A Crazy Thought For A Crazy Coach :-)

[hockeyguy]

Long ago (mid-1970's) a fellow member of my volunteer fire department (I was still in college) had a son who was a star running back for the Albany Metro Mallers. One summer day, the coach took the the team to "work out" with the NYC Ballet using the ballet's workout routine. It brought the football guys to their knees, but they learned a whole lot. A well rounded physical development program is more than weights. And then, there were coach Hewitt's 5 mile runs... A quote from the coach sticks with me.. "when I was at Villanova, I saw the other teams tugging at the bottoms of their shorts late in the game, gassed. I saw an opportunity there for a team that could still keep going after 35 minutes." A mediocre player with 90% of his energy in the last 5 minutes can beat the 5 star recruit who is taking that half second longer to react.

[gorvy]

That was one thing Hewitts teams always excelled at-- conditioning, and it was most evident in the last five minutes of the game. I don't know what the current system is, but a similar conditioning program regardless of method could be a difference maker.

[hockeyguy]

Gorvy, do you remember coach Hewitt once saying.. "if we are within 10 pts with a minute to go, we can win that game"?

[playerparentcoach]

Saints lost a very good strength and conditioning coach. That made a big difference in the team

[hockeyguy]

PPC, the seniors had three years to get with the program, losing him the last year was a non-factor. Read my previous post, it is not all about lifting weights.

[OneIndian]

Aug 1, 2017 17:18:40 GMT -5 hockeyguy said:

Long ago (mid-1970's) a fellow member of my volunteer fire department (I was still in college) had a son who was a star running back for the Albany Metro Mallers. One summer day, the coach took the the team to "work out" with the NYC Ballet using the ballet's workout routine. It brought the football guys to their knees, but they learned a whole lot. A well rounded physical development program is more than weights. And then, there were coach Hewitt's 5 mile runs... A quote from the coach sticks with me.. "when I was at Villanova, I saw the other teams tugging at the bottoms of their shorts late in the game, gassed. I saw an opportunity there for a team that could still keep going after 35 minutes." A mediocre player with 90% of his energy in the last 5 minutes can beat the 5 star recruit who is taking that half second longer to react.

That last sentence is utter nonsense. I'll take an exhausted doubled over Jordon over a Scalabrine fresh off the bench 100 out of 100 times.

[gorvy]

Aug 1, 2017 17:52:40 GMT -5 hockeyguy said:

Gorvy, do you remember coach Hewitt once saying.. "if we are within 10 pts with a minute to go, we can win that game"?

I do t remember that particular quote but I always felt comfortable if we were within 5 points at the 5 minute mark, even when losing.

[hockeyguy]

Aug 1, 2017 18:53:17 GMT -5 OneIndian said:

Aug 1, 2017 17:18:40 GMT -5 hockeyguy said:

Long ago (mid-1970's) a fellow member of my volunteer fire department (I was still in college) had a son who was a star running back for the Albany Metro Mallers. One summer day, the coach took the the team to "work out" with the NYC Ballet using the ballet's workout routine. It brought the football guys to their knees, but they learned a whole lot. A well rounded physical development program is more than weights. And then, there were coach Hewitt's 5 mile runs... A quote from the coach sticks with me.. "when I was at Villanova, I saw the other teams tugging at the bottoms of their shorts late in the game, gassed. I saw an opportunity there for a team that could still keep going after 35 minutes." A mediocre player with 90% of his energy in the last 5 minutes can beat the 5 star recruit who is taking that half second longer to react.

That last sentence is utter nonsense. I'll take an exhausted doubled over Jordon over a Scalabrine fresh off the bench 100 out of 100 times.

You are entitled to your opinion, but that 1/2 second is often what separates a 4 star from a 1 star. Jordan was an unusual talent and could give away 5 stars and still be a 4 star.

[playerparentcoach]

Aug 1, 2017 18:22:26 GMT -5 hockeyguy said:

PPC, the seniors had three years to get with the program, losing him the last year was a non-factor. Read my previous post, it is not all about lifting weights.

Not everything. I am just recognizing his value.

[chief]

I totally agree that well conditioned teams have an extra advantage. I recall the Hewitt days myself when Siena won a lot games by passing opponents at the end of the game because they had a little more gas to burn. I remember Ronald Moore could play long minutes because of his cross country experience he had in high school. Like free throws, you don't have to be the tallest, or the best shooter. Its something from within.

[Quackman]

Aug 3, 2017 20:01:25 GMT -5 chief said:

I totally agree that well conditioned teams have an extra advantage. I recall the Hewitt days myself when Siena won a lot games by passing opponents at the end of the game because they had a little more gas to burn. I remember Ronald Moore could play long minutes because of his cross country experience he had in high school. Like free throws, you don't have to be the tallest, or the best shooter. Its something from within.

Hewitt's Saints were also playing 10 or 11 guys with no one getting more than 25 minutes a game. His game philosophy put an emphasis on speeding up the game. I always loved it but I remember a lot of fans on these boards complaining about the lack of defense and inability to score in half court sets.

[IndianSaint]

Aug 4, 2017 8:10:45 GMT -5 Quackman said:

Aug 3, 2017 20:01:25 GMT -5 chief said:

I totally agree that well conditioned teams have an extra advantage. I recall the Hewitt days myself when Siena won a lot games by passing opponents at the end of the game because they had a little more gas to burn. I remember Ronald Moore could play long minutes because of his cross country experience he had in high school. Like free throws, you don't have to be the tallest, or the best shooter. Its something from within.

Hewitt's Saints were also playing 10 or 11 guys with no one getting more than 25 minutes a game. His game philosophy put an emphasis on speeding up the game. I always loved it but I remember a lot of fans on these boards complaining about the lack of defense and inability to score in half court sets.

That's one thing Siena fans will always do and never run out of; that is complaining.

[Deleted]

Correct - look at all the complaints that are aimed at the complainers....

[IndianSaint]

Aug 4, 2017 11:56:18 GMT -5 @misspractice said:

Correct - look at all the complaints that are aimed at the complainers....

Yes, I should know. I'm one of the complainers of the complainers.

Edited: However, I try and focus more of my complaining away from Siena and towards the refs, other teams players/coaches/fans, etc.,

[gorvy]

Aug 4, 2017 8:10:45 GMT -5 Quackman said:

Aug 3, 2017 20:01:25 GMT -5 chief said:

I totally agree that well conditioned teams have an extra advantage. I recall the Hewitt days myself when Siena won a lot games by passing opponents at the end of the game because they had a little more gas to burn. I remember Ronald Moore could play long minutes because of his cross country experience he had in high school. Like free throws, you don't have to be the tallest, or the best shooter. Its something from within.

Hewitt's Saints were also playing 10 or 11 guys with no one getting more than 25 minutes a game. His game philosophy put an emphasis on speeding up the game. I always loved it but I remember a lot of fans on these boards complaining about the lack of defense and inability to score in half court sets.

.

Accurate--- I remember those as well. Probably the most fun aspect for me though we're all the fans returning from the beyer days due to the winning. He also had a stellar record at home.