Same Game; New Chapter: Auf Weidersehen Austria

Defensive staff post-game meeting.

"If you send somebody to teach somebody, be sure that the system you are teaching is better than the system they are practicing."

- Oklahoma's Native Son- Will Rogers

I was reading some Will Rogers quotes lately and came across this one. It gave me pause to remember the moment that I thought I could teach somebody something better than they were practicing it. I was watching the YouTube football video in which last year's 2010 L.A. Titans (now the Kornmesser Rangers) were playing the Traun Steel Sharks. I watched the defense of the team that would become the Rangers and saw some things with which I thought I could help. The team was very long on enthusiasm but lacked certain observable technical skills.

"If they just improved a few things....." I thought to myself. Because coaches have to make decisions in the seconds between plays, it didn't take long for me to decide that I (we) could make a positive difference in a team. Instill, practice, and insist on basic fundamentals. Line up correctly. Play gap-control defense with discipline and an attitude of intensity (like you are mad at the world). Teach turnovers. Stop the run. Control the pass. Fly to the ball. Hit hard. Emphasize the kicking game. (Close games are decided by them. That's why they call them "Special Teams".)

So I suggested that Johnathan come along also. When the Rangers agreed, Johnathan actually cut his European "Walkabout" short by two weeks and began installing the Odd-Stack defense that he (and later, the Altus Staff) had learned from current Tulsa Union coach Kirk Fridrich while coaching with him at Stillwater HS. In reality, he did all the "heavy-lifting". By the time I arrived in February, the basics of the secondary/lb play were in.

We used our defensive terms, we coached stance, alignment, and technique. We read and reacted to blocks, routes, and backfield actions. We coached "scoop 'n score", interceptions, pursuit, and above all, TACKLING.

Johnathan made animated PowerPoints that showed when, where, and why we moved where we did. Scouting reports were assembled and emailed. Adjustments were produced. Film sessions were scheduled and watched. We made ourselves available every time extra learning time was requested and needed. The players, in return, showed us the utmost respect and hustle. They never challenged our knowledge and / or authority. They had a multitude of questions as well as a few doubts and reservations. I felt that we answered each one, (mostly) with patience and understanding. I hope there was no question about our work ethic, intensity, or passion for the game. We wanted to represent Altus, Oklahoma, and USA football in the way we had been taught and in the way it should be approached, practiced, and played.

We allowed just over 10 points and averaged causing about 3 turnovers per game. We never allowed opposing offenses more than 175 yards passing or 150 yards rushing. Often, these totals were much less. In one game, we stopped the best offense in the division in overtime when they had the ball on our one yard line with 1st and ten. Numerous times, opponents were stopped on 4th down attempts. 3 and outs were common in every game. We contributed to cause by scoring on defense in two different games. When all hope seemed lost in the semi-finals, we stripped the ball and recovered it (the offense responded in kind by scoring the winning td on the next play). We lost key players to injuries, etc and replaced them with success. We saw guys improve their skills, virtually before our very eyes during the season. But the thing that we did of which I am the proudest was: we never let the opponent score more than we scored.

Undefeated. 2011 Silver Bowl Champions.

The Rangers organization gave every effort to do things first class. Sometimes, events beyond their control or foresight prevented some plans, but the intentions were always of the highest caliber. Team president Gerhard Brauer and his wife Manuella show their evident love for the game through countless, thankless, unseen, and unglamorous efforts. Head Coach Mathias Weinberger gave us the freedom to coach defense. He adopted a pragmatic approach to the challenges of the higher level of competition than in past years by accepting our suggestions at times. He also demonstrated his knowledge of Austrian football that resulted in another undefeated season. Assistants Manuel Auzinger and Matthias Neumann gave of their time unselfishly and with great skill. Guardian angels like Melanie Pinz, Mona Wi, and Claudia Schwarz were constantly helping where they could.

It was a new experience for me to be coaching players that were as old as my former assistants. I once remarked to 39-year old middle linebacker Franz Koloshar, that I was used to coaching WITH guys his age and not actually coaching guys his age. The players were married, had children (sometimes both at the same time), jobs, and school. They were from 17 to 39 years old and possessed varying degrees of English usage. Many times they said things I couldn't understand and at others, were blunt and brutally honest. Their main exposure to American football was NFL and movies. They kept up with NFL.com and watched games at odd hours because of the time difference. Some started playing football around 10-12 years old, some at 21. They bought and carried their own gear. They were pre-law students, railway workers, airline employees, and polizei (police). They were teachers, students, youth ministers, and bartenders. But we were all bound together by our love of the game of football.

And because of that love, I got to experience an amazing 5 and ½ months. An unforgettable first season of American football in Austria. I may return to this incredible country and if so, I expect to compete at an even higher level with similar results. But I will never have another first season in Europe.

So was Will Rogers quote from before 1935, applicable for this season? Was what we taught better than what they were practicing? I would like to think so, but I hope that we taught some things that were at least, useful. And let me finish by saying one more thing.

This Same game; new continent has been a great ride.

Auf Weidersehen