Do the kids still have heart like they did several years back?

#1
Pooods

Pooods

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#1
A high school friend of mine is now coaching football at our old school. This is his first attempt at head coaching. He did have 2 short runs as assistant. He was a great local player back in his day and learned the game from his father who was head coach for many years at the same school.
After one full season and practice so far for this coming season he is just down in the dumps. He has tried to use techniques like his dad once did and he has tried to pump the guys up. After all he has tried the boys just don't respond. For 2 seasons now they just don't get very excited about the sport. They don't produce during practice and try to show up on Friday nights. They just go through the motions when I have watched them. They all seem to like him too. He has taught school for over a decade now and his dad retired last year after 30+ years. They both told me that most kids will not work hard at school or sports anymore. They think many young men have lost toughness.

I wonder if universities like UT see similar things?
 
#2
#2
They may have that problem to a degree, but I'd say most players at major football programs have the goal to make it to the NFL and realize the avenues they need to travel to get there.
 
#3
#3
I guess it's a matter of perspective, your view from where you happen to be. In the movie 'Deep Impact' Robert DuVall gets asked about the new generation of astronauts. He says they're in better physical condition than we were at their age. They're not scared of dying, just lookin bad on TV. Maybe that means the younger generation is superficial and short on character. Or maybe it means they have plenty of character or heart, they just have'nt had it tested under the eyes of an audience yet.
 
#4
#4
Young boys are getting more and more sissyfied with each passing year. Welcome to the world of hand sanitizers, bicycle helmets, knee pads, and my personal favorite the "no bullying zone".
 
#5
#5
TennesseeT said:
Young boys are getting more and more sissyfied with each passing year. Welcome to the world of hand sanitizers, bicycle helmets, knee pads, and my personal favorite the "no bullying zone".
Click to expand...

While I'm not quite this direct, I think this is correct in it's overall message.

If you look at generational differences we are now seeing that the kids/young adults of today are burdened with an amazing since of entitlement. I say burdened because they don't realize what a disservice it will be to them in the long run. It's becoming more and more prevalent in the working world and I have to guess it's the same with sports. You have to remember, everything is cyclical and there is certainly some cultural influence that has created this -- but it's bad for the kids. Soon enough we'll see parents taking a harder line and making kids earn anything they get -- but I see to much the opposite today.

Just my humble opinion.
 
#6
#6
I can't speak for football players in general, but it certainly seems that players at UT don't quite take the field with the same ferocity that they did in the late 90's. Maybe it's a difference in attitude...maybe it's a difference in talent...perhaps it's a mixture of both.

Watch the Wilson/Little piece in the videos forum...I haven't seen that kind of fire from a UT defense in a long time.
 
#7
#7
Liberalism has some very hideous side effects. Lack of competitiveness being the most insidious.
 
#8
#8
Jaytrain5 said:
I can't speak for football players in general, but it certainly seems that players at UT don't quite take the field with the same ferocity that they did in the late 90's. Maybe it's a difference in attitude...maybe it's a difference in talent...perhaps it's a mixture of both.

Watch the Wilson/Little piece in the videos forum...I haven't seen that kind of fire from a UT defense in a long time.
Click to expand...
JT5 my friend,

nice to see you lurking about.

bmfpv
 
#11
#11
BigPapaVol said:
JT5 my friend,

nice to see you lurking about.

bmfpv
Click to expand...

I had to take a brief hiatus - this place was getting a bit bogged down with all the hysteria surrounding the Rod Wilks position changes...I couldn't handle it.

It's good to be back though Papa.

JTfizzle
 
#12
#12
Jaytrain5 said:
I had to take a brief hiatus - this place was getting a bit bogged down with all the hysteria surrounding the Rod Wilks position changes...I couldn't handle it.

It's good to be back though Papa.

JTfizzle
Click to expand...
I definitely like the fizzle.

bmfpv (couldn't really work any Snoop lingo into mines)
 
#13
#13
BigPapaVol said:
Liberalism has some very hideous side effects. Lack of competitiveness being the most insidious.
Click to expand...

I agree with where you are coming from (making an even playing field for everyone through social programs) -- but at the same time I don't see too many blue blood republicans on the football field.
 
#15
#15
VolByBirth said:
I agree with where you are coming from (making an even playing field for everyone through social programs) -- but at the same time I don't see too many blue blood republicans on the football field.
Click to expand...
the point?

Mine was simply that liberalism has many side effects. Some of those have carried over to the competitive mentality of Americans, including football players, be they liberal, conservative or otherwise.
 
#16
#16
I have to respond to the kids just do not have the heart crap. It sounds like an excuse for a coach who isn't getting it done.

I'm coaching for the first time this season for MUS eighth grade team here in Memphis. The kids show up every day ready to go. I am coaching offensive and defensive lines.

On our first day of practice we did the usual verify summer conditioning routine and every kid showed up in-shape and ready to go. Not a single kid was hesitant in one an one drills. These kids are even watching film in the eighth grade!

I think sometimes as we get further away from our time playing we remember things the way we thought they were rather than reality. One of our assistance played at ARK. he commented to me that when he played in college the running requirments for the first day of practice where less strenuous than what we were asking these 13 year-old to do. Don't blame the kids blame the coach.
 
#17
#17
BigPapaVol said:
the point?

Mine was simply that liberalism has many side effects. Some of those have carried over to the competitive mentality of Americans, including football players, be they liberal, conservative or otherwise.
Click to expand...


my point? the thread was asking why the lack of toughness/competitiveness.....your response was liberalism. therefore making it sound like this was the most prevalent reason for this problem. i was just stating that while you might be right it's a side effect, it may not be as influential as your post insinuated.
 
#19
#19
OK, this is not a social commentary or political web site, but I can not "not" respond. :ermm:

I have worked with "troubled"children all of my adult life, since 1973, including coaching, sunday school, therapy, counseling, groups, child protective services, etc. etc. Truly 1000's of children, from all socio economic groups, cultures, races, gender...

Here's is what I have learned...Kids simply reflect the family, community, society, and civilization they are a part of...period. It has nothing to do with "liberalism" or "conservatism," that is all adult horse---- from an adult perspective.

Are our children more sexualized than 30 years ago, yes...as is our society. Are our children more violent than 30 years ago...yes as is our society. Are our children more materialistic than 30 years ago... ad infinitum or ad nauseum.

PS you can substitute any number of years 30, 40, 50, 1000. Kids do what kids see done. Kids value what they see given value. Kids tend to act as if they have little video recorders on their heads, they record what they see then play it back to us in their own behavior 15 minutes later.

Then as adults we scratch our collective heads and say "What is wrong with kids these days?" Geez, let's all chill and take a good look in the mirror, we MIGHT see part of the problem staring back at us. I include myself, not throwing stones here. The end, let's play football. GO VOLS:peace2:
 
#20
#20
There is many variables in this story. The coach is the main one. Sounds to me he isn't very innovative. Trying things his dad tried is great but his dad coached back in the day when most kids were very disiplined. Kids aren't like that these days.

You also mention, They like him. Looking back on my days of sports the coaches that I hated the most usually (after growing up and looking back) were the ones that taught me the most.

I remember the head coach at my High School. I'd pop over to the field after fall ball practice and watch him operate. This cat would be all over the place. He'd break a player down so much that it was almost embarassing to watch. Yet, by the end of practice he had that same kid so proud of himself and ready to hit someone that it was inspirational to see. He knew how to communicate. I think too many coaches today just do like you said, "What their daddy did."

Also, don't give me this BS about kids not caring. Kids care. You just have to sell them on the experience. This generation growing up right now (and I'm part of it) is the Why? Generation. They just don't do things because an older person says so. They want to know why. Why do I have to do this drill? Why do I have to this? Why do I have to that? Tell them why they have to do it.

Where your friends say "they lost their toughness." Maybe they (coaches) lost their work ethic in trying to communicate with their players and its just easier to blame the kids than to get in the mind of the kid and work to see what makes him click. Ever thought of it that way?
 
#21
#21
I agree biz. I remember cutting practice once in high school and one of my coaches(Reggie Jellicorse), gave me the "opportunity" to make up the practice. For some reason he didn't believe that my Grandfather had died. Long story short, after being tackled individually by 80 of my team mates, I never cut practice again and "opportunity time" has always been a reminder for me to do the right thing.
For the young guys who never heard of Jellicorse, I've heard about this "googling thing" that's pretty cool.
 
#22
#22
Pooods said:
They all seem to like him too.
Click to expand...
Therein lies the problem. I've always found teachers and coaches who are popular among their current students tend to be the least effective. Their job isn't to be their students/players' buddy.
 
#24
#24
I do agree about liking him. But, it's not over the top. I was at practice today. The kids don't get off as easy as I thought. The coaches get on their butts often. The defense coach is an older guy. He has coached at many H.S.'s over the last 30 years and played in college like the head coach did. He had a stroke 10 days back and still is at practice. He sat in a chair with one side of his face all saggy. He is one tough man! Those kids really respond to him and I hope they appreciate what he is doing to help them.

My friend is not installing an old system. His father's system is outdated and they all know it. He does ask for advice from people to try to get the kid's attention. He even asked me if I had any ideals. I know one thing, those kids wouldn't last long in one of our old practices! I guess the state limits hitting and drills. They can get water as they please and have water girls that sure distract them. The defenses they ran today were very complicated for young boys IMO.

I remember older people saying my generation was not strong and had no aim in life too. I guess it happens as time goes along.
 
#25
#25
BigPapaVol said:
Liberalism has some very hideous side effects. Lack of competitiveness being the most insidious.
Click to expand...

I'm about as far away from a Democrat as you can get, but the welfare state has been in place for 70 years... and cultural aspects of liberalism have been in place since the 60's, so why would that change whether kids play hard now as opposed to 10 or 15 years ago? I would say that a lack of effort (if there is one) today is generated by the glorification of the NFL in poor areas as opposed to college football.
 
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