Meat Market

Don't Worried About The Depth Chart

Andy Kaasa — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 01:33:58 +0000

Can Robert Elliott take the demands of this program? Is this the type of person I want running the football for me? Does he have enough confidence? Can he handle the SEC? I mean, come on. If a kid is worried about the depth chart or whoever you're recruiting- those are red flags."

Pg 280

Keep It Positive

Andy Kaasa — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 01:31:50 +0000

Orgeron knew USC was the school he had to beat, but he shot straight and didn't try to discourage McKnight from considering the Trojans: "I will never say a bad word about USC. I respect the program, and I respect Pete Carroll. You will play there right away. There is no doubt in my mind."

Pg 277

Attitude

Andy Kaasa — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:01:04 +0000

"Stick to the plan," Orgeron began, pounding the table. "Be persistent. I expect you out of the hotel by 7:00. No sleeping in 'til 9:00. I wanna hear, 'That coach told me he was going to be here at 8 o'clock and he was here at 7:50.' That means a lot to me."

The No. 1 thing was attitude toward work, he said, but you got the impression that it was Nos. 2-10 as well.

Pg 229

We May Not Win Every Game

Andy Kaasa — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:59:08 +0000

The motto in the Grove: "We may not win all the games, but we've never lost a party."

Pg 192

Aspirin

Andy Kaasa — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:56:28 +0000

You bring the aspirin. We bring the pain.

Pg 152

Energy

Andy Kaasa — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:47:54 +0000

Energy is enthusiasm . . . enthusiasm breeds confidence . . . and confidence leads to winning.

Silence, conversely, creates lulls, and lulls make people passive.

Pg 149

Frank Wilson

Andy Kaasa — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:32:42 +0000

As a wunderkind coach- he'd been named head coach at the age of 27- Wilson had transformed hardscrabble O. Perry Walker High's football program in New Orleans into one of the state's great success stories. He instituted mandatory study halls and pre-school breakfasts. Players had to wear dress shirts and ties every day. They had to sit in the front row of the classroom. Wilson arranged for an academic counselor, who got paid through a grant funded by the NFL's Play It Smart program. In one year, the team's GPA jumped from 1.5 to 2.5. The team also gave John Curtis Christian its first district loss in 25 years. By his third season, Wilson had the school playing in the state title game.

"Frank Wilson made all those kids believe that they could excel in football, the classroom, and as leaders," Louisiana state senator Francis Heitmeir said after Wilson's departure for Oxford. "It was just remarkable what he did."

Pg 101

I"m Just Talking At You

Andy Kaasa — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:30:40 +0000

Take Care of your position. Come on, now. I ain't bitchin' at you. I'm just talking at you.

Pg 93

No

Andy Kaasa — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:00:42 +0000

Jimmy Johnson was also never afraid to tell his coaches "No." He didn't need to hear then-defensive line coach Butch Davis whine about why the Canes should take a certain prospect. If Johnson didn't believe in his gut that the player could excel, he wouldn't bring him onto his team. Period. No way. End of discussion.

Pg 40-41

The Secret Is Talent

Andy Kaasa — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:55:57 +0000

It didn't take Orgeron long to scope out the secret to Miami's success: talent. Lots of talent. Starters were understandably reluctant to come off the field in practice because they feared their understudies might never surrender the position again.

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