Great night of music/artistry

Let me just say right off the bat that this post may throw some people for a loop. I must qualify that statement by saying I have a very eclectic taste in music. I like country, rock and roll, jazz, Christian, classical, and the list goes on and on (rap not included). I also have an ear for Irish music and Celtic tunes. In recent years, I have become a big fan of a group called Celtic Woman. I attended my first Celtic Woman concert in Fargo, North Dakota about two years ago. This past weekend, my wife and I took in a second concert by these amazing performers at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland. The concert was absolutely fabulous and the talent of the singers and musicians is just beyond words. Many people are surprised when I tell them about my interest in this kind of an experience. Perhaps, my taste is a bit unusual considering that I coach a sport that many consider to be brutal, violent, and barbaric. This is a rather unique irony about my personality and one that I do not always fully understand. Within the white lines, I could be aggressive as they come. In fact, I will admit that I've even been thrown out of a few games in my career for fighting. However, I am rather laid back off the field. Away from football, I gravitate towards things like travel, golf, reading, philosophy, and keeping up on current events. I would rather take a walk with my daughter and pick flowers than watch a heavyweight fight or a UFC match. I know, I can't explain it either??? I have never liked to kill things and that surely explains why I don't hunt and probably never will. The only gun I will ever own is a water gun. Don't get me wrong here. I don't have any issues with those who like to hunt, but I just know I would freeze if I ever had Bambi in my sights and my finger was on the trigger. I guess one of the great things about getting older, and trust me, this is the only one I've been able to come up with so far, is this feeling that I am getting more comfortable in my own skin. Even if this skin is a lot more wrinkled that it used to be! My point is that I'm really okay with having interests off the field that are quite different from many of my colleagues.

In truth, I have been reluctant to follow a career path in pursuit of a Division I college football job because I have seen what it can do to somebody who is totally over committed. There were times at Trinity when I felt married to my job and I know the price of coaching at the Division I level is very high indeed. Just ask Urban Meyer about trying to find that correct balance. In any case, I just never want football to define me as a person. Football has always been an outlet for me, a legal way to display aggression and get my competitive juices flowing. It is a great rush and challenge to coach the sport. I am so thankful to be involved with the sport and have an opportunity to influence the lives of others. The only title I have in my life that sounds better is "Dad." It is a great honor to be called "Coach, even if I am the kind of coach who admits to getting all fired up for a Celtic Woman Concert!

The Bag Pipes added an interesting element to the concert

Mairead Nesbitt-- The most amazing fiddle player

Mairead and the 4 main vocalists

A wonderful concert at the Inner Harbor

Lights out.

Reflections on a Special Game

Recently, I realized that I never did post any pics from the Army/Navy contest. It has been a few months now since my son Kodie and I attended our first service academy game. The experience was certainly everything we thought it would be. The game itself was not one for the ages, but witnessing the ceremony and tradition associated with the event was really something special. I have a great respect for the service academies as well as the sacrifices and commitments that are made by all of the cadets off the field. On the playing field, cadets exemplify qualities that are becoming less and less common in the real world of sports. Sportsmanship is part of the equation when Army plays Navy. There is a respect for the game and a sense of integrity to uphold. There are generally few penalties in these contests because the athletes possess strong discipline and excellent attention to detail.

The crowd at these games is also very enthusiastic as cadets from each academy chant and cheer throughout the game to give their team support. Kodie was mesmerized by the paratroopers who parachuted onto the playing field during pre-game. The sound of jet flyovers and the sight of cadets doing pushups after each score only added to the electricity.

The game was close most of the way as Army played with great emotion to match the superior talent of their opponent. In the end, the midshipmen were just too much for the team from West Point. Navy cruised to victory and continued their recent trend of dominating this annual football game. Navy would later prove that they were no fluke during the 2009 season by defeating the University of Missouri during their college bowl matchup.

Rare picture indeed-- An option team passing the football

Looks like a cover 2 look to me

Army's pre-game introductions

A few West Point cadets rooting on their team

America's Game

Kodie at the big game

Looking out towards the Philly skyline

Part of the pre-game festivities

Lights out.

Say it isn't Snow

A nice clear driveway--- after two and a half hours of shoveling!

Cars are under there somewhere!

Looking out from the garage

A Sea of White

Looking out towards our townhouse

Having a great time in the snow

Sun setting over Greenway Farms

Winter of 2010

Our first winter back on the east coast will certainly last for some time in our memories. Record setting snowfalls have convinced many of our family and friends alike that we brought this "stuff" with us from North Dakota. The winter here is still mild by Montana and North Dakota standards, but a few of the storms have been pretty intense. We have received about 40-45 inches of snow since last Saturday, and the kids have been out of school for the whole week. All of us are feeling a little cabin fever right now and looking forward to doing something other than shoveling snow.

I am heading to a Glazier clinic in Baltimore this weekend with the coaching staff from Aberdeen High School. It will be nice to get out of the house for a bit and catch up on some new info. in the game of football. The winter clinics were a big part of my coaching routine in North Dakota. I used to get to the Glazier clinic in Minneapolis every year and sometimes made it out to other clinics in Chicago or even California. It is a great opportunity for networking with other coaches and staying current on new techniques that are catching momentum, especially in the college and pro game.

My upcoming coaching plans are to head over to Finland for a short spring camp next month. I will be flying out in a few weeks to Sweden and then taking a Viking Line Ferry over to Helsinki. It will be a good opportunity to see all the guys and meet our new players that have been signed for the 2010 season. Right now, the plan is to go back over to Finland in early May and stay through the end of the season, which could last into early September.

Lights out.

The 2010 Flag Bowl

I must admit I spent very little time watching the NFL's 2010 version of the Pro Bowl this past weekend. I thought it was a grand idea to alternate the game site between the mainland and the traditional venue in Hawaii. However, the game has lost its luster over the years and things were made worse when the NFL decided to hold the game in the week leading up to the Superbowl. Of course, this scheduling snafu robbed league fans of the chance to see Super Bowl players such as Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Reggie Wayne.

The NFL is a moneymaking machine and they are opportunistic to say the least. I realized the full reality of their marketing power when I attended last years Super Bowl. They had their paws in everything from merchandise, food, and even monopolized the event parking for the big game. When it comes to the Pro Bowl, I believe the league might want to revise their game plan. The game has become a glorified flag football contest, not worthy of the gridiron sport we call tackle football. In truth, many players don't even want to be involved with the event. If you question this, just give Vikings offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie a call and ask his opinion. Participants loathe any real contact and QB's have about as much time to throw as the average Super Bowl commercial takes to finish. I still like the concept of seeing all the superstars out on the field at the same time, but it hardly seems fair to charge game prices for something that no longer bares any resemblance to a football game. If nothing else, donate the proceeds from the game to a good cause like the relief effort in Haiti.

Lights out.

Championship Week has arrived

The NFL is certainly very pleased with the matchups in this weekends conference championship games. The resurgence of the Saints mirrors the struggles and rebuilding of the citizens of post Katrina New Orleans. Minnesota found the only piece they needed to complete their playoff puzzle; a gray-haired, gun-slinging, golden-armed QB, who will be quickly enshrined in Canton--- if he ever stops playing! In the AFC, the Jets are already printing their Super Bowl tickets as ordered by Rex Ryan, their flamboyant and aggressive minded head coach. And the Colts, well one word is sufficient when describing their reason for Super Bowl dreams. PEYTON MANNING. Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell must have felt like he won the coaching lottery when he was hand picked by Tony Dungy as the man to lead the Colts into the future. Caldwell's hardest decision of the year was trying to decide if he should play for perfection at 16-0 or merely be happy with 14-2. What stress he must have felt to be in such a tough position!

Well, now is the time for my Sunday picks. I am impressed with both teams in the NFC championship game, but this game simply comes down to a home field pick for me. I believe these teams are so even on paper, so this is where the home crowd and maybe even a little home cooking come into play. If the game were being played in Minneapolis, I would go with the Vikes, but the people of New Orleans are going to be the difference in a close ball game today. My other prediction is that Mr. Favre will throw two picks in the ballgame, which will help the Saints preserve the victory. And the final score is Saints 30 and Vikes 26

In the AFC, I think T-REX and his ball swarming defense will fall short today, because their offense will let them down. Phillip Rivers is good, but he is no Peyton Manning. Plus, Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore won't corral Manning the way Norv Turner did to his QB in San Diego. Old Norv crawled into a fetal position with his play calling last weekend and didn't even get the ball into the hands of the most dynamic player on his offense. Darren Sproles rarely touched the ball and the Chargers allowed the Jets to dictate the style and tempo of the game. I think the Jets will keep it interesting early, but they will have way more field goals than touchdowns in the contest. And the final score is Colts 26 and Jets 16.

Lights out.

USC driving down the wrong Lane.

I wasn't one bit surprised the other night when I saw on the wire that Lane Kiffin was leaving Tennessee after one season to take the head coaching position at USC. I reported on my blog back on Sept. 21 of this past season that I thought the Vols had make a mistake by hiring Kiffin. I also mentioned in the post that I didn't think the marriage there in Knoxville would last very long. At that time, he was running his mouth a lot and most of the negativity was aimed at Urban Meyer. I said it once and I will say it again, Lane Kiffin's biggest claim to fame is being the son of the intelligent and well respected Monte Kiffin. Shame on USC for making such an impulsive decision. In my opinion, Kiffin hasn't shown anything at any level as of yet. In his prior stint at USC, he was the benefactor of a stocked roster and surrounded by other great coaches. The people at Tennessee are upset, but I think it will be good for them in the long run. I don't know how Kiffin does it, but he could give David Copperfield a run for his money. At best, he is a master illusionist. In Hollywood, people talk about the A-listers like Denzell Washington, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Mel Gibson. They are A-listers for a reason. In the world that is college football, the A-listers are guys like Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Brian Kelly, Joe Paterno. In my opinion, Coach Kiffin doesn't even rate as a B-lister. Since we are doing the Hollywood analogy thing, I would place him in the category of extra. How an "extra" gets a job coaching one of the most storied programs in college football history is beyond me. If you can wait a minute, I will be right back. I am going to put my resume together and see if the Buffalo Bills still need a head coach for next season.

Now on to more important things. Here were my other observations back in September just two weeks into the NFL season.

I said the Tennessee Titans were the best 0-2 team in the league. The Titans did make a nice run down the stretch, but it ended up being too little too late.

I said the Denver Broncos were the worst 2-0 team in the league. The Broncos would go on to post several more wins in a row, but they were overrated from the start. They imploded down the stretch and failed to make the playoffs.

I said the Jacksonville Jaguars window had closed and Del Rio would be out. The Jags did falter and played poorly this year, but Del Rio is still owed 15 million, so the team made the decision to keep him around. The team has lost some 17,000 season ticket holders, so they will have to do some damage control as they move forward.

I posted that I thought the Saints would be the darkhorse of the NFC and said they were poised to make a run this season. They are certainly sitting pretty right now.

I offered the opinion that the Vikings would win their division, but then falter in the playoffs. I hope I am wrong on this one, but the Vikes may have the toughest game out of all of the favored teams this upcoming weekend. The Cowboys are no pushover.

I said the Lions and Rams would battle down the stretch for next years number one draft pick. That wasn't exactly going out on a limb, but I think the Rams did come through for me on this one.

Finally, I said the Redskins would have a new coach and his name would be Mike Shanahan. That is now a reality and I expect the Redskins to make some big strides next season.

Well, that is the end of my fortune telling for now. If only I could pick the outcomes of the games this well. I was incredibly accurate during the college bowl season, but I took a turn for the worse last weekend and only went 1-3 on my NFL picks. Here are my picks/scores for this weekends games.

Saints 333 and Cards 314 No, this is not a typo. I think there will be 9,000 yards of total offense and each QB will lock up a trip to Canton by halftime. Okay all kidding aside.

Saints 37 and Cards 27

Colts 26 and Ravens 19 The Ravens will stay in it early, but once again Manning will be the difference.

Cowboys 30 and Vikings 26 This is my upset special and it pains me to say it. The Steelers are my favorite team, so the Cowboys are naturally our enemy. Think B. Favre will fall just a bit short in this one.

Finally, Chargers 30 and Jets 16. The Jets are a good story, but they will struggle if they have to play catchup football and I think that is what they will have to do this weekend. Sanchez is due for a poor performance and while he has been more steady lately, he is no Phillip Rivers yet. The Chargers will make a statement with this game.

Now, if you are smart, you will go against everything I just said and go 4-0 for the weekend.

Lights out.

Wishes and Resolutions For 2010

Now that we are officially in twenty ten or two-thousand and ten, or however you choose to refer to this new year, wishes and resolutions are buzzing everywhere you go. I've heard at least a dozen people talk about their new workout routine for 2010, and if I remember right, I am one of them. I noticed more people out walking yesterday when I took my morning stroll with my good friend Jake. Jake is my dog of course, but even he seemed to possess an unusual level of energy. Maybe he senses his masters exuberance and anticipation for a fresh start in the new year.

After all, clean slates and new beginnings are some of the greatest aspects of crossing over into January. Many people may actually dread the month of January for reasons such as cold weather, starting back to school or work, or poor retail numbers, ( at least for those of us who have worked in retail). In any case, I am excited about the new year and the chance to see how long my resolutions actually last! I have taken to putting them down in writing in hopes of making me more accountable to ME.

One of my resolutions is to learn more than the 30 or so Finnish words that I grasped last year while coaching overseas. In 2010, I plan on learning more of the language so I can better communicate with the team management and Finnish players. Another simple resolution I have is to learn how to go to bed earlier. You are supposed to learn this one around age 8, or probably in early adulthood at the latest. I am middle aged now (did I actually admit to that!) and I still haven't figured it out. I have been a night owl for as long as I can remember. I recently read that Churchill was a night owl who claimed to do his best work and writing between the hours of 9pm and 3am. He was known for his "Winston hours", and those who know me well better understand that I have always operated on "Eric hours". I would like to adjust this somewhat in 2010. However, I am not off to a good start so far. Last night, I headed off to slumber at the crazy hour of 4:20 am and was up to start my day at 7:15 am. Sounds like my old coaching/teaching hours at Trinity, but I am seriously getting too old for this. Another one of my goals for the upcoming year is to offer my insights to President Obama for major health care reform. Since I have seen over 7,000 dollars disappear out of my checking account in the last 8 days for dental bills, vet bills, health insurance premiums, co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance; I am ready to draw a line in the sand!

In truth, I do have several resolutions for the new year, but I am also counting my blessings. That idea of wanting what I have and thereby having what I want is not lost on me. I am excited about the chance to live another year as a father to my three kids and a husband to my wife. Our family is very blessed and I thank God everyday for the chance to keep my life rolling forward. On top of that, I feel privileged to live in such a special place. The world is rapidly becoming a more volatile and dangerous place and the cost of freedom is rising each year. Despite all of these challenges, America is still one of the best places on the earth to call home.

Now that I've gotten all serious and patriotic on you, it is time to change gears and list some new year wishes/resolutions pertaining to the wide world of sports.

Here are 10 to start with. Send me one of your own

1. I wish that in 2010 the Detroit Lions will still be playing meaningful games in October.

2. I wish the agents and publicists for Charlie Sheen and Tiger Woods the best in putting a positive spin on their irresponsible behavior in 2009.

3. I wish the NBA's Washington Wizards would change their names back to the Washington Bullets to more closely connect with their gun toting players.

4. I wish that more Tiger Woods sponsors would jump off his image based bandwagon and allow him the freedom to pursue fresh endorsements like maybe "Boys Gone Wild" videos.

5. Speaking of videos, I wish that Bill Belichick would finally get a guest appearance slot on the reality show "Cheaters" and that he would do a better job of teaching his long-suffering assistants how to be more productive head coaches. (See also: Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, and now Josh McDaniels)

6. I wish the New York Yankees would change their name to the New York Spenders or the Bronx Bankers and just leave everybody's free agents alone for one season.

7. I wish Al Davis would hand the keys to the Raiders over to someone a little more aware of what is going on in the 21st century as it pertains to football. The only thing consistent in Raider land is the leg of Janikowski.

8. I wish sporting event ticket prices would fall from the stratosphere where they currently reside and put Joe the common fan back in the seats. Too many players who play games meant for boys don't appreciate how much they are getting paid and their collective sense of entitlement is spoiling a future generation of American athletes. Housing prices have tanked 30-40%, maybe it is time for ticket prices to follow suit.

9. I wish the BCS would finally fall on the sword and a playoff system would take root in college football. Then the pundits and so called experts couldn't rob teams like Boise State of a chance for a national title after going 14-0. Most of the dogs have roared during the college bowl season, and the phrase "Any given Saturday" is especially true in the college game. Let the teams decide who is national champion.

10. Last but not least, I wish coach Mike Leach the best in finding new employment. Maybe, I can convince him to return to Finland and coach with me next season. Leach once coached the Pori Bears in western Finland several years before his stint with Texas Tech. In truth, Leach has probably had more impact on the college game over the last 10 years than anybody other than Urban Meyer. His spread offensive schemes have influenced coaches all over the country and he has been proven that imitation is the highest form of flattery. I don't believe any QB's actually go under center in the Big Ten conference anymore, so Leach's methods and principles have taken root all over. Leach is certainly a quirky individual as well as an unconventional coach. He put the wrong "entitled athlete" in the shed that day. I don't necessarily agree with his methods, but his firing smells funny to me.

Happy New Year and Lights Out!