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Andrew Downey Spring Blog - Week #5 - April 23
April 23, 2008
It's strange to think that the Jeff Cole Memorial Scrimmage is already here! For the fourth-straight year, the Cole Scrimmage is the highlight of our spring practice as it marks our full-length scrimmage featuring several game-like situations. It's usually scheduled as the final practice of the spring season, but it's been moved up a week this year due to the conference track & field championships taking place at Alfond Stadium. We'll have another full week of spring practice after that, and we will conclude the spring season on May 2. We take the Jeff Cole Scrimmage very seriously, because it's our chance to show what we've learned in the offseason and throughout spring practice.
The scrimmage also celebrates the life of the former assistant coach who passed away from cancer during the 2004 season. It doesn't "hit home" as much to my class or the classes after me simply because we never had the opportunity to really know coach Cole. From what I have heard, it would have been an honor to play for him. You can really see how his life and his passing affected many people like coach Cos and some of the other coaches that had the honor of working with him. Even though I didn't know him personally , I could imagine the type of person he was. His "one direction" saying , is the most important saying we have as a program, and it embodies what a football team should be about. To me "One Direction" means no matter what you do as a player, you should always put the team before any personal recognition or personal gain. By having everyone put the team first, it enables the squad to move in ONE DIRECTION and accomplish its goals, such as winning the CAA championship -- which we strive for every season. I think of that saying everytime I play, as it helps me play more assignment football. There may be a play where I could blow my assignment to make a tackle or something like that, and I don't because it wouldn't be in the best interest of the team. That's how I look at the phrase "One Direction".
Looking back at the second week of spring practice, the team kept improving and is looking forward to putting on the pads and getting after it this Saturday. The team has really gotten into the routine of morning practices, and you can see that we are making each other better. This past Saturday we had about a 50-play scrimmage where there were times when the defense was unstoppable and times where the offense ripped off big plays. As a linebacker, I have to give up yards to any offense, but I'm glad to see that our offense is getting better each day with several young players and are showing the capability of making big plays which will result in putting points on the board. Next week I'll give everyone a run down on how the Cole Scrimmage went. As I said earlier, I can't wait to suit up and play in the game. It should be a good one! #10 Andrew Downey |
