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Observations from Two Feet Away: The Changing of the Clock
By Adam Knoll | December 29, 2010 at 01:10 PM EST | No Comments
I’ve always considered January to be a pretty important month, as important as March (tryouts and beginning of pre-season), as important as June (beginning of season). For things to run smoothly as we get closer to the spring, this upcoming month must be huge. We need to raise enough money not only for our league fee’s, but also for jerseys. We need to hold meetings to decide how leadership is going to run this organization as we get closer to actually taking the field. This 30 day period upcoming will definitely decide if we can indeed take the next step, or if we need to scramble to make ends meet.
Hopefully, by the end of this month, we will have our home field squared away, and a permanent practice facility. Our field in Paddock Lake last year was quiet and kept our minds on the task at hand, however the field itself was choppy, so we will look to move our efforts to a better location. Uniforms must be ordered by Feb 1st if we are to get the type of jerseys we have been talking about. For this to happen we are going to need player fee’s to start coming in. Anyone on the active roster can start getting their fees in without worry; you are already on the team. For the inactive roster, you can start paying yours as well, and if you don’t make the squad by March, we will simply give it back.
Additionally, we will be holding positional and scheme meetings throughout this month to get people better equipped for when the practices come around. Nothing is better than on day 1 to be ready to move forward, instead of having to teach everything to everyone. The exhibition with the Cougars is still a go in February, so I would hope at least our main players are ready to go for then.
In either case, the turning of the clock means we are getting closer. Our first pre-season practice is now under 3 months away, which is still awhile, but it’s not as far as it once was. The 2011 campaign will begin in earnest Friday night, and we must be ready to answer the bell.
Observations from Two Feet Away - Fundraiser Contributions
By Adam Knoll | December 05, 2010 at 07:42 PM EST | No Comments
The Dec 4th Fundraiser was an excellent way to kick off the 2011 Campaign; We got a lot of guys together, the bar became full of people and generally, all you could hear was laughter while people talked about the upcoming year. Even the food was pretty good. However, I must caution, time, while draining and cold, moves fast. We are already a week into December, and a few big commitments are coming up here within the next few months. One of them is our league fees are due, and that needs to be #1 on our list. We need sponsors, and players need to start filtering in their fees.
Yet, before this becomes a serious post, let me get to a topic real quick that deserves attention. Sometimes, I am not the most rewarding of people; I tend to measure others against my drive for this team to exist. It’s a bit unfair as I am crazy, and sometimes I need to step back and notice what others have done, all in the interest to ensure that this vision of ours gets off the ground, and stays there. Last night was a perfect example of what I mean.
If it weren’t for Chris Bella, last night’s fundraiser would have been the epitome of a disaster. It was not my best event; I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. Yet there was Bella, working out of the limelight, getting the food ready (which was his idea), and getting the raffle prizes (which all but 3-4 of them came from him) and selling tickets and basically running the show. I don’t mind that, really I don’t. He seems to have a better head for events than I do, yet seeing all he did made me realize some things I could do better, and that’s the great thing about he and I, we drive each other. There were a lot of things he missed this past fall due to work, and he knew it, yet his title on the team could not be more fitting. While I’m the talking head everyone see’s, he’s the guy more willing to work in the background, and most of the time, is unappreciated.
And make no mistake; there are others who’s deed’s need to be brought out a little bit. Andrew Menard with his Logo work and brochure setup, he has skills that are very impressive. Matt Splitt with his Phoenix Banner he created a few months ago was on full display last night, many people really enjoyed it. Not every contribution to the team will show on the field, yet I really do respect them all. Most of the times though, since I don’t really look for praise myself, I forget to express my gratitude to others. And there are more people worthy of mention, but that’s more toward the playing field. Yet for last night, I just wanted to say thanks to a few.
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