Summer time II – Team Unity
The summer is also a very important time to continue to build the team chemistry. The summer before our 2006 season we had a softball team that a bunch of us played on. That was a great team bonding experience and it was in a competitive atmosphere so it kept our juices pumping. We learned in a different sport how to be team players.
Before the 2007 season we played golf and went on a whitewater rafting trip in WY. All these trips and time away from football with the guys help you to appreciate each other more and learn more about one another. We do a lot of team building activities during fall camp too, but you the coaches are still around and it has the “it’s part of fall camp” stigma to it, so it doesn’t quite go as far as going out on your own and forming these bonds.
After morning lifting sessions guys go out to breakfast with each other. It seems like it’s a new spot every summer. Started out at Magleby’s Fresh, then to Kneaders, then this little country joint on University. Pretty much anything that is all you can eat is fair game.
The great thing about the 7 on 7 during the summer is that because it is completely voluntary and there are no coaches it was way more laid back and it gives guys a chance to joke around and talk trash in a fun environment that is also competitive. Yeah it is still football, but there is not the normal pressure or feel of when it is mandatory practice.
By Markell Staffieri
Kneaders is a chick hotspot. Which can be good. Food is always good too.
“Pretty much anything that is all you can eat is fair game.”
I can imagine this either making the managers of the place very happy or, in the case of all-you-can-eat meets the BYU Offensive Line, very sad…
People don’t realize how much of a team sport softball is. A team can be loaded with athletes, but then they just hit pop flies and the team isn’t that good. You have to sacrifice your pride to just get those line drive base hits to keep the runs coming. Even if you’re loaded with hitters who can knock the ball out many leagues have limits and then a home run is an out. You need a good lineup from top to bottom, otherwise you can’t keep a rally going.
There is also pressure on defense, because one error is costly. People get down on each other, then the errors mount and you’re in a hole. Poor decisions on base running can run you out of an inning. And if you don’t have a pitcher who can throw strikes you’re done for.
I would bet some of those “older” teams in Provo could still compete with you football jocks; I would also bet that y’all won the league!!!
Kiyo,
We actually went to the championship game with 2 losses. We lost in the championship without our normal line up. We had a good team though. Most of us played a lot of baseball growing up which made our infield very solid. We also had Jason Beck in the outfield with his cannon and Zach Collie and Dustin Gabriel with their speed.
Staff-
From what I remember your dad played baseball for BYU. Is that right? I also think I remember you had the same opportunity but chose football. I that correct?
Yes my dad played for BYU back when the baseball team was going to Omaha. He then played in the Cincinnati Reds Organization and later came back to BYU to coach.
I did have an opportunity to play baseball. After my freshman year of football I played in extended spring training in Peoria, AZ with the San Diego Padres Organization. This put a HUGE riff between Coach Mendenhall, Coach Tidwell and I. While baseball is my first real passion, I felt like I had a great thing going at BYU with football (little did I know I would completely tear my hamstring and miss my Jr Year). After spring training I went back to San Diego for a couple weeks and thought some things through. In the end I felt that my best opportunity to succeed in all areas of life were to go back to BYU, mend the relationship with my coaches and focus on taking football as far as I could.
I’m curious about the specifics of 7-on-7 drills during the summer. How long does each workout last, who attends these, and what types of drills do you do. Are you running BYU offensive plays?
Is there any supervision or reporting back to coaches on who is attending? I know the coaches are not supposed to attend, supervise, or take attendance, but I wondered if there was any informal way they heard about how summer workouts are progressing.
Is there any officiating, or is it more like pick-up ball?
Just curious.
The offensive and defensive captains choose the format. We usually do situational work. Some blue zone, so coming out, some middle of the field. There is no officiating. Just guys giving each other a hard time.
Coaches ask is how things are going and their offices conveniently overlook the practice fields. But there is bu supervision.
We would call the plays, BYU’s O and D and if we had questions we would go talk to the coaches about it.
Thanks for the history Staff-
I remember when you were hurt and couldn’t get on the field and feeling you could definately be contributing if healthy that year.(05)? Any regrets about your decision not to play baseball fulltime? I guess you wouldn’t have met JB’s sister. Were the coaches upset that you weren’t fully committed to the program when you also played baseball? Is that what the riff was about?
I wouldn’t say regrets. I just miss playing baseball. Even still.
With coach Mendenhall the ruff was eligibility. Making sure I didn’t do something that would cause me to be ineligible. We patched things up right away and never looked back.
Coach Tidwell and I didn’t ever see eye to eye after that. I don’t know what all the deal was.
But now I play softball and go to Padres games.
At least you don’t watch the Dodgers. I grew up watching the Angels in the early 80’s. My grandpa used to take me to the “Big A” to watch Reggie and the crew circa 82-83.
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