Ive come to believe coaching HS athletes at any competitive level is probably the most humbling experience a person can experience. Gone are days of volunteering to teach kids how to have fun and make sure every child plays exactly the same amount of time and ensuring the team mom has snacks ready after the game. And I guarantee its harder than college ball, where you get paid to coach for a living and where every kid you get is the best from his school and they are all out there because they love the game and want to be. This years journey started well over 6 months ago and its been full of its challenges across the spectrum. Everything from hiring 80% of a new coaching staff to building the team from 9 kids to 39 by walking up and down the halls and standing the terminal as families got off the planes. From unexpectedly losing 4 all conference starters in a one month span this summer; to making 4 - 10 hour bus trips to play a 3 hour game, shower and then get back on the bus and come home, sleeping anywhere you could. From planting a new field last spring; to putting in a completely new offense after the second game of the year. From hosting our first ever 3 day camp with a Japanese College team; to arriving at the biggest school in the Pacific at 2am in the morning in Tokyo to find out we were sleeping on a wood gym floor with no A/C in the dead of August. From mid week grade checks to see who was on the roster (after the game plan was set), to never starting the same 11 guys on either side of the ball in a single game this year because of injuries. From being the second smallest D-2 school in the PACAF playing a D-1 schedule against 7 of the Top 10 teams in Asia; to having 70% of your varsity roster as underclassmen! THIS HAS SIMPLY BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY! Though exhausting this year, I dont regret even one second of the challenge. I relish the work our boys did in the community, the confidence theyve established in the classroom and the men they are growing up to be. And so tonight its all on the line - even through all we have endured, we control our own destiny to play at the next level! Simply win at home tonight by 19 points against our most celebrated rivals and last years D-2 champions, and this incredible group of Edgren Eagles will play for the Asia championship next week in Korea. Thanks to my trusted friends Coach Shabazz and Coach Eddington! Thanks to our new coaches, Kirk Holloway, Jarrell Johnson, Steve Bennett, Khalil Williams and William Carter who volunteered well over 200+ hours this season to make the journey. Thanks to our supportive administration at the school, Mrs. Watters, Dr DAngelo and our AD Coach Thibert! Thanks to our families who trusted us with your young men and thanks to our community who stayed by our side all season! Tonight the Eagles fulfill their destiny! No matter the outcome on the scoreboard, these boys are already champions in so many ways beyond description - each has a story and their own journey- its been amazing to watch you, laugh with you, cry with you and sweat with you! Win every play tonight, dominate the guy across from you on every snap, remember to trust the guy next to you and just do your job...dont worry about 19 points or how that happens - if you stay focused on what we did this week and we all trust, that will take care of itself by so many bounds. Play tonight for all weve been through and all you have sacrificed to be part of this team! Champion The Day - Go Eagles...I love you guys! Coach Miller
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 23:29:25 +0000
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