California

I recently returned from a trip to California. Anaheim to be exact. I was there for two conferences. On Friday and Saturday I went to the National Strength and Conditioning Association Sport Specific Conference at the Disneyland Conference center. On Sunday and Monday I went to the American Football Coaches Association Conference at the Anaheim conference center. The conferences were both very informative. I look forward to implementing the information I gathered to make the athletic department at Concordia better both physically and mentally.

Now it is time to complain. Why are cats allowed on planes? I urge the executives of airlines to sit in coach, between two people then to deal with a cat that is not happy during the landing. This cat was so unhappy that it could not control it's bowels. Yes, you read that correct. It crapped on the plane, and it smelled atrocious. Just one more reason to dislike cats.

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Celebrate the birth of the Christ Child!

Recruiting

Why do some high school football coaches just not care? The other coaches and I call to make visits and they do not call to cancel if that time is not good. When that happens the highlight of my day are either walking around Target, Kohl's or Barnes and Noble for an hour. Sometimes I take a book and read in a parking lot. There are days that I take a nap inside my sweet Dodge Neon that says Concordia University Chicago on the side.

Ninja

• Free Time - I cycle, lift weights, run


• Profession - Full-time football coach


• When necessary - NINJA

The Next Season

As the leaves on the trees continue to fall, I'd like to take this time to reflect on some things. First, on Saturday November 3, 2007 the Cougar football team concluded it's season with a final record on 3-7. While we did not reach our goal of 5-5, looking back there are some positives:

• First time since 1992 a Concordia River Forest/Chicago team had more than 2 wins.
• Defeated MacMurray College for the first time since the 1992 season.
• Since Coach Pries took over, the offense is averaging 6 more points per game while the defense is giving up 15 points less per game.

I definitely learned a lot as a first year college coach. Hopefully I continue to learn, grow and become a better coach and person in the process.

The recruiting season officially began. Last week I made my first trip over to Michigan. I was able to speak with several former students at Lutheran High North. That was definitely a pleasant day. On the following day I went to Lutheran Westland. While I was not able to speak to any seniors, hopefully someone will be able to look a the vast literature I was able to drop off. At Lutheran Northwest I had the opportunity to meet with 5 athletes.

Hopefully this off-season or as we are calling it "Pre-Season" will be an exciting time for the Cougars. I recently learned that Florida may become a major area for me to recruit. I guess I may take one for the team and schedule two week long trips to the land of sunshine and warm weather.

Mind Numbing

Just some thing to think about:

• When a DOOR is open, people say it is AJAR. But if A JAR is open is it a DOOR?
• If you put HOT SAUCE in the refrigerator, does it get cold?

Sad days...

Last night I read something that was totally shocking to me. It hurt me to the core. I read an article on yahoo.com stating that J. K. Rowling, the author of the infamous Harry Potter series, revealed that Dumbledore, the Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, was indeed a homosexual. That while he was growing up he had a "crush" on the wizard Gellert Grindelwald. Although it must not have been too big of a crush because those of us that have read the last and final book in the series learned that Dumbledore eventually killed Grindelwand in an epic battle. A battle that was almost five years in the making because Dumbledore struggled with his heart and feelings.

Now, in another yahoo.com article, I read that former singer for the "Boy Band" N'Sync also has a book coming out soon where he reveals he is also a homosexual. Indeed these last two days have been sad.