Nog the Half Orc

Being Proud of YOU

 

Hi Boozer-

The other day, while we were driving, you were asking questions (as you always do) – and the subject came up – “Would I be proud of you if….”

The funny thing with you, is you always come with different scenarios (situations), and this time the conversation went like this -

“Would you be proud of me if I never played for Notre Dame?”

“Would you be proud of me if I were only a Walk On?”

“Would you be proud of me if I never made it on the field”

Of course, throughout I continued to reassure you that your mother and I would be proud no matter what.

Well, as Seniors leave ND – they make a highlight video.  This year they did something different – they interviewed the parents. 

As you watch this video, I want you to notice that there are parents of players there that you never heard of…..because they were walk-ons or 3rd stringers.  I want you to see how proud those parents are of their children's accomplishments and see the tears in their eyes as they realize that their children's dreams are coming true.

I know at times I am tough on you, but you’ve asked me to get you to your goal….and I promised.

Buddy, as you see how proud those parents are……always remember, it is maybe 25% as proud as I will be of you.

Dream Big.

I LOVE YOU

The Gug

Green Jerseys

USC means WAR

You are my Warrior–Beat SC–BEAT MOBERLY

BEAT BROOKFIELD

Last Home Game of the Season, one away game to go (at Moberly)…..Now it your time – TAKE IT, BEAT IT UP and MAKE IT YOUR OWN.

Three things today-

The first two are by legendary coach Vince Lombardi (the Super Bowl trophy is named after him)

I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

Think about that for a second.  The best thing is when you try your hardest, work the most and in the end……you win.  You’ve felt that before, help your team do it again.

Of course, some people think winning isn’t everything…. so I give you another great quote from the Coach-

If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?

SO TRUE.

Finally, I want you to look at this picture and think about it for a minute.  How do you want to be remembered?  How do you want to live your life?  Think about all the people who worked hard to get you here, the people we love who can’t be here.  Think about your family and friends who respect you, the teams that fear you.  Pump yourself up…….and lets kick the crap out of Brookfield.

This is your time….Now WIN THIS!

A message about North Calloway

Hey Boozer.  We spent our first day in Belgium today.  I miss you like crazy.

I only have one message for you about the game today -

 

 

BTB Buddy.  I love you :x

Football Practice

 

Pull Play

Great Pull

Bad Pull

Stuff to Work On

 

Good Plays

Read ME

Today James – I want you to click on this link (http://smokesandbooze.blogspot.com/2011/08/football-doesnt-last-forever.html).

It’s a hard story to read, but I think you can handle it.

How will you overcome your limits?

Respect

Doing right thing….

You were probably to young to remember this, it was in Charlie Weis’ first year in 2005 (6 years ago). 

Today’s lesson isn’t about reading, math or social studies.  Forget music or PE.  In a way, this goes beyond football.

It’s about doing the right thing.

Making someone happy.

Keeping a promise, even though the odds are impossible.

Even though Charlie coaches at Florida now, you will never hear me say a bad thing about him.  I truly believe that he gave his best effort at Notre Dame and he left a good foundation for Coach Kelly to build on. 

He touched my heart on that day in 2005, when he proved he was a man…..a man of his word.

 

Football Line Blocking; Part #2

Spelling Words–Unit 2

OK Buddy – We are working ahead a little bit today since you knew the Unit 1 Words so well.  You are also ahead with Unit 3 so we are doing great.

I want you to learn these 5 words today – Read Them, Say them out loud and spell them 5 times each.

Speech

Greet

Claim

Stray

Brain

O-Line Blocking Technique–Drive Block

ND Practice Report

James – After watching the Dline Technique video, notice how the Linebackers practice this same skill.

Move your arms away from your body and keep leverage.

If you get faster, you could be a Linebacker.  Do you have it in you?

 

Great DLine Technique–You should watch this DAILY

How about Adverbs

Quote of the Day

The secret of winning football games is working more as a team, less as individuals.

I play not my 11 best, but my best 11.
- Knute Rockne, Notre Dame football coach

A day in the life at ND

Hey Buddy –click this link to watch a day in the life at ND during two-a-day practices at ND.

Notice how many meetings they go to?  But, its not all work either.  They do have fun too.

http://www.und.com/allaccess/?media=257460

Listen what Coach says in the part after the lake.  Very important.

First day of school

Today was your first day of school in 4th grade.  Words cannot express how proud I am of you and how fast you have grown, from that little boy going to Kindergarten.

I know I am rough on you at times, but someday I hope you realize that the purpose was really to make you the best man that I could and help prepare you for the world.

In your 9 years of life, you have already seen and experienced more than most.  You have exceeded my expectations on a daily basis and you continue to show that you are an intelligent and loving boy. 

James- I really do mean it, you are the best.

I hope the first day goes great for you.

Dad.

 

 

A good quote

"The best advice I could give anyone is to be humble. Second is to always remember where you came from and whom you represent. Third is to be coachable. As a freshman you don't know what is going on. You are in a totally different environment. College football is a completely different game than high school. You have to be able to accept criticism from both the coaches and other players in order to make yourself a better player and person."

- Manti Te’o

Spelling Words

1. bunk
2. staff
3. dock
4. slept
5. mist
6. bunch
7. swift
8. stuck
9. breath
10. tough
11. fond
12. crush
13. grasp
14. dwell
15. fund
16. ditch
17. split
18. swept
19. deaf
20. rough

One more day to school–How about some history

Happy 9 Years Old +1

Hey Buddy.  Time to start this again, now that you have something to read it on.

I hope you had a great birthday weekend and now its time for school and football to start.

Here is one of your videos to remind you of how hard to work.

I love you :x

Dads

This was posted by Aunt Kendra this morning on Facebook (will this still be around for you in 20 years?)-

If your Dad is or was a hard working man, is and always will be your hero, helped you no matter how bad you were, or was just the BEST DAD EVER, if you are blessed to still have your DAD, or if he is an angel in Heaven, paste this to your status and let everyone know you are PROUD of your Dad. You can replace a lot of people in life, ...but you can NEVER replace your DAD

Papaw was one of the hardest working men I knew.  He never gave up and even when life was hard, he was there for the family.  I strive to be like him in every way and I hope I can be a role model for you as well.

Saturday Morning

 

Good Morning Boozer- Boy are you excited today.  It is 10AM and you are already wearing your uniform for a 1:00PM game.  You made me smile

Today, before the game, you are going to watch a clip from the Movie Hoosiers.  It’s about Indiana Basketball from when Papaw was a kid.  A small school (like Ashland) was playing bigger schools that had more talent.  A team that believed they could be the best were going against the best.  Nobody thought that they could win…..and well, you have to watch the end of the movie to see what happens.

The clip I suggest is before they make it to the championship game.  Coach says some really important things-

• Don’t think about the next game.  Win this one first
• Forget about the size of the school (don’t worry about those kids from St. Louis)
• Focus (where have you heard that before?)
• Be the best that you can be
• You are a winner

All of those things are true today as they were back in the 1950s.  I know you will do great, just give it your best.

We love you :x

Dad

Eagles 24-Fayette 12

What an exciting first game.  Mommy kept score and you did all the hard work.  I just had to sit back with Alexa, Eric and Uncle Richard and enjoy the show.

You team did a great job on D – and that is where you true strength is.  You had 3-4 Steals, 2 REALLY good traps, a couple of rebounds.  You even caught a hard pass and scored on a perfect pullup jumper.  Where did you learn that?  Alexa has that on Video and as soon as I get a copy it will go on here for you.

You do need to work on playing the wing a little.  Don’t be afraid to dribble and shoot.  Other than that, even your fouls were good ones to give or bad calls by the ref.

You have really improved, especially considering you are in a 4th Grade League (and are still in 3rd) and are probably the youngest kid out there.

Aside from the game, Alexa had good news today….She was named a Scholar-Athlete.  You should use her as a role model for how Hard Work and Practice pays off.  Click HERE to read her story.  You are both great athletes.

Time for Bed - Great Job Booze.

First one for the Boozer

Hi Boozer.  This is the first post to YOUR new blog.  I want to use this as a place where I can type thoughts and things to you and you can reflect back on them later in life.

Tonight is your first game as a ShowMe Player.  You have no idea how proud that makes me, because I know how hard you have worked.

You have grown up so fast, I almost wish I had done this earlier…to capture those days and moments as they happened.  You are my little man.

Here in a few minutes, I’m going to call you in to watch a video.  I hope you like it.  Maybe it will pump you up for the game tonight.

You are and always will be, my Boozer Woozer.

I love you

Dad