little BIG MEN?

Well our line coach at Junction City would be a good example of that then. He started as a freshman, 5'7" 165#(at best), and was a four year starter being basically that size throughout HS. He walked on at Oregon State Univeristy, stuck, and was awarded a scholarship his senior year and was a starting SS that year about week 3. Not bad I think. Now he has been our line coach for the last 12 years.

Echo that on Pat Tillman.

Joe Montana was a 3rd round choice, maybe the best QB ever.

Walter Payton and Jerry Rice were passed over for D-1A scholarships.

We had a kid this year who was a decent enough athlete but not a great football player. He played for all 4 years but thought abotu quitting a few times. He never did. He never played a "meaningful" play on varsity until he had to start this year b/c of lack of injuries and lack of depth. How did he play? GREAT.

He is a lesson to all the kids thinking about quitting. He stuck with it and when it was his time he stepped up and got the job done. When the regualar starter came back we moved that kid to CB (from FS) as a starter b/c he was now so confident he was outplaying the other DBs.

Another one would be this little 5-7 140# flanker/DB we had. In 2002 we needed a pt conversion late in the game and he was the right WB on the PAT team. Because of a bad snap the QB (we faked the kick and went for 2) had to scramble to pick up the ball and he shoveled it to this kid who then RAN OVER 2 guys each of whom were well over 200# to score the 2-pt conversion. He would not be denied. He came to the sideline and was pumped up yelling (I kid you not) "That's why I squatted all summer."

I don't know if that is what you are looking for but it is two stories I can think of.

Thanks guys!

How about impressive numbers in the weightroom or in the 40 for example?
HOW did they overcome their size disadvantage?
What was it about them that allowed you to throw away conventional thinking about the size of a kid?

I'm looking for HS examples; not guys who are Div I-AA and made it to the pros. I'm looking for the examples of kids who NEVER are gonna play in the pros but still were an important part of your team.

max,
my guess is that he was first in and last to leave the weightroom!
Seems to me these kids know that they have to outwork people to get a fair shake, and so they never miss practice and tend to tow the line.
Am I correct?
Thanks for posting.

Tell him I said GREAT JOB and to continue to strive to do his very best both on the field and in the class room. Those are the kinds of kids I used to pray for on the HS level!

Coach Easton

We had a kid who was 5'7" 160 that played SS and FL for us. This kid had to be one of the toughest kids I've ever laid eyes on. He has put down guys that were always larger. We would run a sweep with the FL cracking back on the DE. He literally cracked a kids sternum, as well as put other kids down that were well over 70+ lbs larger than him. This kid played a game with a separated shoulder, and did not let on about it, until the game was over! He wasn't the greatest student, but he's a hard working, loyal, dedicated kid. You can't ask for better kids. This kid probably ran between a 4.65-4.7. He tackled better than anyone on the team, and he was by far the biggest hitter. He was very dedicated to our program, and now he is more dedicated to our country as a soldier over in Iraq.

There is opportunity for any really good athlete at NCAA DIV1-A or 1 -AA. There are good players in NAIA DIV 3 also! NCAA DIV II or DIV III is good football. I have helped put a good number of players to Div1 NCAA and have also helped put players in NAIA div III. The point being, there is great opportunity at any level of college football for an athlete to showcase his talents for the pro scouts. Who ever heard of Mississippi Valley State until Jerry Rice played there??? When I was coaching HS level football I often told my players: I would much rather be a big fish in a small pond, than a small fish in a big pond! Go where you can play, not to just be able to say you were on the roster of a big school but never saw the field!!! Go where they will pay for your education if that is possible, if not, take the next best offer at a place that will afford you playing time. Just my suggestion, as always.

Coach Easton

As always Coaches, THANK YOU.

I joined this site because of the balanced and sometimes passionate discussion and sharing of ideas. It is the only site on the web like this I have ever joined and my judgement is well placed. It is difficult to get information at the higher end of the game and that's often what I am interested in, this page satisfies my every desire. I don't pretent to know much of anything but have been lucky enough to work with various all-star teams and also Team Down Under as HC playing Arena football against AF2 teams (Quadcities and Columbus Wardogs). All this experience has taught me is just how little I know but creates in me a thirst for so much more. A thirst I'm sure the Lord wouldn't give me if it couldn't be satisfied. As for the big fish concept. At one level I agree, but for me, I want to swim in the biggest pond with the biggest fish...only then will I learn how to swim fastest.


Mike Sea #11

PS Here is a toast to young Timmy, a 15 yo player in my Colts team. It seems he is the only person on this earth who doesn't understand the genetic limitations he has...I for one am not going to tell him. If you did find an instrument to measure heart young Timmy would break it - for that I am sure.