01-14-2020, 09:25 AM
The future National Championship winning Coach O stands at the front of a room full of coaches trying to learn before they head into the 2019 season. Five minutes in, a conversation comes up.
“We, as coaches, need to be looking to make adjustments during the game.”
From the back, a hand goes up. “Sorry, what was that word you just said?”
“Sorry,” Coach O laughs, “I have a bit of an accent.”
“No, it’s not that, I’ve just never heard of it before.”
“Adjustments. It’s when you change things in your scheme midway through the game.”
“Why would you ever do that?”
Coach O gives a quizzical look. “What’s your name again?”
“Jay Hopson.”
“Well Coach Hopson, let me pose a scenario for you. Let’s say your team is playing in the National Championship.” Hopson let’s out a little laugh, but O keeps going. “Your offense is struggling and your defense looks like Swiss cheese. You have to make adjustments to stop your team from losing.”
“Isn’t that on the players?” Hopson asked, a bit of frustration in his voice. “They need to step up and do their assignments like we practiced.”
“Sometimes those assignments aren’t working.”
Hopson rolled his eyes. “We practiced for weeks to make sure we’d be ready and know what to do. If they can’t execute, it’s on the players, not my coaching staff.”
“No, Coach, that’s on you.”
The conversation continued while Hopson sat in the back of the room, heated over the exchange. Finally, he dramatically pushed his desk aside and headed for the door.
“You leaving, Coach?”
“I’ve got better things to do with my time than listen to this garbage. Adjustments? Pfft. That’s ridiculous. You expect me to listen to this nonsense while I’ve got one of my top recruits on a visit to McNeese State? I think I’ll stick to what’s worked for me and find way more success than you.”
“We, as coaches, need to be looking to make adjustments during the game.”
From the back, a hand goes up. “Sorry, what was that word you just said?”
“Sorry,” Coach O laughs, “I have a bit of an accent.”
“No, it’s not that, I’ve just never heard of it before.”
“Adjustments. It’s when you change things in your scheme midway through the game.”
“Why would you ever do that?”
Coach O gives a quizzical look. “What’s your name again?”
“Jay Hopson.”
“Well Coach Hopson, let me pose a scenario for you. Let’s say your team is playing in the National Championship.” Hopson let’s out a little laugh, but O keeps going. “Your offense is struggling and your defense looks like Swiss cheese. You have to make adjustments to stop your team from losing.”
“Isn’t that on the players?” Hopson asked, a bit of frustration in his voice. “They need to step up and do their assignments like we practiced.”
“Sometimes those assignments aren’t working.”
Hopson rolled his eyes. “We practiced for weeks to make sure we’d be ready and know what to do. If they can’t execute, it’s on the players, not my coaching staff.”
“No, Coach, that’s on you.”
The conversation continued while Hopson sat in the back of the room, heated over the exchange. Finally, he dramatically pushed his desk aside and headed for the door.
“You leaving, Coach?”
“I’ve got better things to do with my time than listen to this garbage. Adjustments? Pfft. That’s ridiculous. You expect me to listen to this nonsense while I’ve got one of my top recruits on a visit to McNeese State? I think I’ll stick to what’s worked for me and find way more success than you.”