were looking for in Team USA’s head coach,” said

USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck. “Beyond his remarkable record and litany of accolades, he is a teacher in the classroom and on the field. For 25 years and running, his program melds class with excellence. Speaking as a football fan, it will be exciting to watch Coach and his staff lead our country’s top high school-aged players against top teams from four continents.”

“This is an historic, pioneering team, and I am excited to be a part of it,” said Kyle who has guided his Wildcats to several “National

Championship” honors (USA Today 1989, ’93; National Prep Poll 1993, ’95). “I’m proud to represent the United States and I’ve quickly learned how strong football is beyond our borders.

“We have a challenge ahead of us, and I look forward to getting our team ready to play in Canton next summer.”

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, who starred at Ohio State in college, is among the approximately one dozen current or former NFL players taught

and coached by Kyle at the all-boys Cleveland high school.

“The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about Coach Kyle is just how passionate he is and how much he cared for all his players,” Gonzalez said. “He is the same way as a man as he is as a coach – and that’s a great one.”

After the news of Kyle’s hiring broke out, some

of the game’s top representatives couldn’t help but to endorse one of the

nation’s most accomplished high school football coaches.

“Chuck Kyle is one of the finest coaches at any level in our country,” said Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel. “The players’ experience with Coach Kyle will be very rewarding, and he will be a great ambassador in connecting with coaches and players from other nations.”

“He’s an excellent teacher. He’s a great motivator of men – a builder of men,” said College Football Hall of Fame Coach and

ESPN College Football Studio Analyst Lou Holtz. “USA

Football could not have made a better

selection than Coach Kyle. There are so many great high school coaches, but he certainly is in a class by himself.”

America’s Coach: Chuck KyleOhio Prep Football Legend to Lead America’s Best in 2009By Danny HotocHin

USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck with Team USA Coach Chuck Kyle.

“He’s an excellent teacher. He’s a great motivator of men – a builder of men.”

– Lou HoltzCollege Football Hall of Fame Coach

I’ve quickly learned how strong football is beyond our borders.

“We have a challenge ahead of us, and I look forward to getting our team ready to play in Canton next summer.”

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, who starred at Ohio State in college, is among the approximately one dozen current or former NFL players taught

After the news of Kyle’s hiring broke out, some

of the game’s top representatives couldn’t help but to endorse one of the

with coaches and players from other nations.”

“He’s an excellent teacher. He’s a great motivator of men – a builder of men,” said College Football Hall of Fame Coach and

ESPN College Football Studio Analyst Lou Holtz. “USA

Football could not have made a better

selection than Coach Kyle. There are so many great high school coaches, but he certainly is in a class by himself.”

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12 USA Coach.indd 12 8/20/08 10:24:01 AM

Meet a USA Football stafferMeet a USA Football stafferMeet a USA Football staffer

What interested you in joining USA Football’s staff?

The opportunity to help serve young athletes. I have played, coached and administrated within youth athletics for years. I majored in Sport Management in college and I have a great passion for athletics in general.

What are your duties as a USA Football Member Services Coordinator?

I administer to our members and the thousands of football coaches, game officials and administrators who sign up for USA Football events, such as coaching or officiating schools – this involves phone calls and emailing. I really enjoy the one-on-one service. It’s rewarding to help someone solve an issue. I also work with the “help desk” and handle other customer-related responsibilitites.

What is your favorite aspect of the job?Knowing that I am making a difference

for football’s betterment. Also, knowing that people appreciate what USA Football and the member services department does

to help enhance the players’, coaches’ and officials’ experiences within grassroots football. It’s also exciting to build on the trust that our members have in us – that’s a tremendous feeling.

What is your favorite sport besides football?

Golf! I played for four years at James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) and was the Colonial Athletic Association individual champion in 2005.

What does football mean to you?Family, tradition, tailgating and the

world’s best Sunday afternoon activity (when it’s too cold to play golf).

What is the most rewarding part of the job?

When I am just about to get off the phone with someone and they whole-heartedly say “thank you” for taking the

time to explain something to them.

What are your goals for the next 12 months?

To spread USA Football’s mission of further strengthening the sport, especially as it pertains to coaching education. Great coaches mean great experiences for the kids and it’s our job to make sure that a coach has what he or she needs in order to perform at his or her best. Also, to create a smaller margin

between privileged and disadvantaged leagues. To accomplish these two goals would be great.

When you email or call USA Football for help to navigate your usafootball.com resources, your question will be fielded by Kiley Bishop or one of her colleagues in USA Football’s member services department. Join the USA Football family at usafootball.com/register and put our staff to work for you and your team.

Kiley Bishop Coordinator, member serviCes



mission of further strengthening the sport, especially as it pertains to coaching education. Great coaches mean great experiences for the kids and it’s our job to make sure that a coach has what he or she needs in order to perform at his or her best. Also, to create a smaller margin



mission of further strengthening the sport, especially as it pertains to coaching education. Great coaches mean great experiences for the kids and it’s our job to make sure that a coach has what he or she needs in order to perform at his or her best. Also, to create a smaller margin

Although it’s only September, USA Football’s Officiating Director Tony Michalek and Officiating Consultant Bill LeMonnier have already had a full year of big-game assignments.

Michalek, an NFL umpire since 2002, was selected to work Super Bowl XLII in February while LeMonnier was tabbed by college football supervisors to referee the 74th Orange Bowl in January.

LeMonnier, who has served as a Big Ten referee for 15 years and has called Arena Football League games since 2000, worked ArenaBowl XXII on July 27 in New Orleans. The game marked

LeMonnier’s second AFL championship assignment in six years.

Since 2006, Michalek and LeMonnier have made more than 70 USA Football officiating presentations to reach 8,000 of the country’s 55,000 youth, high school and college football officials, serving approximately 4.5 million players. The tandem has also written and produced

usafootball.com officiating courses which are open to the non-profit’s officiating members. Members can also view video

examples of penalties and techniques narrated by Michalek or LeMonnier through another special member feature

at usafootball.com called “Expert Analysis” to further develop their officiating career path.

“This is an exceptional and exciting year for our officiating department’s leadership,” said USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck. “The high-profile games that Tony and Bill are assigned underscores how officiating members

receive guidance from the best in the field. We’re proud of them and we’re glad that they’re part of our team.”

“Officially” speaking, these guys are good

Tony Michalek Bill LeMonnier

13

13 Staffer.indd 13 8/20/08 11:28:47 AM

All-time great running backs Jim Brown and Emmitt Smith had world-class linemen like Gene Hickerson and Erik Williams to help them stomp through opposing defenses.

USA Football’s non-profit staff may not pancake nosetackles for you, but we will help you excel as a coach, official, league administrator and player. And we’ve found another way to do just that.

USA Football’s webstore is a new wrinkle to the re-vamped usafootball.com; consider it an equipment shed for your brain.

USA Football’s Coaches Handbook, with more than 1,000 copies sold since late June, is available at usafootball.com along with 11 new and exclusive USA Football DVDs, produced in partnership with American Football Monthly.

The Coaches Handbook ($19.99) spans 11 chapters of full-color diagrams and screen shots covering practice organization, team

warm-up, position drills, group drills, tackling drills and Responsible Coaching principles.

USA Football’s DVD library covers the following topics:Coaching Football A to Z•Practice Planning•Offensive Football: A Great Way to Start•Spread Option: Passing and Screen Game•4-4 Defense•5-3 Defense•Fundamentals and Drills•Officiating Training•Get the most out of USA Football at usafootball.com.

Football’s MentalWeight Room now open

14 Web Store.indd 14 8/20/08 10:24:48 AM

Football facts, Football facts, Football facts, stats & figuresstats & figuresstats & figures

23players

3coaches

Participation

Parents

Source: USA Football 2007 Research

Source: 2007 NAYS Survey

American youngsters aged 6-14 who play organized youth tackle football:

“Does your child’s league provide training programs for coaches?”

“What’s the main reason you want your child to play sports?”

“At what age should playing time be given based on skill level?”

America’s typical youth football team in 2007 was composed of the following:

Youth Tackle Football Coaches Youth Tackle Football Teams

2006 2007 2006 2007 2006 2007

USA Football and independent research firm The Bonham Group recently spoke with youth league administrators, coaches, game officials, and parents to learn how America’s favorite sport can be even better. This page also includes information from a recent National Alliance for Youth Sports study. Every issue of USA Football Magazine shares “Facts, Stats & Figures” on the game’s grassroots landscape.

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

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500,000

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2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

2006 2007

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

0

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200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

2006 2007

0

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400,000

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0

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0

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2006 2007

0

50,000

100,000

150,000s6%

s19% s13%

56%24%

11%

5%5%4%

Play a sport they likeTo get exercise Make friends So they can play in high school Earn a college scholarship

64%

20%

16%

No Yes, it’s voluntary Yes, it’s mandatory

64%

20%

16%

31%

30%

15%

13%

11%

Age 14 and above Age 11 and above At every age Age 8 and above Never

56%24%

11%

5%4%

Play a sport they likeTo get exercise Make friends So they can play in high school Earn a college scholarship

64%

20%

16%

No Yes, it’s voluntary Yes, it’s mandatory

64%

20%

16%

31%

30%

15%

13%

11%

Age 14 and above Age 11 and above At every age Age 8 and above Never

3.0Million

380,700 122,600 138,600453,1003.2Million

“Does your child’s league provide training programs for coaches?”

62%

22%

16%

Yes, it’s mandatoryYes, on a voluntary basisNo

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What If?USA Football Coaching Members share in-game decision-makingBy Danny HotocHin

Name: John howerCity, State: Omaha, Neb.Youth League: Millard Athletic AssociationCoaching Experience: 10 yearsBase Offense: Double Wing (variation of Wing-T)Base Defense: 5-3 Type of USA Football membership: Coach, AdministratorLength of USA Football membership: 1 year

Name: Frank JerasaCity, State: Perkasie, Pa.Youth League: Pop Warner Bucks-Mont YouthCoaching Experience: 20 yearsBase Offense: Wing-TBase Defense: 5-3Type of USA Football membership: CoachLength of USA Football membership: New member

Name: Ben narramoreCity, State: San Diego, Calif.Youth League: Palomar Pop Warner Conf./Ramona Pop WarnerCoaching Experience: 9 yearsBase Offense: Wing-TBase Defense: 5-2Type of USA Football membership: Coach, AdministratorLength of USA Football membership: 2 years

If that doesn’t work, then I’d run to the left side on the next play.

Narramore: Fake Toss Left, Boot Right Pass – I used this play last year against a pee-wee team from Fallbrook, Calif. On this play, I had them fake the pitch to the right with my quarterback going to the left once he faked it. This misdirection definitely threw the defense off-balance in this situation – the tight end was wide open in the end zone and caught the pass as time expired.

“What If” … there’s 2:05 left in the game and you’re down by a touchdown with three timeouts on your own 20-yard line – how would you initiate the two-minute drill?

Hower: I would run what I call a “Super Power,” which is kind of like a sweep, to my right side. With this play, I’ve got a double-team with my wing and my end as the opposite guard and tackle pulling while the quarterback pitches it to the wingback in motion. This happened to us two years ago and we scored and won – it took us seven plays to go 80 yards.

Jerasa: With my two-minute drill with my age group, there are multiple plays in the huddle. It depends on my quarterback, but I’ll run a short pass and go underneath the coverage and I’m going to have my receivers run ‘out’ patterns. Because I run a Wing-T, the defense will crowd the line so I’m not going to have the ability to run the draw or a dive, so I’d like to get to the corners with misdirection plays.

Narramore: I run a variation of the Wing-T offense, so in this situation I would choose a fullback dive. This play uses the sweep and misdirection to spread the defense where the quarterback turns to his left, does a reverse pivot, and hands the ball off to the fullback. The worst-case scenario is you’re going to get two yards and the clock will stop. The best-case scenario is your fullback will break loose down the field.

In youth football, coaches encounter multiple situations that call for serious contemplation. Whether you’re a

coach directing the West Coast offense or the intricacies of the I-Formation, one of the beauties of football is that there’s more than one way to win a game. Three youth coaches who are also USA Football members recently shared their ideas on how they’d attack various in-game scenarios.

“What If” … you’re trailing by a touchdown and you have possession and three timeouts. You’re on your opponents’ two-yard line and it’s third and goal with 30 seconds left in the game – what do you call?

Hower: I’m going to run it. With the Double Wing, my offense is designed primarily for the run. With 30 seconds left, I would probably not run the wedge, which is my bread and butter, but I would probably run a small trap to the gap between the guard and the defensive tackle or the nose guard gap. If that doesn’t work, we’re probably going to come right back and run the same play.

Jerasa: It depends how the game is run, but I’ll put the play in the hands of my playmaker, so I’ll run the power play or a Bucksweep. If they bring nine guys into the box, then I’ll have them switch to a pop pass, giving the quarterback the option to run or throw a short pass to the tight end.


Coaching centerCoaching centerCoaching center

16 COACHING.indd 16 8/20/08 3:46:00 PM

quick-hitter gridquick-hitter gridquick-hitter gridFour USA Football administrator members – spanning New York to Vancouver – recently shared their straight-ahead thoughts about America’s favorite sport.

Administrator:Organization:Location:

JOhN CiNgAriParkville Youth Org.

Brooklyn, N.Y.

TerrY hYdeClark County Youth League

Vancouver, Wash.

TOdd JAkOPOViCeVW Football League

elkhorn, Neb.

STePhON MAThiSObservatory hill Youth Assoc.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

What makes football great?

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a youth football administrator?

Your favorite football moment

Your greatest accomplishment as an administrator

Your favorite all-time football player Your favorite football team

Favorite football media member

Action all the time

Seeing the enjoyment the kids get out of playing the game

Super Bowl XLii (giants 17, Patriots 14)

running an excellent instructional program where all the kids have fun

Joe Willie Namath

New York giants

John Madden

it’s the most comprehensive

team sport

Watching kids succeed

The day i got to see my son play his first

football game

Building a youth football program that feeds the county’s 18 high schools

Terry Bradshaw

Seattle Seahawks

Al Michaels

Seeing kids having fun while developing their football skills

Watching my kids gain memorable experiences

Watching my Pee-Wee team drive 80 yards with no timeouts and scoring the winning Td to win the conference championship

helping our league grow from 40 teams to 90 teams

kenny Stabler

Oakland raiders

John Madden

it builds character and confidence

Seeing the kids learn, excel in high school

and continue their education

every year – seeing the kids progress as they come through our league

Being selected as the Western Pa. representative for the

NFL Youth Football Summit in Canton

Walter Payton

Pittsburgh Steelers

John Madden

Action all the time

playing the game

ii

it’s the most comprehensive

team sport

The day my son play his first

football game

football skills

Watching my kids gain memorable experiences

Seeing the kids learn, excel in high school

and continue their education

Al Michaels John Madden

Patriots 14) football gamefootball game

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16 COACHING.indd 17 8/20/08 8:02:42 AM

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thud between the helmets and shoulder pads. When you run the football and actually hand it off to the running back – with the exception of a draw play – there’s an initial thud where the offensive linemen and the tight ends come off the line of scrimmage and collide into the defensive players that are standing in front of them.

“That creates a sound and that sound is a tip to the defensive players. It’s not something they are going to talk about, but it’s something that they instinctively going to react to.”

Devotees and aficionados of the play-action pass agree that instilling the technicalities of performing the art (or science) of the popular procedure in quarterbacks should be done as early as possible.

“Whether or not the kids at the youth level can grasp all of the nuances of it, I’m not sure. But, if they could, it could be used at the lowest level,” Mackovic said. “When you get to high school, the players ought to be introduced to how and why

you use the play-action pass.”

“It should be taught immediately at the youth level and it goes with teaching kids how to grip the football, how to take the snap from underneath the center, footwork, proper fundamentals and techniques of throwing the football,” Esiason said. “Fundamentals

of play-action passing and getting rid of the football are all a part of playing the position.”

For more Xs & Os, check out USA Football’s Coaching Guide – click the blue “Coaches” tab at usafootball.com.

In a sport where inches can determine a game’s outcome, the play-action pass is an effective means of deception.

As the result of faking a handoff to a would-be ball carrier, defenses react to a phantom running play while the quarterback hits a sparsely-covered target.

“There’s definitely an art to the play-action pass, but the science of it is the determination of how the defense reacts to it and how you’d put somebody into a vacant spot,” said USA Football’s 2007 Senior National Team Coach John Mackovic, who also served as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs (1983-1986) and several top major college programs.

“I would say it’s an art from the player’s perspective,” said USA Football contributor and spokesman Boomer Esiason, who developed into one of the game’s most proficient play-action passers during his 14-year NFL all-star career. “You’ve got to be able to extrapolate all of the great things that come from running the football and try to build a passing offense off of that, so that would be the science. It all goes back to the quarterback to sell it, so the coach would be the scientist and the quarterback would be the artist.

“There are two types of play-action passes: there is the everyday mundane play-action pass where you might just fake to the running back, as all you’re trying to do is put a little doubt in the minds of the defense – that’s the token fake, and you

see everybody do that. Then, there is what I like to refer to as the run-action pass, where it looks and sounds like a run is developing.”

“We basically have three different play-action passes in our offense: the flood, the

boot and the tight end pop pass,” said USA Football coaching member Rod Dollar, who has coached youth football for 16 years in Atlanta, Ga. “From the start, we’re really going to sell it with the handoff and we’re going to set up and throw the ball quickly – those are the things we really work hard on in our play-actions.

“There are some things that make play-action passes more difficult in youth football and that’s the defensive end coming up field, which is something you don’t see in high school that much. So, we have to account for that in how we set up and throw the ball. But, it also works to our advantage on the boot because [the defensive end] will be out of position to make a play most of the time.”

Esiason, the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1988, says audio deception is just as important as the visual fake.

“When an offense in the NFL goes back to complete a pass, 99 percent of the time the offensive linemen are retreating,” he said. “When they retreat, there’s no initial

The Play-Action is Fake, But the Yards are RealBy Danny HotocHin


John Mackovic

Rod Dollar


16 COACHING.indd 18 8/20/08 3:46:23 PM

Meet a USA Football MemberMeet a USA Football MemberMeet a USA Football Member

Being part of the USA Football family further unites all of us who are connected to America’s favorite sport. USA Football coaching member Charles “Kale” Ane is the

head coach at Punahou (Hawaii) High School and also serves as the school’s associate athletic director. Born in Los Angeles, Ane played football for Michigan State and enjoyed a seven-year NFL career as a center for the Kansas City Chiefs (1975-80) and Green Bay Packers (1981). His father, Charlie Ane, also played in the NFL for seven seasons – all with the Detroit Lions (1953-59) as an offensive tackle.

Ane recently spoke with USA Football Magazine to share his coaching passion and the value of being a USA Football member.

What sparked your desire to become a football coach?I played from fourth grade until I was 30. I was truly

affected by great individuals – teammates, coaches, administrators, teachers – and I felt this was one way that I could give back and help. I feel like I’m a good role model in that I want to do it the right way – we want to be positive and respectful to the kids. This is an avenue to teach them the right values and that’s why I coach.

Why do you enjoy being a high school football coach?I enjoy working with the kids and watching them grow and

go through the process of discovering themselves. I enjoy the challenge of getting better and teaching them to work as a team, develop team chemistry and getting them to be more independent as leaders by anticipating each others’ needs.

Is football operated or perceived differently in Hawaii than on the U.S. mainland?

That’s something we always ask ourselves. When I was growing up, there were a few kids from Hawaii that went to the mainland to play and were successful. My father was one of them, and I was very lucky because I had a good role model and someone who had been successful and he told me what it took. I think everybody here questions if we measure up [to the mainland] in terms of competition. The thing is we tell everyone, regardless of what sport, is that they’re representing everybody here.

How has your playing days and having a father with NFL experience impacted you?

Well, I played with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers for seven years from 1975-81. Bart Starr, who’s in the Hall of Fame as a player, was my head coach with the Packers, so I’ve run into a lot of great people along the way. My dad went to USC and played seven years of professional football with the Detroit Lions and it was something that I always wanted to be involved in and it worked out. He played with Frank Gifford and Jon Arnett at USC and with several

Hall of Famers with the Lions, they were world champions (1953, ’57). Meeting all of them and just being around people that

were very successful in the sport you wanted to play helps you see what they were doing and what it takes. We all talk to our fathers, whether they’re professional athletes or not, but to have someone accomplish what you want to do really gives you the belief structure that, ‘Hey, I can do that, too,’ even though he was much better than I was.

How did you learn about USA Football?I was asked to be part of a coaching school by USA Football

Northwest Regional Manager Bassel Faltas and I helped out and got to learn more about the structure and the messages that they’re trying to get out to kids across the country. I think USA Football is a great program for kids, and it doesn’t just teach football, which I think they do a great job with, but they teach values that I think are important and that’s why I like to be involved.

What inspired you to join USA Football?I liked how Bassel and some of the other coaches take time to

travel around the country and work with youth coaches who have a tremendous impact on their kids. I get kids who’ve been coached and taught by these young coaches and it’s nice to be able to share some things with them that I learned from coaching for 25 years and I think that I can share some things that will be helpful and make them understand some of the bigger questions.

What have you learned from USA Football?I’ve really learned a lot. It reinforces a lot of the reasons why people

play and coach and helps you reflect on the bigger issues that are always there, but not always on the forefront. The job is always a pressure-packed environment in that you’re always evaluated on wins and losses, so it gives you an opportunity to put things in better perspective.

Charles “Kale” Ane BY DANNY HOTOCHIN

CHArLeS ANeresides: Honolulu, Hawaii

USA Football Membership: Coach

Position: Varsity Head Coach, Punahou H.S.

Coach Since: 1983

USA Football Member Since: March 2008

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Defensive line stunts can be an effective tool for coaches

seeking to exert more pressure on opposing passers.

A stunt, as the name implies, is a variation or change in a defense’s basic alignment and coverage, designed to penetrate the line of scrimmage. The key to a stunt’s success is creating blocking assignment indecision in the minds of offensive linemen.

Types of StuntsTom Bass, a former NFL and college

coach with nearly 30 years of experience, is also a member of USA Football’s technical committee. Bass has developed, coached and lectured on defensive stunts at every level of play. He suggests initially teaching youth defensive linemen simple stunts such as the single loop stunt technique or the slant technique.

“In the loop technique, the defensive lineman uses a lateral step into the gap to his left or right at the snap of the ball. In the slant technique, the defensive lineman uses a crossover step to move into an assigned gap to his right or left,” Bass said. “These basic individual stunts allow your linemen to react and read the play as it develops.”

Theses stunts can be called for one defensive lineman, one side of your line, or the entire line.

Accomplished defensive lines can graduate to full-line stunts or two-man

stunts that coordinate multiple linemen and even linebackers. One of the most popular two-man stunts calls for a defensive lineman to loop behind a teammate, creating coverage indecision in the offensive line.

When to Use StuntsStunts can lose their

effectiveness if called every play. Different game situations can call for different defensive line stunts.

The loop technique is most effective against an offensive line that uses combination or zone blocking schemes that allow a defensive lineman to split the block and drive into the backfield.

The slant technique works well against offensive lines using reach or zone blocking schemes. These offenses tend to tip off the

direction of their plays in their formation. The slant technique can allow a defensive lineman to read the offense and instantly penetrate through the proper gap.

Bass cautions defensive coaches to save their stunts until they have had time to

properly assess an offense’s tendencies and blocking schemes.

“A stunt is most effective when it’s used for a purpose,” he says. “A coach doesn’t know the proper stunt to run until gaining a good read on what the offense and offensive line is trying to do. Chart a couple of series and see what they are doing.

“If you stunt just to stunt, you will leave your defensive line vulnerable to running lanes and big plays.”

How to Teach StuntsThe introduction of stunts to your

defense should first focus on techniques like footwork. This may be best accomplished by having your defensive linemen practice their footwork without a blocker in front of them. Once your linemen feel comfortable stepping to the left or right, have them fire out against

an offensive lineman and employ their stunt footwork. Working on penetration and footwork at half speed may produce quicker results.

Bass recommends initially limiting a youth team’s stunts package to simple loops and slants.

“I hesitate to attempt to teach complex stunt packages to kids,” Bass said. “There’s too much timing involved. One- or two-step techniques can be effective and get the penetration you’re looking for.”

For more on coaching Xs and Os, go to usafootball.com and click “Coaching Guide” under the “Coaches” tab. USA Football members can click the “Ask the Expert” icon on usafootball.com’s homepage to ask Coach Bass a question directly.

The inside slant on putting pressure on the quarterbackBy Tim Polzer

Defensive Line Stunts

Tom Bass

DL DL

OL OL

The Slant The Loop


16 COACHING.indd 20 8/20/08 3:46:45 PM

High School Coach Aspirations? Smarts and a flexible work schedule needed for prep footballBy Danny HotocHin

Possessing marketable characteristics that would warrant a promotion in Corporate America are often welcomed by coaches who are looking to fill staff positions. This is

important to remember for the youth coach who wants to move into high school ball.

“High school coaches look for guys who understand and can teach the fundamentals of the game,” said youth football coach Larry Canard, who spent four of his 22 years as a coach with Yorktown High School in Arlington, Va. “In terms of strategy and scheme, the head coach already has his philosophy intact and knows the offense and defense that he’s going to run. The key for that coach is finding assistants to teach the fundamentals on how to run his system.”

Because hard work and determination often evolve into victory, coaches crave players who own a blue-collar football passion.

“For me, a lot of people will tell you it’s my work ethic that got me to where I am – I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging, but I literally try to outwork people,” said Mike Kirschner, who was promoted to head coach at Indiana football powerhouse Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis just before last season after serving seven years as an assistant. “When I first started coaching at the high school level, I knew I needed to learn the game from every position, so I’d literally work eight or nine football camps every summer so that I could learn more football because the more knowledge you have the more power you have.”

For most coaches, particularly at the youth level, having alternate affiliations or vocations can hinder chances for advancement.

“There’s a time commitment – high schools begin practice at 2:30 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. and youth practices begin at 5:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. In August, high schools practice two-a-days and hold meetings and it’s difficult for someone that has a full-time job to make that commitment,” said Canard,

who has spent the last 18 years coaching youngsters in Vienna, Va. “There’s a real time-management issue they deal with.”

With coaches swapping responsibilities and positions on a frequent basis, it’s tricky for them to discern what they prefer to do, whether it’s taking a chance on a new opportunity or continuing to teach on a familiar level.

“A young college coach will usually want to move up pretty quickly – they’re usually pretty aggressive with [pursuing high school coaching jobs] by attacking it,” said Kirschner, who coached six years at the youth level for Warren Township Youth in Indianapolis before venturing into the high school ranks. “I think there are a lot of guys my age that are happy with what they’re doing. I think there’s that percentage of people that want to move up and get on that fast track but I think the majority of them are content with coaching at the level they’re at, whether it’d be youth, middle school or high school – they look forward to each season.”

Larry Canard

Mike Kirschner

USA Football and the entire sport lost one its most significant leaders on Aug. 21 when Gene Upshaw passed away at age 63.

In 2002, Gene Upshaw and Paul Tagliabue, in their respective roles of NFL Players Association executive director and NFL commissioner, provided a $5 million endowment to start USA Football. Their vision for what USA Football would become as an independent non-profit is now tangible in more than 100 annual football development events, state-of-the-art football resources and education, and unparalleled programs awarding equipment grants and youth league volunteer background check subsidies.

Upshaw, a Pro Football Hall of Fame guard for the Oakland

Raiders (1967-81) and a member of the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team, was a USA Football Board Member since the organization’s first day of existence. He led his teammates, constituents and friends of football throughout his career as a player and administrator.

“All who played the game know of Gene Upshaw’s great contributions in directing the players union, but also his passion for the game and for the future of youth football,” said USA Football Chairman Jack Kemp. “He recognized football’s unique ability to teach our youngsters values like teamwork and putting

aside differences for the good of a team. That’s what football instilled in Gene Upshaw and that’s precisely how he lived. We will miss him immensely.”

getty images

USA Football mourns co-founder Gene Upshaw

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Ron Courson, who currently serves as the director of sports medicine at the University of Georgia, has been treating athletes for the past 25 years as an athletic trainer. After

acquiring a degree in physical therapy at the Medicine College of Georgia, Courson worked as an athletic trainer at the University of Alabama, Samford University, the Healthsouth Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center and for the 1988 U.S. Olympic team. With a career that has spanned three decades, Courson has trained athletes from various sports, including football. Courson shared his knowledge with USA Football Magazine on various topics including injury prevention, heat illness and hydration.

What tips would you give to a football coach, administrator, player or trainer in regards to reducing the risk of injury?

Courson: Have an annual pre-participation physical exam to be conducted by a physician. The more information you have about someone, the more equipped you are to reduce an injury. When we do our physicals at Georgia, we have a list of follow-ups and we try to identify things before anything happens. Next, have a strength and conditioning program to help prepare them physically – get them out into the heat of summer on a progressive basis to help them climatize (get acclimated to the climate) and get ready for the heat. Also, emphasize proper technique, safety and practice.

What are some of the most frequent injuries or hazards you run into as an athletic trainer of a football program and how would you treat them?

Courson: Heat illness is the most frequent, particularly in August. It can range from cramps, which are minor, to an emergency like a heat stroke. The biggest thing from a prevention standpoint is to climatize – it takes physiologically seven to 10 days to climatize so they’ve got to be out there in the weather. Have unlimited hydration during activities, allow them to respirate and monitor their environment – have a globo-thermometer around or check the weather service and base your practicing schedules and breaks around that. Another one I would say are concussions. To prevent them, make sure that their helmets

fit properly. In youth and high school, many programs don’t have equipment managers and you want to make sure the helmets are fitted properly. A lot of the time people will drain the air out of the helmet to add comfort, but then they lose their protection. The most frequent things that happen are muscular skeletal injuries, which range from strains to sprains. The biggest prevention there is to have an appropriate flexibility and strength and conditioning program, proper equipment and try to identify any kind of sprain or strain through a physical.

Are there any myths in regards to training for football that you’d like to debunk?

Courson: I think one of the myths with gaining weight in football is consuming a lot of protein – you want to have a balanced diet. You want to make sure you have your carbohydrates, wheats, grains, fresh vegetables and fruits. Your white meat is going to be leaner than your red meat – red meat has more fatty content, so you want to eat that in moderation. The other thing is over-training, particularly from a weightlifting standpoint. Alternate your muscle groups and don’t train the same body part multiple days in a row because it won’t have a chance to recover.

How important is hydration in football and what types of liquids are the best to consume?

Courson: Hydration is imperative when you’re exercising, especially in the heat. The other thing is that players are wearing heavy, protective equipment. Hydrate before, during and after practice. Fill up the tank before you go out there – we really recommend unlimited hydration where they can drink at

anytime. In regards to the types of fluid you should consume, you want to drink

water or an electrolyte drink. I’m not trying to advertise Gatorade or Powerade, but they’re better fluid-replacement drinks when exercising out in the heat.

Player Health Food for the Head Sports medicine expert Ron Courson offers injury prevention tips By Danny HotocHin

Have unlimited hydration during activities, practice. Fill up the tank before you go out there – we really recommend unlimited hydration where they can drink at

anytime. In regards to the types of fluid you should consume, you want to drink

water or an electrolyte drink. I’m


Health & fitnessHealth & fitnessHealth & fitness

22 HEALTHSAFETY.indd 22 8/20/08 3:45:23 PM

Mary Greisen is the proud mother of Nick and Chris Greisen, both of whom have grown to become professional football players.

Nick, a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, is entering his seventh NFL season after graduating from the University of Wisconsin. He has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and N.Y. Giants after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. His brother, Chris, is currently the quarterback of the Georgia Force of the Arena Football League. Chris, who graduated from Northwest Missouri State University, also played for the Arizona Cardinals for three seasons after being a seventh-round selection by the Cardinals in the 1999 NFL Draft.

Football teaches those who play the game many lessons reflecting the importance of teamwork, dedication, and responsibility. USA Football Magazine recently spoke with Mrs. Greisen to learn what football has taught her sons.

What did playing football teach your sons?Football has taught my sons many life skills, such as discipline

and perseverance. It has taught them that life isn’t always fair and how to handle disappointment. They’ve also made life-long friends while learning the importance of working as a team.

When did Nick and Chris start playing football? Were they on the same teams?Despite their eagerness, they didn’t have the opportunity to

start playing organized football until the seventh grade. Since there are four years between them, they were never on the same team. However, we could tell from a very early age that they were athletically gifted. They were very competitive and always had to win, whether it was during recess time in elementary school or playing football, basketball or baseball in high school.

As a mother, were you ever concerned about having your boys play football?No, I wasn’t. I grew up in a football family. Football has always

been part of my life.

Did football help them excel in the classroom?Yes, it did. Football has taught them discipline, how to set

goals and other life-long lessons. It has also helped them develop a wonderful work ethic, which certainly helped them in the classroom.

A person can have all the talent in the world, but if they’re not willing to work hard, someone else is always there to take their place. Chris and Nick both knew that there were others out there that were more talented than they were. They realized that if they were going to succeed they would have to work that much harder, take nothing for granted, and play smarter – both on and off the field.

Were you always a football fan?Yes, I was the little girl that grew up with a

football, rather than dolls, due to my dad’s love of the game. Football’s always been a part of my life.

Your father played in the NFL. Did that impact your sons in some way?

Oh, yes. My parents moved to Sturgeon Bay, Wis., (where we lived) when the boys were in middle school. My dad had recently retired; he realized that the boys were very talented athletically, and he wanted to be around to help them and see them play. Not only was

he at all their games, but attended their practices as well. After practice he would take them aside and tell them what they needed to work on. He was a great mentor and role model for both the boys.

What was it like seeing your boys selected in the NFL Draft?It was just such a wonderful experience. We didn’t know if the boys

would be drafted in a late round or become a free agent, so the fact that both of them were drafted was a very exciting time for my husband and me. Both of the boys were on the phone with an NFL team when their names went across the TV screen. The screaming that ensued from surrounding friends and family drowned out their phone calls from their new coaches; they had to move to a different room to hear their coaches’ ‘Welcome to the team.’ My husband and I are so grateful for what football has given our sons, but we are even more proud of their faith in God and the loving, caring men they have become. They’re both very special men.

What advice or insight would you like to share with new “Football Moms?” Football is a wonderful sport that teaches life-long lessons, humility,

camaraderie and how to handle disappointment. As much success as my sons have had, both of them have also experienced disappointing times. I think it really shows what kind of a man you are in how you handle those times in comparison with the successful times.

What Football Has Taught My Sons: Mary Greisen by Michael coppinger

An artist’s rendition of Nick and Chris Greisen, progressing in football from their backyard to the pros, as their grandfather and former NFL player, Stan Kramer, watches on with pride.

Artist: Arvid Anderson 23

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each reaches the mapped-out goal. • Remind parents that 80 percent of sales

usually come through their relationships with friends, co-workers and family members. Work environments are the perfect place to bring a sign up brochure. Encourage those who buy to tell a friend.

• Limit the length of the fundraising effort to three weeks or less. This allows your efforts to be focused and maintain enthusiasm.

A four-pack of Spirit Cups sell for $12 with $4 from each sale going straight to the organization.

“We really liked the simplicity of the delivery and distribution of the orders,” said Bruce Hancock of the South Caroline Mustangs, who play on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. “Unlike food product fundraisers, we didn’t have to refrigerate the product or deliver the day we received them. We had a small group and set a goal of 10 sets per participant. We realized about $2,000 in profits.”

BRAX Spirit Cups’ proven fundraising program and products have helped youth football programs raise thousands of dollars to help offset the costs of everything from uniforms to equipment.

“We are using money from the cup fundraiser to purchase new equipment to outfit our new tiny mite team that we are soon to start,” said Janie Black of Newport (R.I.) Pop Warner. “Brax has been a wonderful company to work with and very well organized. Our organization is looking forward to repeating this fundraiser again at the beginning of our football season.”

To learn more about the Brax Spirit Cups fundraising program, visit spiritcups.com.

Youth football leagues kick-off every autumn with youngsters competing in America’s favorite game. These programs are made possible by dedicated parents and volunteers, giving of themselves and their time to ensure great football experiences.

Like most things in life, money is needed to run a successful youth football program. That’s where fundraising comes in. And innovative fundraising helps tackle the bottom line.

As the official fundraising partner of USA Football, BRAX Spirit Cups’ mission is to “make a difference one team at a time.” They recognize their programs must be simple to implement and deliver great results. They have a strong history that demonstrates using the power of the NFL in their program gets which potential consumers excited and helps the cups sell themselves.

The 18-ounce BRAX Spirit Cups feature 3-D graphics and come in packs of four. BRAX offers a large team-identified selection, including all 32 NFL teams and more than 50 collegiate athletic programs.

Coupled with these proven techniques, fundraising is easier than ever. • Select a fundraising coordinator to “captain” the campaign to keep all records and

meetings on schedule.• Hold a meeting with all parents who are participating in the fundraiser and clearly

explain your fundraising goals and expectations of each participant. • Set a team goal and emphasize to the parents the amount of money you will raise if

A New Page for Fundraising Playbooks BRAX Spirit Cups Bring Success StoriesBy Michael coppinger

As the official fundraising partner of USA Football, BRAX Spirit Cups’ mission is to “make a difference one team at a time.”

Photo courtesy of LesLie oLander of hernando youth footbaLL24 USA Football Magazine

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24 LEAGUE.indd 24 8/20/08 3:47:55 PM

USA Football Regional Managers

Northwest RegionBassel Faltas(831) [email protected]

West RegionBucky Brooks(818) [email protected] South Region

Deno campBell(703) [email protected]

Southeast Regionrick peacock(703) [email protected]

Northeast RegioneD passino(703) [email protected]

Central Regionscott leVeque(317) [email protected]

America’s favorite sport is powered by you – dedicated youth league commissioners, coaches, game officials and volunteers. For each of you, there is a face and name to place in your football Rolodex:

your USA Football Regional Manager.USA Football Regional Managers are current and former coaches, players and administrators working for you. Each has the experience

needed to help you make your league or team even stronger with USA Football’s resources.Contact your USA Football Regional Manager to learn how you can kickoff your free administrator membership or to ask about coaching

certification, the nearest USA Football Coaching School, Player Academy or Officiating School. Stay in touch with your regional manager, whether it’s to share news about your league or team or to ask about member resources.

In addition, you may always contact our office, based outside of Washington, D.C., through usafootball.com or by phone at 1-877-5-FOOTBALL. Let us know how we can serve you better.

Together we’ll ensure that teamwork and leadership continue to serve as the laces binding our favorite game.

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USA Football Regional Managers

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From the outset, Doyle found the NCSI program welcoming to him and his league.

“What I like first and foremost is that NCSI does most of the legwork for you. They manage the data entry with a quick online survey,” he said. “And with our program being small, confidentiality is very important. NCSI allows you to amend parts of what they offer. For instance, I’m the only one who gets the results, and then I take those results to the board. That eliminates the entire board getting all of the information. I provide feedback to the board based on what I receive, and it allows the board to make decisions without knowing everything about everybody.”

Like Doyle, Scott Hayes was referred to NCSI by another member of USA Football. Hayes, vice president of Fullerton (Calif.) Pop Warner, was unhappy with his previous background check provider.

“NCSI provides a comprehensive background check, and I like the ability to check the status online,” Hayes said. “It’s very easy to use. The setup process was straightforward and simple, unlike some of the other programs I looked into.”

The approachable ways of NCSI personnel also made life easy for Hayes.

“I was impressed with their process of dealing with any exceptions that may come back on individuals by interviewing them to find out more about what caused the exception to determine if they will give them the green light or not,” Hayes added.

Hayes is yet another administrator who looked at the value of the NCSI background check program.

“We discovered that you get what you pay for with a $5 background check and that was unacceptable to us,” he said.

Employ USA Football’s background check program at usafootball.com/register/benefits/admin today.

The benefits of being a member of USA Football bombard Robert Doyle from all angles. Doyle, vice president of the Del Campo Jr. Cougars in the Sacramento suburb of Carmichael, Calif., attends USA Football Coaching Clinics as a way to

stay on top of the game. When he decided that the 200-player Jr. Cougars were in need of a more extensive

background check for the league’s coaches, administrators and volunteers, he began to talk to other coaches at the clinics about the services they use.

“I heard some great reviews from other coaches about the NCSI (National Center for Safety Initiatives) program. We also wanted a group that had a national affiliation, like NCSI has with USA Football. They’re also endorsed by the U.S. Olympic Committee,” Doyle said. “We wanted to build our credibility and keep it affordable. With the $15 fee per check covering two seasons that the USA Football grant gives to teams, it was a no-brainer to go with NCSI. A lot of people shop price. You get what you pay for in that regard.”

The early results from NCSI are reassuring, and at the same time point out that not everyone has a background that would warrant interaction with children. Of the nearly 7,000 background checks that NCSI has performed for USA Football members, nearly 91 percent were given a “green light.” There were 206 checks that came with a “red light,” thereby effectively eliminating those individuals from the youth football coaching pool.

The “red light” designation is determined by: any felony – 50 percent of the 206 red lights; any lesser crime involving force or threat of force against a person – 26 percent; any lesser crime in which sexual relations is an element, including “victimless” crimes of a sexual nature (including pornography) – 4 percent; any lesser crime involving controlled substances

(not paraphernalia or alcohol) – 20 percent.

The $15 two-season gold-standard background check by NCSI is open to every youth football league across

the country. Just register for a free USA Football Administrator membership to receive the subsidy. Because USA Football has dedicated $500,000 to the program, the cost is reduced from the regular price of $25. USA Football is the only youth sports organization providing a discounted program like this in the fight against sexual predators.

Priceless Protection$15 two-season background check serves youth football, adds valueBy Dave McMahon, Special to USa FootBall

“The funding and efforts of USA Football demonstrate their strong commitment to safety. Football administrators who respond to this offering are taking a great step to better protect their young players and also their own organization.”

– Trish McGonnell, President of NCSI

Did you Know? Approximately 50% of sexual abuse cases involving children under the age of 18 occur outside the home.


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Last fall five football organizations received a $2,500 Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports™ Community Grant.

For the Peninsula Youth Football Association of Gig Harbor, WA, operating expenses became a little less expensive. As a recipient of a $2,500 Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports Community Grant, the group found itself with the needed funds to upgrade equipment, pay

for field rental, and reduce or provide free registration for qualifying families.

In O’Fallon, Mo., more good news. Thanks to a $2,500 Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports Community Grant, the O’Fallon Junior Renegades Youth Football Organization upgraded shoulder pads and helmets to help protect players as they grow and learn the fundamentals of football together.

To learn more about how your organization can register for a Responsible Sports Community Grant, log on to ResponsibleSports.com.

It’s First and Grant, You Have the Ball

It’s a Team EffortYou can help your local youth football program

compete for a Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports Community Grant.

Visit ResponsibleSports.com to see if your organization is registered. Then encourage parents, fans, coaches and community members who support and enjoy football in your hometown to visit ResponsibleSports.com and complete the online certification program. The more people who credit their certification to your organization, the greater your chances are of earning a grant!

Your local football association can join the ranks of recipients. All you have to do is register and get supporters to participate in the Responsible Sports online program. The fall season’s grant period runs from September 2nd through November 30th. Get in the game!

© 2008 Liberty Mutual. All Rights Reserved.

Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports Community Grants give youth sports organizations the opportunity to earn $2,500 to improve the lives of youth athletes and families. To date, Liberty Mutual has awarded $100,000 in grants that have helped with everything from equipment upgrades and facility repairs to scholarship programs for families in need of assistance.

24 LEAGUE.indd 27 8/20/08 8:07:09 AM

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Making America’s favorite sport even stronger, USA Football’s

coaching schools and usafootball.com’s Certified Coaching Education Program (C.C.E.P.) have been mandated or strongly endorsed by four of the country’s largest and well-established youth football organizations.

The Amateur Athletic Union (A.A.U.), the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.), and Pop Warner Little Scholars all have endorsed USA Football’s coaching education resources in the past nine months.

Pop Warner mandated all of its head coaches, numbering well into the thousands across 43 states, to either attend a USA Football Coaching School or complete the C.C.E.P. course at usafootball.com in order to work the sidelines in 2008.

In addition, some of the country’s most successful independent leagues have mandated completion of USA Football’s C.C.E.P. course or participation in one of its 40 coaching schools. Boise (Idaho) Noon Optimist Youth Football, Fairfax (Va.) County Youth Football, and Oceanside (N.Y.) Stallions Youth Football are included among this rapidly-growing group.

Together, members of the youth football family representing more than 8,000 coaches and 400,000 youngsters have rallied around USA Football and its coaching curriculum.

“Every parent whose child plays in a Pop Warner league has peace of mind knowing

that their head coach has gone through a gold-standard coaching program designed by USA Football,” said Pop Warner Executive Director Jon Butler. “USA Football’s Coaching Schools are a valuable tool for Pop Warner and our coaches who are responsible for instructing our more than 400,000 participants and ensuring they receive a positive youth football experience.”

A.A.U. Director of Volunteer Services Pam Marshall said, “It’s a terrific help for us because we have a lot of new programs that are starting

and we can help the leagues kick off with this new training program that’s readily available and so reasonably priced.”

USA Football’s C.C.E.P. course at usafootball.com, featuring 3-D animation, audio and 11 challenging quizzes, is $9.99 per coach. “USA Football did a lot of research and they present it in an easy format,” Marshall said.

Forty USA Football Coaching Schools, designed exclusively for youth coaches were conducted in more than 30 states this year at high schools, college campuses and NFL team training facilities.

“The best way to shape America’s favorite sport at the youth level is to provide coaches with resources to become quality instructors and mentors and we’re doing that in an exciting way – the response we’re seeing from national organizations as well as independents serves as proof,” said USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck. “With the help of

many football contributors – our clinicians, event organizers, regional managers, and support staff – we are establishing consistent and high standards in teaching this great game to its youngest players. It’s an exciting time to join USA Football.”

America’s largest youth football organizations turn to USA FootballBy Michael coppinger

To learn more about USA Football’s online coaching curriculum and state-of-the-art coaching resources, visit usafootball.com/register/benefits/coaching.

Sam Albert, head varsity football coach at Highlands High School near Pittsburgh, teaches tackling fundamentals at the USA Football Pittsburgh Coaching School, presented by the Steelers. The sold-out school was conducted in May at the Steelers’ practice facility.

Photo by: Danielle huDak28 USA Football Magazine

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When to Call Holding & When to Hold OffBy Tony Michalek

Even though we’ve all heard coaches and fans say that holding could be called on every play, there’s very little – if any – truth to that statement.

Holding is extremely tough to judge because it is called in accordance to the degree it happens and the kind of affect it has on the play. Because of its subjective nature, so many questions cloud this rule – even the way you would call a hold changes from one competition level to another.

Those enthusiastic about the game, whether you’re a player, coach, official or fan, always wonder what constitutes as holding in lower-level games and why the same stipulations may or may not result as a holding penalty in high school, college or the NFL. They also wonder what would happen if we called holding on every play until the players quit holding.

Well, the truth is players wouldn’t be able to play, the coaches wouldn’t be able to coach and the fans would quit watching, leaving behind a mess that would hardly resemble anything close to a football game.

When discerning if a player is holding, I use the following philosophies: call any major takedown that would embarrass you or your crew if it weren’t called and even if it is not a takedown, call holding at the point of attack.

When it comes to making a decision on whether or not I should call a hold, I ask myself these questions:

Did the blocker gain an unfair advantage from the hold? Did the defender have his jersey stretched or have to reach for

the ball carrier with one arm? Was the disengagement between the holder and the person

who was being held legal? Was he taken in a direction by the hold to an undesired

location? Did the defender give up on his pursuit by having a step taken

away from him as the result of a hold? All of these factors can help you make your decision. If you

decide it’s a hold and throw the f lag, be able to place the foul into one of the following categories: takedown, tackle, hook and restrict, jersey stretch and twist and turn. If you can’t put it into one of those five holding categories, then it probably wasn’t a foul.

When you’re officiating line play with your head on a swivel, look for the blocker whose feet are beat, as we have a saying that goes, “When their feet are beat, they’re going to cheat.” Offensive linemen with slow feet are the ones to focus on.

Remember to look for one of the five categories when observing sluggish-footed blockers, especially takedowns and tackles from behind.

Lastly, don’t neglect the quick feet of a skilled offensive lineman by not allowing yourself to see the entire block. If you don’t see the whole block, keep your flag in your pocket.

Tony Michalek is USA Football’s director of officiating and has worked as an NFL umpire since 2002. Among the best at his craft, Michalek was a member of the Super Bowl XLII officiating crew. USA Football officiating members gain an edge and learn from the best. Join Michalek and USA Football’s officiating family today at usafootball.com.

USA Football Officiating Director Tony Michalek embarks on his seventh season as an NFL umpire in 2008.

Photo courtesy of MiaMi DolPhins30 USA Football Magazine

OfficiatingOfficiatingOfficiating

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It’s hard to say where my love of football comes from. It seems such a

part of me, as if it’s almost an innate quality. It’s a team sport in the truest sense. Much more than most sports, football requires discipline at so many levels to be successful.

I think it’s very hard to be fluid in things like sports or musical instruments if you don’t start them pretty young. I never played basketball as a kid, and even after 10 years as an adult, I’m never quite sure where I should be on the court. In football, my body seems to know where to go on the field effortlessly.

I grew up in Howard County, Md., between Baltimore and Washington. The HCYP (Howard County Youth Program) was the venue for all us little league players. I played in weight-controlled leagues from the age of 9 to 16. At one point or another, I believe I played every position on the field. After I developed my skills, I settled into playing linebacker on defense and playing running back or wide receiver on offense.

I had the privilege of learning the game of football – and life – from Coach Jim Graham. Coach would say things like, ‘The offense should be able to tell the defense where they’re running the ball and still make a yard.’ He was huge on discipline; our teams were always ferocious, but rarely were penalized. Coach Graham instilled a culture

where people learned how to behave on the field. These lessons resonate with me to this day.

Football has inspired me so much, both as a youngster and even today. I’ll never forget the afternoon when I had the opportunity to play around with the Pittsburgh Steelers last October. I did not make it to the National Football League, but I probably got more from that dream and not accomplishing it than I got

from any of the ones that I did accomplish.Also stuck in my mind is one youth season

in particular, where our team lost every game. We had so many kids quit that at our last game, we only had 11 players, just enough to field a team. We lost that game, 6-0, and I was the one who missed the tackle that allowed them to score the winning touchdown.

Individual sports can teach a lot, but many things can only be taught in team sports. And

a physically-demanding sport like football has another great dimension to it. I think football requires a stronger personal discipline due to the nature of the sport.

Coach Graham would tell us that there’s no substitute for hard work and pure grit. The same holds true in life. Both take teamwork, stamina and dedication. I would have to say that I owe a huge part of whatever success I’ve had to Coach Graham and my other coaches. They prepared me for life.

What Football Taught MeWhat Football Taught MeWhat Football Taught Me

When researching interview options for this page in late June, USA Football was touched by the story and boyish enthusiasm for football of Dr. Randy Pausch (pronounced “powsh”), a leading expert in Computer Science and Human Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa.

We were grateful for Dr. Pausch’s time to conduct this interview via email as well as sharing personal photos to accompany his story. His passion for football and his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers was palpable.

Diagnosed as terminally ill with pancreatic cancer last August, he was told he had six months to live. On Sept. 18, 2007, Dr. Pausch delivered a lecture at Carnegie Mellon titled, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” which spoke to the importance of child-like wonder and has been viewed by more than six million people. This led to his best-selling book, “The Last Lecture,” encouraging readers to live life to the fullest. His remarkably upbeat demeanor in the face of impending death drew global attention.

Earlier this year, Time Magazine named Dr. Pausch one of its “World’s Top-100 Most Influential People” and ABC World News Tonight placed him on its “Persons of the Year” list. When the Steelers learned that Dr. Pausch had dreamed of playing in the NFL, they invited him to participate in a practice last fall.

Giving USA Football no indication of how ill he must have been, we were saddened and stunned to learn of his death on July 25. He was 47.

This likely was Dr. Pausch’s final interview.

An award-winning teacher and researcher, he brilliantly engineered projects for Adobe, Google, Electronic Arts and Walt Disney Imagineering. He had achieved many of his childhood dreams and during the final year of his life, he addressed large audiences and inspired them to do the same.

Survived by his wife and three children aged two through six, the following is what football taught a man who taught so much to so many.

Dr. Randy Pausch, Carnegie Mellon UniversityAs Told To MichAel coppinger

Dr. Randy Pausch1960-2008


Randy Pausch

Jim Graham

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