Here are some notes from last night's clinic:

Practice - The ladies gathered and watched the end of practice. When practice ended, everyone posed for a group picture with the team. After the picture was taken many of the players stayed and intermingled and introduced themselves to the Clinic attendees. A number of them talked with my wife. While she was impressed with all that did, a highlight for her was when Khalid Abdullah came up to her and shook her hand and thanked her for supporting the team. My wife knows who Khalid is and said: "You're number 32 and you're Fast!" He responded with: " I wish!" That impressed her and I know this year she will be yelling even louder when he is carrying the ball.

Drills - The position coaches and the Freshman divided into their respective groups and the attendees rotated through the stations. It was a nifty way for the freshman to be involved. They were extremely polite and very helpful instructing and cheering the efforts. These drills included putting on arm pads and learning grab and toss aside techniques of pass rushing, using the larger hand held blocking pads, pass defending, receiving and rushing. The position coaches were very helpful. Being a defense oriented fan, she really liked Antoine Smith and Jules Montinar. The caliber and quality of the new kids and the coaches impressed her alot.

Player Panel - After dinner, Vad Lee, Austin Lane, Gage Steele, Taylor Reynolds, Deane Cheatham and Brandon Ravenel formed a panel and talked/answered questions. One question asked them to describe a typical week. It's a very busy and structured week. Players commented about perfecting time management and the importance of being on time to meetings and commitments. In all of their answers it was evident that the team really likes each other, that they are building lifelong friendships and support networks. They talked about the importance of fan support and how energized they get when they come out of the tunnel at the beginning of games, how much that helps them and excites them.

Nutritionist - Chelsea Burkart talked about the emphasis on proper nutrition etal. Of note was the amount of attention spent on hydration, I am reminded about all the IVs that occurred up in Lehigh last year and how our conditioning really won that game for us. Also she mentioned assisting players when their playing days are over in that transition to a lower calorie diet. She gave lots of nutritional tips geared to the attendees.

Tour of the Facilities - This will echo and amplify all that has been previously reported. They are TOP TIER! And it's more than the locker room. The entire building is awash with Murals, Banners, larger that life photos of former star players etc. It really comes across as a JMU Football Hall of Fame facility. While lots of players are recognized, one that stood out for her was Tony LeZotte's. We would seek him out after games and talk with him. It is amazing how he played through so many injuries, after the semi final win at William and Mary, we came up Tony as he stood covered in mud and asked how he was doing, it was obvious he was totally exhausted. He answered: "It was hard man, it was hard." It really showed how special he was. More enhancements and special things are in the works.

Other notes - There was a drawing at the end for each attendee to go home with something. Kind of a grab bag approach as each person reached into a hat to get a prize. One gal went home with an autographed jersey. My gal got sideline passes for two for the Stony Brook Family weekend game. I'm hoping she'll take me! There also was a nice laminated hang from the neck ID lavalier.

Freshman Pep Rally - While not part of the Women's Clinic, it must be mentioned as they were there in the Stadium as the program ended and could be heard inside Plecker. They were learning how to throw streamers and how to sing the fight song etc. It was LOUD! The end zone seats were full. The MRDs performed. Coach Withers addressed them, and emphasized how important it is for them to attend the games and stay until the end.

Finally, this team is likeable, these are good kids, they like each other, they like the coaches and they like the fans. They are ready to play!

As I said in the thread title: "We're All in for Our Team!"

Once again this year, we will attend all games. We see the SMU game as a vacation trip and look forward to our son '04 coming up from Austin to attend the game. All the other away games are supper easy this year as they are doable in one day, albeit a long day. We hope to have lots of purple cladded company rooting there with us.

(08-29-2015 12:01 PM)jmuroadwarrior Wrote:  There was a drawing at the end for each attendee to go home with something. Kind of a grab bag approach as each person reached into a hat to get a prize. One gal went home with an autographed jersey. My gal got sideline passes for two for the Stony Brook Family weekend game. I'm hoping she'll take me! There also was a nice laminated hang from the neck ID lavalier.

jerseys? sideline passes? my wife and her friend got scented candles. They had a great time though, doing drills, hitting blocking pads and throwing passes, she said there were about 20 women there.

(08-29-2015 12:01 PM)jmuroadwarrior Wrote:  Here are some notes from last night's clinic:

Practice - The ladies gathered and watched the end of practice. When practice ended, everyone posed for a group picture with the team. After the picture was taken many of the players stayed and intermingled and introduced themselves to the Clinic attendees. A number of them talked with my wife. While she was impressed with all that did, a highlight for her was when Khalid Abdullah came up to her and shook her hand and thanked her for supporting the team. My wife knows who Khalid is and said: "You're number 32 and you're Fast!" He responded with: " I wish!" That impressed her and I know this year she will be yelling even louder when he is carrying the ball.

Drills - The position coaches and the Freshman divided into their respective groups and the attendees rotated through the stations. It was a nifty way for the freshman to be involved. They were extremely polite and very helpful instructing and cheering the efforts. These drills included putting on arm pads and learning grab and toss aside techniques of pass rushing, using the larger hand held blocking pads, pass defending, receiving and rushing. The position coaches were very helpful. Being a defense oriented fan, she really liked Antoine Smith and Jules Montinar. The caliber and quality of the new kids and the coaches impressed her alot.

Player Panel - After dinner, Vad Lee, Austin Lane, Gage Steele, Taylor Reynolds, Deane Cheatham and Brandon Ravenel formed a panel and talked/answered questions. One question asked them to describe a typical week. It's a very busy and structured week. Players commented about perfecting time management and the importance of being on time to meetings and commitments. In all of their answers it was evident that the team really likes each other, that they are building lifelong friendships and support networks. They talked about the importance of fan support and how energized they get when they come out of the tunnel at the beginning of games, how much that helps them and excites them.

Nutritionist - Chelsea Burkart talked about the emphasis on proper nutrition etal. Of note was the amount of attention spent on hydration, I am reminded about all the IVs that occurred up in Lehigh last year and how our conditioning really won that game for us. Also she mentioned assisting players when their playing days are over in that transition to a lower calorie diet. She gave lots of nutritional tips geared to the attendees.

Tour of the Facilities - This will echo and amplify all that has been previously reported. They are TOP TIER! And it's more than the locker room. The entire building is awash with Murals, Banners, larger that life photos of former star players etc. It really comes across as a JMU Football Hall of Fame facility. While lots of players are recognized, one that stood out for her was Tony LeZotte's. We would seek him out after games and talk with him. It is amazing how he played through so many injuries, after the semi final win at William and Mary, we came up Tony as he stood covered in mud and asked how he was doing, it was obvious he was totally exhausted. He answered: "It was hard man, it was hard." It really showed how special he was. More enhancements and special things are in the works.

Other notes - There was a drawing at the end for each attendee to go home with something. Kind of a grab bag approach as each person reached into a hat to get a prize. One gal went home with an autographed jersey. My gal got sideline passes for two for the Stony Brook Family weekend game. I'm hoping she'll take me! There also was a nice laminated hang from the neck ID lavalier.

Freshman Pep Rally - While not part of the Women's Clinic, it must be mentioned as they were there in the Stadium as the program ended and could be heard inside Plecker. They were learning how to throw streamers and how to sing the fight song etc. It was LOUD! The end zone seats were full. The MRDs performed. Coach Withers addressed them, and emphasized how important it is for them to attend the games and stay until the end.

Finally, this team is likeable, these are good kids, they like each other, they like the coaches and they like the fans. They are ready to play!

As I said in the thread title: "We're All in for Our Team!"

Once again this year, we will attend all games. We see the SMU game as a vacation trip and look forward to our son '04 coming up from Austin to attend the game. All the other away games are supper easy this year as they are doable in one day, albeit a long day. We hope to have lots of purple cladded company rooting there with us.

What a great report. Makes me even more excited for the upcoming season. Chemistry and character are major components of any winning culture. Hope to see you in Dallas!

It was a very well run event. Mrs. HH&C wore her jersey during the drills and she had a blast. She talked the entire trip home about what a great job Coach Withers is doing and how much all of the players mentioned how much they appreciate everything he has done for them since he arrived. They said he cares about them as men first and football players second. Nice to know that the players not recruited by Coach Withers hold him in such high esteem. I had a chance to talk with Vad Lee and some other players and they are very excited about the season.