CTF Function at Morgan County AU Club

[DKW 86 7,874]

Some of my notes are just too rushed for even me to read, sorry...

I was closing up the signup/check-in tables when CTF came up and introduced himself to me. I was alone in the stairwell area and was completely distracted. We talked for a few minutes before he made his way back to the main hall. CTF is as down to earth a guy as you will ever meet. He is plain old folks and is as self deprecating as can be. Probably one of the best sandbag/bullcrap artists you have ever met. He reminds me of Wayne Hall for those of you that have ever met him. Unkept to a degree. His hair was out of place and if I had to guess, he just walked off the golf course and got on the plane. Likes kids and is very personable and not a bit intimidating like some of the other coaching staff can be at times.

Notes:

Attendance was about 130. We ran the DCC completely out of food for most of the night. Crowd was very much older and well healed. Met a few judges, politicians, and business men. Lynn Layton wears the worst toupee/hair weave I have ever seen!

CTF:

TSU got a honorable mention for the way the "O" played last year.

***CTF wrote his tell all book about Hal Mumme and UK and had it published in 2000. Because of that he didnt coach collegiately for a while. CTF quoted hiimself in his own book, "Fourth Down and Life to Go." He says that after leaving UK, he wouldnt mind working for.....Tommy Tuberville. I know some of you have heard that before I am sure. What I want to point out is that if the book was published in 2000. He only knew CTT upto 1998 or 1999, two mediocre coaching years for CTT. A trip to the Motor City Bowl with OM and 5-6 rebuilding year with AU after the CTB mess on the Plains. He said: "Tommy likes kids first, players second."

CTF said he was stunned at the Internet interest in him. Shocked to see his quotes posted up on ITAT.

Motto: "Fast, Fight, Finish:"

Fast: "Fatigue makes cowards of all men." Talked about our depth on OL and that we were going to need everyone. Talked about running WR screens just to wear down a DL. Suggested that his play calling would be at times to set up events later on in the game.

Fight: "We will compete on EVERY snap." Dont be surpirised to see CTF run the points up even with the 2nds and 3rds in.

Finish: "We will be around at the end of the ball game." "if we get down as many as 21 points, dont panic, it will just me trying to figure out how to win the game. At TSU we were down often last season yet still came back and won." We will definitely have a "60 Minutes attitude."

Might want to add FUN in there too. He stressed having fun in practice and on game day too. Was asked about the signalling in of plays, long but basically we use 4 guys to throw off the video taping of our calls. Explained the two signal rule for a shifting defense as well. CTF also talked abit about getting more yards than we had all year against the Clemson #9 Ranked D in the bowl game with only 9 days of practice. Talked at length of really respecting Hugh Nall and the rest of our staff. Said Nall was in his Top 5 for OL Coaches in the nation.

We will out-execute teams for the most part. "We want a reciever that will be running the exact route without ever thinking about it late in the game." This was THE secret to the early success with CTB by the way. We ran a very plain vanilla O back then. We just out-executed everyone we played. Hey, it took us to 11-0 and 20-1-1 in two years.

Goal: "My goal is to stay off youtube." He was referencing his sometimes foul mouth. Apologized to anyone that had been to a practice with him there.

Players:

"Some FR will play, we will just need fresh guys at some point."

QBs: Both will play.

Todd: If healthy will likely start. Drop back passer, good arm. Can be Special.

Burns: Will play a great deal. Dynamic, Great moves, not satisfied with his passing skills. (Maybe we look for a 'Tebow' O when he is in?)

Caudle: Barely mentioned.

Trotter: 3 years, can be very special, needs to grow into college game and adjust to speed.

RBs

Tate: very good player.

Lester: very agile, likes to juke.

Davis: "Fast AND Big."

RCVRs

Swinton: look for him

Rod Smith: "typical over-achiever" CTF really liked talking about him.

Dunn: Very good hands and uncoachable moves.

Fannin: likely a rcvr role for him now.

Trott: Will see a lot of action, liked his work ethic and build, leadership.

Recommended reading for the crowd:

"Lone Survivor" & "Warrior King"

[WarTim 3,524]

Thanks for posting.

Tim