Rant/Rave: My 3rd favorite month

[lukethedrifter]

Those guys are from Western Ellanoise.

[Jocephus]

Erin: I was thinking it would be fun to talk on the way over. So what decade would you have chosen to be a teenager?
Michael: [shakes head, annoyed] I don't know.
Erin: I would have chosen the 1490's.
Michael: Ahhh.
Erin: 'Cause America was discovered.
Michael: Right. [sighs]

Erin: [at lunch].... Did you have a favorite age? Or month?
Michael: An age or month?
Erin: Yeah, like a favorite month. Like I like April when I was seven.

[jim]

Is double sessions a common term? I've honestly never heard that before in my life. Sounds like it should refer to soccer practices or something. We always said two-a-days.

Yeah, pretty common where I grew up. I've heard of two-a-days but I don't think we ever used that term.

HS players have it pretty easy today, for one they don't even let them go to full pads in Illinois until Saturday. Helmets only Wed, Thu, and Fri. We were full pads day 1, and never got out of them. Then hell week the following week - 12 practices from Mon-Sat. I remember the big deal for us was popsicles on Wed after the evening practice during hell week. That was the carrot that kept us going. A [expletive] popsicle after practice.

Today hell week stops Thursday, because they usually have a light scrimmage Friday night and then get on their regular schedule because they start their season the following Friday. We still had two more weeks of practice after doubles because our first game wasn't until the weekend after labor day. Now they play in August.

We practiced from 8:30-10:30, and then again from 3:30-5:30. We had meetings from 1:00-3:00 in a hot gymnasium. Our practice field was lumpy and hard as concrete. It was absolutely awful.

I hate football. No [expletive] idea why I played that dumb ass game outside of guilt. I liked our coach and had a lot of respect for him, and don't think I could have faced him in the hallway if I didn't play. Friends and family too just expected me to play I guess. That was the about my only reason. Maybe cheerleaders too.

[IMADreamer]

Is double sessions a common term? I've honestly never heard that before in my life. Sounds like it should refer to soccer practices or something. We always said two-a-days.

Yeah, pretty common where I grew up. I've heard of two-a-days but I don't think we ever used that term.

HS players have it pretty easy today, for one they don't even let them go to full pads in Illinois until Saturday. Helmets only Wed, Thu, and Fri. We were full pads day 1, and never got out of them. Then hell week the following week - 12 practices from Mon-Sat. I remember the big deal for us was popsicles on Wed after the evening practice during hell week. That was the carrot that kept us going. A [expletive] popsicle after practice.

Today hell week stops Thursday, because they usually have a light scrimmage Friday night and then get on their regular schedule because they start their season the following Friday. We still had two more weeks of practice after doubles because our first game wasn't until the weekend after labor day. Now they play in August.

We practiced from 8:30-10:30, and then again from 3:30-5:30. We had meetings from 1:00-3:00 in a hot gymnasium. Our practice field was lumpy and hard as concrete. It was absolutely awful.

I hate football. No [expletive] idea why I played that dumb ass game outside of guilt. I liked our coach and had a lot of respect for him, and don't think I could have faced him in the hallway if I didn't play. Friends and family too just expected me to play I guess. That was the about my only reason. Maybe cheerleaders too.

Yep all of that. I can't believe they don't do pads three freaking days a week. Hell that isn't even practicing. We always did weights at like 6:30. Practice at 8:30 to 11. Then afternoon was 2:30-5. It sucked. That first week or so was practically all conditioning so we were just running our asses off all the time. The only time we ever did helmets only was the day before a game. The only thing I look back and got out of football was a bad knee.

[Freed Roger]

Games were a picnic compared to practice. We'd kick the snot out of each other in practice. In some regards, it was easier for a small guy like me - more endurance, didn't take the shots - and I liked venting(or vetting) out my Napoleon syndrome. It helped that back then big guys were almost all slow.

Needless to say, I recall puking at practice and having wounds/injuries that wouldn't heal until after the season.

Really, a lot of that old football practice stuff in the heat was counter-productive. a kid can need an old school toughening up, but often practice was about getting thru it, rather than getting better. the best and liveliest game I had, was after a week where I didn't practice at all because a contusion/hemotoma on my arm swelled it up twice it's size.

Definitely no exercise science employed. Kids are dumb at that age, but the more purpose (and fun) you can give to the pain and suffering they are going thru in practice, the better.

I know a few kids, and coaches involved with grade school level football. It's an interesting and perhaps dangerous dynamic - because the # of participants in football is down, most kids are softer, yet the coaches as yelling gung-ho and mad with the power they have over the kids . Something has to give.

The only thing I look back and got out of football was a bad knee.

And an ass-whipping by QND.

[IMADreamer]

Games were a picnic compared to practice. We'd kick the snot out of each other in practice. In some regards, it was easier for a small guy like me - more endurance, didn't take the shots - and I liked venting(or vetting) out my Napoleon syndrome. It helped that back then big guys were almost all slow.

Needless to say, I recall puking at practice and having wounds/injuries that wouldn't heal until after the season.

Really, a lot of that old football practice stuff in the heat was counter-productive. a kid can need an old school toughening up, but often practice was about getting thru it, rather than getting better. the best and liveliest game I had, was after a week where I didn't practice at all because a contusion/hemotoma on my arm swelled it up twice it's size.

Definitely no exercise science employed. Kids are dumb at that age, but the more purpose (and fun) you can give to the pain and suffering they are going thru in practice, the better.

I know a few kids, and coaches involved with grade school level football. It's an interesting and perhaps dangerous dynamic - because the # of participants in football is down, most kids are softer, yet the coaches as yelling gung-ho and mad with the power they have over the kids . Something has to give.

The only thing I look back and got out of football was a bad knee.

And an ass-whipping by QND.

Oh you had to go there!

Quick QND story. We played a game up there, I'll say this is 1997 maybe. We get there and all of the lightbulbs are taken out of our locker room. No big deal I guess you guys were dicks we all knew that. Then we run out to the field all while the crowd is throwing things at us. I did not think highly of QND back then.

Got my revenge in the spring when I hit two bombs in baseball season. One was a go ahead three run shot that probably still hasn't landed. Since it was QND not only did I watch it, but I stared down the pitcher as I rounded third. I was not the best winner in my youth. lol

[jim]

Games were a picnic compared to practice. We'd kick the snot out of each other in practice. In some regards, it was easier for a small guy like me - more endurance, didn't take the shots - and I liked venting(or vetting) out my Napoleon syndrome. It helped that back then big guys were almost all slow.

Needless to say, I recall puking at practice and having wounds/injuries that wouldn't heal until after the season.

Really, a lot of that old football practice stuff in the heat was counter-productive. a kid can need an old school toughening up, but often practice was about getting thru it, rather than getting better. the best and liveliest game I had, was after a week where I didn't practice at all because a contusion/hemotoma on my arm swelled it up twice it's size.

Definitely no exercise science employed. Kids are dumb at that age, but the more purpose (and fun) you can give to the pain and suffering they are going thru in practice, the better.

I know a few kids, and coaches involved with grade school level football. It's an interesting and perhaps dangerous dynamic - because the # of participants in football is down, most kids are softer, yet the coaches as yelling gung-ho and mad with the power they have over the kids . Something has to give.

The only thing I look back and got out of football was a bad knee.

And an ass-whipping by QND.

It was totally counter productive. We used to go in pads the day before a game. Practice practice practice. Remember Bull in the Ring? Dumb ass stupid ass [expletive] [expletive]. Should have sued those [expletive] for doing that dumb ass drill.

Fast forward to my son's HS team - once the season started they really backed off. They would go hard Mon/Tue and then Wed was half pads and Thursday a walk through. They were 11-2 his senior year and have been a power house for years. Coach is smart, players have their legs on game night.

[Freed Roger]

The only thing I look back and got out of football was a bad knee.

And an ass-whipping by QND.

Oh you had to go there!

Quick QND story. We played a game up there, I'll say this is 1997 maybe. We get there and all of the lightbulbs are taken out of our locker room. No big deal I guess you guys were dicks we all knew that. Then we run out to the field all while the crowd is throwing things at us. I did not think highly of QND back then.

Got my revenge in the spring when I hit two bombs in baseball season. One was a go ahead three run shot that probably still hasn't landed. Since it was QND not only did I watch it, but I stared down the pitcher as I rounded third. I was not the best winner in my youth. lol

I've got lots of connection to the Saukees -via my cousins. Fortunately they were able to help us after Saukee fans flattened our tires at their place. Good times. It was the only time I sensed discrimination against us, for the Catholic thing.

The basketball games were even more nutso, with that cuckoo coach Bennett - much of both teams were football players just switching seasons, so the game was more football than basketball.

Much respect for ye olde Saukee football program though. Those legendary record-setting teams under Deek Pollard. From what we were told, players were highly encouraged to cross-train in the winter/spring by running track, wrestling. Earlier into the weight-lifting programs than most places. Our coach idolized the guy.

HS football - the work practice to game time ratio is way out of whack, especially with injuries. I realize it is largely a thing of the past for kids like me, and I probably was more cut out for soccer in the fall, but don't have regrets.

[Freed Roger]

It was totally counter productive. We used to go in pads the day before a game. Practice practice practice. Remember Bull in the Ring? Dumb ass stupid ass [expletive] [expletive]. Should have sued those [expletive] for doing that dumb ass drill.

Fast forward to my son's HS team - once the season started they really backed off. They would go hard Mon/Tue and then Wed was half pads and Thursday a walk through. They were 11-2 his senior year and have been a power house for years. Coach is smart, players have their legs on game night.

ha ha Bull in the Ring. what lunacy. In season, when we lost or played poorly - Our coach would have us run and hit more -in addition to the weight room work. The inseason weight room work early in week was actually a good idea, the hitting just wore people down - and considering our roster was pretty small (soccer was big in the hs too) it made no sense. And so finally on the day prior to game day, when we would just do special teams, and practice without full pads, we tended to mentally and physically check out for that practice, because we were too wiped out to get much out of it.

We had something called King of the Board. One douche coach had a drill (form of punishment actually) where two were lined up 15 yards apart and just rammed into each other. Then there was "the Gauntlet" which if you managed thru it unscathed you were lucky only to be exhausted for the day, or the other option of getting tackled repeatedly up and down the field.

I hated the August part, the rest of it I liked. (trying to tie this shameless tangent back to the OP)

[IMADreamer]

The only thing I look back and got out of football was a bad knee.

And an ass-whipping by QND.

Oh you had to go there!

Quick QND story. We played a game up there, I'll say this is 1997 maybe. We get there and all of the lightbulbs are taken out of our locker room. No big deal I guess you guys were dicks we all knew that. Then we run out to the field all while the crowd is throwing things at us. I did not think highly of QND back then.

Got my revenge in the spring when I hit two bombs in baseball season. One was a go ahead three run shot that probably still hasn't landed. Since it was QND not only did I watch it, but I stared down the pitcher as I rounded third. I was not the best winner in my youth. lol

I've got lots of connection to the Saukees -via my cousins. Fortunately they were able to help us after Saukee fans flattened our tires at their place. Good times. It was the only time I sensed discrimination against us, for the Catholic thing.

The basketball games were even more nutso, with that cuckoo coach Bennett - much of both teams were football players just switching seasons, so the game was more football than basketball.

Much respect for ye olde Saukee football program though. Those legendary record-setting teams under Deek Pollard. From what we were told, players were highly encouraged to cross-train in the winter/spring by running track, wrestling. Earlier into the weight-lifting programs than most places. Our coach idolized the guy.

HS football - the work practice to game time ratio is way out of whack, especially with injuries. I realize it is largely a thing of the past for kids like me, and I probably was more cut out for soccer in the fall, but don't have regrets.

That not liking Catholics thing is pretty strong here. I've felt it myself as a Catholic. It had to be way worse as a QND Catholic. lol

The legendary teams of the early 70s were never far from anyone's mind. You go to the field and there is that huge 64 wins in a row sign. Then before every game the couch would make us go sit in the gym for a few minutes and be quiet. He'd say something like "look up there boys" as he would point to the rafters where the banners from all those seasons, plus the basketball banners hung. He'd then say "don't think this doesn't matter. Do great things and this town will never forget you." Every game. Of course we never were that great. We made the playoffs a couple times but we'd go up against some school that would cream us. Usually Carthage or Calhoun.

My old coach Larry Johnsen now coaches for Geneseo and I think they have won a championship or two.

Basketball though, that's where it was at when I was in high school. I didn't play, but I felt like the best three athletes in my class usually skipped football for basketball. Which is probably why we were ranked number one a time or two only to get upset in the tournament. Coach Bennett. Now there is an interesting guy. As a football player I never got to do PE but he was the teacher and in the winter he would make the classes do Square Dancing for a week. He would call the dance. It was a thing to see. lol

Oh yeah getting back on topic. Football hurt and still does. Stupid 40 second drills and junkyard dog.