Back in the USA (for a while)

Following our game against the Raiders 2 team, in anticipation of our upcoming off-week, I boarded an Austrian Airlines jet that took me to Charles DeGaulle Airport in Paris where I proceeded to get lost in the busiest airport I have ever seen. It seemed that all of humanity was there, walking toward me. No one seemed to be going the way I was. As time was running out to make my plane, a nice French information desk attendant showed me the direction of the terminal to which I was to report. After going with the teeming herds of humanity through customs and security, I made it onto my American Airlines flight to Dallas, Texas, USA.

The eleven hour flight was eased a little when I encountered American voices. One of the voices belonged to a former coach and referee from the Pacific Northwest (and his relatives and traveling companions). We had an enjoyable conversation in the terminal and then discovered that we were sitting in close proximity for the long ride home. Before I encountered the group of which I spoke, I had asked a guy ahead of me in line if this flight was going to Dallas. His one word reply,:"Yup". I then proceeded to tell him that I was so glad to here an American voice. He looked at me and explained, "I am French". Whoops. "Yup" must be an internationally flexible word.

The flight was delayed and I had to "sprint" through the Dallas airport. At one point, the customs check to re-enter the US had a line wrapped multiple times around this huge baggage area. At numerous checkpoints, I was asked for my passport, anything I had to declare, and why I didn't have any large luggage with me after returning from 2 months in Europe. After satisfying security and customs, the only thing that allowed me to make the short hop from DFW to OKC was that it was late leaving. I made it and realized how much I love the OKC airport for its small, uncrowded surroundings.

After virtually no restful sleep for 24 hours, I was energized to greet and hug my best friend as I left the arrival gates and stepped onto the red dirt of the Sooner State. We met friends and I had a long-overdue chicken fried steak. Later in the week, Meers was the site of a longhorn meat Meers burger, Fortune Cookie, and Braums biscuits were also enjoyed.

I enjoyed seeing former students and colleagues but had a funny feeling entering a place at which I taught and coached for 20 years as a visitor. I had enough time to return to my former fourth hour AP History class to tell them to "Sit down and Shut up" one more time.

I told all who would listen how much I enjoyed the city, country, and especially the team.

But my most important duties this week were to take Susan lunch during her lunch period. We ate at the reservoir and I then remembered how little time teachers get to eat.

The week literally flew by but I got to at least see friends and family a little before time to return was at hand.

We were fortunate enough to encounter a great employee of Bank of Oklahoma who helped us exchange Euros for US dollars. Earlier in the week we got to eat with Lynsey and Andrew and this day Lynsey went shopping with us as Andrew had returned to his training for his new airplane. After having a good week, Susan and I ended it with a pleasant stay in Bricktown. The fun times of the week gave way to the nagging realization that once again, we were about to be separated for 35 days. Of all the things about this experience, the separation has been, hands down, the hardest thing with which to deal.

So after a storm-delayed flight from OKC to Chicago, missing a connection and then re-booking a connection to London, and a hop from London, to Vienna, I am back in Austria. After realizing I had no working cell phone with which to call for a ride from the airport and that I had told them I would miss the flight I eventually made, that I had no ride. Added to this was the loss of my suitcase. I finally found lost and found to report the bag. I then proceeded to the train where I realized I could not buy a ticket with my 20 Euro note. (Don't try to buy U Bahn or train ticket with over a 10 euro note). A trip back into the terminal to buy a bottle of water, a purchase of a train ticket, the ride to Landstrasse station. A jump on the U Bahn to Langefeldgasse and a change to Am Shopfwerk. A half mile walk and I am back at the Villa.

Okie voices have again changed to German (and Turkish). The signs are again hard to read. Streets are now Strasses again. Please is Bitte, and there is no right turn on red after stop. And I am still separated from my best friend. But now the countdown in on. In just a few last days of school, we will be together in a beautiful city, seeing the beautiful sights and enjoying the culture and a great game that has brought me to this place. So let's get back to work. Hopefully, our players healed up some wounds and are ready to plunge into the rest of the season and see it through to its successful conclusion

We have much challenge ahead as we face some old enemies in the form of teams that want another crack at us. We must rise to these renewed challenges. Never taking anything for granted, we have to awaken each day and dedicate ourselves to improvement.

Hmm. Sounds like this game is just like the one called "life".

4-0!!! Undefeated; It's a Nice Feeling.

So today, the Kormesser Rangers had another close game against the Swarco Raiders 2 from Innsbruck. The game was a back and forth affair in which the Rangers never trailed but were always in a fight for our lives against a very good team.

After the loss of the first two quarterbacks, Johnathan presented the idea to Coach Weinberger and myself to go to the Wishbone and move Stephan Postel to QB. The idea was to put the ball in the hands of the best athlete as possible that could play the position. Stephan, Lars Gabler, Robert Holocher, Franz Koloshar, Markus Bernas, and others supported the idea by adapting their skills to a crash course in Wishbone play. The team had already run the Flexbone and the O-line of Drago, Phillip Tippow, Benny Rabb, Luki Seidl, and Felix Schildorfer already had an understanding of the blocking assignments. No offense can survive without the blocking from the O-line.

Johnathan, Stephan, Andy Reiter, and others worked on reach step, ride, balance step, get your eyes on the read man, spring downhill, and make a good pitch constantly. Before AND during practice.

We also incorporated our defensive players onto the offense and offensive players onto the defense. We knew that we had to have depth and quality players at practice and the game. Just going one way would not give us enough fire power on either side of the ball. We knew conditioning would be a factor, so subs were necessary when needed.

As usual, our kicking game started us off right by recovering the opening kickoff. Stephan Postel grabbed the ball that Fritz Limbeck knocked loose and the offense proceeded to march down and score. After the kickoff, the Raiders eventually returned the favor for a 7-7 game. We scored again, they scored again, and then Raphael Hackl intercepted a toss and scored. 21-14 at half. It should be noted that Andy Reiter intercepted a pass as the half ended. Another drive was stopped by a fumble recovery by Fritz Limbeck.

The second half saw a good defensive game by the Rangers but the Raiders finally scored to even the score at 21-21 with 5 minutes left. The offense moved the ball down to the field and then the unthinkable happened. The new qb went down. Enter Andy Reiter and Raphael Hackl from the defensive team. Andy lofted a nice pass to Raphael for a first down to keep the drive alive and get into field goal range. On 4th down, Raphie hit the field goal but there was an offsides on the defense. Coach took the points off the board and took the first down with 2:40 left in the game. The drive stalled and Raphie was again called upon to kick the field goal. Like a trained assassin, he drove the ball through the uprights and a stake in the hearts of the Raiders. The had a minute and a half left and drove down inside the 20. On a 3rd down with 5 seconds left, the Raiders kicker missed a field goal and the Rangers come away with the 22nd win in a row and the 4th of 4 this season.

UNDEFEATED BABY!!!!!!!!!

We didn't hold them scoreless but we scored on "D", we had more than 3 turnovers, and more than 5 sacks or tackles for losses, and we held them to less than we scored. The offense did what it had to do and ALL the players contributed in some way or the other.

We enjoyed a great post-game meal at a biergarten called Fabrik (factory, in English). I just got home to pack. Did I mention that tomorrow, I board a jet to leave to OKC via Paris and Dallas? Uh, yeah. I am ready and I am energized to come back after an off week, energized, with a team that has healed up from some tough games.

39 year-old Franz Koloshar played with a pulled hamstring and is among those that need a while to heal. Max Boder has a cast to get off of his hand. Luki Seidl may be playing with a cast on his hand. Others, like Mike Graetz need to heal all over. We ALL need to be in better condition since we may play both ways.

I am so proud of our team for accepting the changes we introduced. I am proud of Coach Weinberger for trusting us to institute the changes and overseeing the whole thing. The groundwork he laid in the preceding years allowed this to be done. His play calling was good and our team executed on both sides of the ball and on special teams well enough to win.

So I go home to Altus, Oklahoma for a long-overdue visit with my best friend. I plan to return and see what more the Rangers will accomplish. Stay with us, pray for us, send good thoughts our way.

"We believe that we will win"

Milestones: Two and Two Thousand

The long staircase down at the Karlsplatz station. Nothing to do with the blog today, just ran across the pic.

At the Museum of Ancient Arms. The arm guard of Suliman II. His arm is not currently in it.

I am writing this just days after the 2-month anniversary of my arrival to Vienna, Austria. I sit here (alone; because I am apart from my best friend) and reflect on the time. It won't be heartstopping, page turning material, but I decided to put down a few ramblings.

I noticed on the stats provided by Google that I have had over two thousand hits on this blog in the time I have been writing it. I have had hits from as far away as Singapore, China, the Ukraine, Belarus, Alaska, and Oklahoma as well as Austria. I am deeply humbled that you would take the time to read this and am really encouraged when you give me feedback that encourages me to keep writing.

After 3 games, we are undefeated. We have scored 94 to our opponent's 17. We have been tested by teams we have never played before. We have found ways to win through every challenge. But we also must realize that all undefeated streaks CAN end. We continue to try to anticipate any possible problems and prepare accordingly. We know that every team will play harder against us because they want to be the ones to make the Austrian Times as the ones that stopped our now 21 game winning streak.

Our players struggle with work, injuries, school and sometimes all of the above combined. They struggle against cold, wind, cold AND wind, ice, new offensive formations, playing a position to which they are unaccustomed, and Oklahoma accents. They yearn to hit, even in practice where it would be possible to injure our own teammates. They are proud and willing to trust us. We are proud of them and trust them to do what we coach. They play for the love of the game and they pay their own money to do it.

Price a Schutt helmet sometime. 225 Euros. Shoulder Pads? 175. Pants, pads, shoes, etc, another 2oo. Throw in the obligatory UnderArmour shirt, tights, and beanie. Add gloves. You wear 700 euros worth of football equipment that would be provided in the US. Pay a fee to be in the association. Pay for a medical exam and chip in for the bus transportation. Add to that any braces, pads, collars, etc. No team trainer. The head coach lines the field in green AFTER the game to cover up the football lines from the sacred soccer pitch that can't allow such blasphemy to adorn its hallowed grass.

I know that they trust our experience and what we have learned and impart to them. They have given me measures of respect I have never know before. They make me want to run my head through a wall if that would help us get better. We spend day and night planning and scheming. We deal with sudden absences that were not planned. We spend hours breaking down and analyzing film that is nearly impossible to discern. We see our plans require alteration for various reasons.

And we hope.

We hope that what we do is the very best possible. We hope that our ego allows us to realize that they know football too. And often, we learn from them.

So we play our fourth game Saturday. We actually have two. Our team 2 plays a good Division II team first. Then our Team I game. A double header. I am old and pray for the strength to endure the stress of both. We have much adversity to overcome this week (about which I will not elaborate at this time). Just know that this week has been the hardest since I came. And I thought playing an undefeated team last week would be the worst.

And then Sunday morning. I get on a British Airways jet and fly to Okc via London and Chicago. I plan to spend a week at Altus and enjoy the company of my best friend and all the others that I can make time for. We have an off-week during the Easter holiday so I have worked out a deal to fly home. While home, I plan to explore job opportunities that would begin in mid-July. I am interested in coaching for any team in or around Altus but failing that, anywhere that can use an old coach.

I am excited to return. I miss Meers hamburgers, Oklahoma accents, being able to read the traffic signs, and Eddie's Catfish Fridays. I miss my Bronco (that I hope is now repaired), my dogs, and the temperate SW Oklahoma weather. I miss understanding what people are saying to and about me. I miss ya'll.

But I miss my wife the most. Note: when planning a life move, don't make the mistake of counting 3 months off on your fingers like they are hours. What seemed to be a really short time (like the Summer) has turned out to be nearly eternity. If not for a visit from her on Spring Break and this upcoming trip, I am afraid I would have never made it. We never spent more than 3 nights apart!

So tomorrow is the last walk-through practice. Saturday GAMEDAY! (x 2) and then Sunday is a long flight to a small town. See you at one (or more) of them.

Thanks for spending the time.

Winning TWICE in One Game.

Today was one of the most gratifying wins of my life. But it was really two wins and took a double OT to achieve. On a day in which the Rangers overcame losing the starting Qb on Wednesday and the 2nd team Qb in the 2nd half, AND overcame the WORST OFFICIATING IN THE RECORDED HISTORY OF MANKIND.

I have to begin with the reason for my previous statement. We had played our hearts out and held an amazing offense to only one score. Our offense had overcome great adversity and tied it up late. In the first OT, the defense held them out of the end zone and the offense SCORED on a long Lars Gabler run. AFTER the referee had signaled touchdown, the team ran onto the field in understandable jubilation. The DUMBA** referee throws a flag for get this..... sideline interference! Lars actually scored on the offensive left, clear away from our bench. Not only did the winning td get called back, they penalized us for the after-the-td infraction, took away the td, AND penalized us an additional 15 for unsportsmanlike conduct on a certain defensive coach (you may decide who that may have been).

Our team promptly scored on a gutsy 4th and inches run Robert Holocher behind GREAT O-LINE BLOCKING and this gave the defense a lift. They gashed us and got to the 5 by running. Then on 3rd and goal, Mike Graetz tackles the Qb on the 2, saving the td. Again the referees decided that their earlier snafu wasn't enough and called facemask. 1st and goal from the 1. First down, stuffed 'em. AND 2nd down, from inside the one, Raphie Dachs made a play to stop the Qb run and and Raphie Hackl tackled him when he tried to scramble away from the first Raphie, he fumbles, and Felix Schildorfer recovers! GAME OVER! RANGERS WIN!!

Game over! Rangers WIN in double OT. After having beat them in OT and then to overcome the obviously horrendous and potentially devastating referees lunacy. A lesser team could have just thrown in the towel and made the excuse the referee cost them the game. Not the Rangers! The maturity and character to overcome the adversity only reinforces my favorite saying:

Adversity; expect it- Welcome it- OVERCOME IT!

I am afraid that if I try to list all the big plays, I will leave someone out. I will watch the film and report back. I am proud to have been a part of a big win by a quality bunch of guys. Now, we must improve by quality practice attendance, hustle, and hitting.

Next Saturday, we play the Swarco Raiders. Then, on Sunday, I fly back home for our off-week. I am looking forward to playing another game but more than that, reuniting with my best friend and biggest fan.

In a Fight with the Vienna Knights

Game pics may be seen at Natascha Wallner's picture site:

http://football-pics.jimdo.com/

Our second team 1 game of the season is behind us and I am happy to report that the Rangers are 2-0 for the season and 20-0 for the last, well...20.

The Vienna Knights are a team that our Head Coach Weinberger founded and then found it necessary to leave for greener pastures (the Rangers). Right from the start I could tell that there is no love lost between the two clubs. The Knights had just lost by one point to the Vikings and were now in a position to go 1-2 in the division. They HAD to win and I could tell that they were out to make it happen.

Our team was very confident, a little too confident, we had a long string of undefeated games behind us so what could go wrong, right? Someone forgot to send the Knights that memo for soon, we found ourselves in a good old fashioned "dawg fight".

We drew first blood with a Raphael Hackl field goal. Then we followed with a hard fought touchdown. Whew! Game over, right? Wrong!

The Knights showed the character we saw them exhibit last week against the Vikings and answered back with a 70 yard drive that is very hard for the defensive coordinator to admit at this time. So with a slim 3 point lead, we finished the first half.

Some soul-searching and reminders to play football as it has been taught brought us out for the second half firing on all cylinders. We stopped them sometimes and other times we bent but didn't break.

Late in the game, the 3 point lead was in jeopardy of being overtaken as the Knights were driving to score, and end the streak at 19 straight wins instead of the desired 20. After a timeout in which some adjustments were made, Franz Koloshar intercepted a third down pass that stopped the threat. The offense took advantage of the turnover, took care of the ball, and put the nail in the coffin on what turned out to be the last play of the game. So a 10-7 game ended up 17-7.

Hardly the drubbing our players predicted and a lesson to respect every opponent and prepare like it is the biggest game of the year (because it IS). During the game, our team exhibited great character when the realization that the challenge was bigger than expected. Some long lasting memories will include Mike Graetz (sorry Raphie Hackl, you've had some good hits too, but this one was Mike) putting a hit on an opponent the likes of which, I have seldom seen in ANY country. 39 year-old Franz Koloshar flying around out there with people almost half his age. Fritz Limbeck diagnosing the halfback pass and breaking it up. Max Boder playing with a possible broken hand. Felix Shildorfer, Andy Krammer, and Phillip Tippow playing key roles in the victory AFTER a 2.5 hour National team practice which ended right as the warm up began. Andy Reiter starting us off with an interception. Many others.

We now prepare for the Vikings. The Vikings are the Dallas Cowboys of the Austrian Football league. Their team is marketed, popular, and well coached. Their players are numerous and very talented. We must have a great week of practice and be even better prepared for this upcoming week.

Pictures of the game may be seen at Natascha Wallner's picture site:

http://football-pics.jimdo.com/

I also shared her site on Facebook.

And one more thing. It became crystal clear that referees are terrible in EVERY country.