Post by Banana Cat on Mar 17, 2011 11:18:28 GMT -5
www.scbandits.com/coachesColumn.cfm
Coach's Column
03/16/11
Hello Bandit Nation!
I am Butch Faulkenberry, Head Coach of the Sioux City Bandits! This season I will be updating the “Bandit Nation” with articles in the “Coaches Corner” (I promise to shorten them up after this one.)
I will start by telling you a little bit about myself. As many of you already know, I coached the Iowa Sharks for three seasons with a great deal of success. Prior to my position with the Sharks, I was the head football coach in the Galva-Holstein School District. I have also coached high school football in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska in various capacities. I have experience coordinating both sides of the ball but feel most comfortable using my skills defensively. I love the game of football, the lessons it teaches, and the relationships that are built!
I view the Bandits as a proud organization that is competitive in nature with devout, loyal fans. I hope to be the Bandits head coach for some time. I have four children who I would like to raise in the area, so I am not planning on going anywhere anytime soon. I have worked hard to learn the history of this team to better prepare myself for the job that lies ahead.
For the Bandits to be successful one thing we need to do is spend less time looking for athletes and more time coaching and mentoring the players we have. As a former coach of the Sharks, I have a good understanding of the talent that has been overlooked in our area. The athletes we are coaching now are young men who are excited to play football and proud to have the opportunity to be a “Bandit!”
We are stressing character this year with our athletes. To me, character is the missing link to what this team is capable of accomplishing. Each player must put the team first and not worry about what’s in it for them. I want you as a fan to be overjoyed with the type of athlete we select to be in our program, not just because of the talent they possess, but because of who that person is! To me this is what makes great teams, teams you will remember and RESPECT! I am fully aware that in recent years our football team has let our community down by the behavior of some of our athletes. This is a result of poor leadership. It will be my responsibility to select fine young men and provide them with the proper leadership required in a top-notch organization. Not only do we want to be the best on the field, we need to be at our best off the field as well. As a father I understand the importance of good role modeling. I want everyone to feel good about bringing their families to a Bandits game!
For us to accomplish these goals it will take a collective effort. As the Bandits head coach, I am fortunate to have excellent leadership within my staff. Jarrod DeGeorgia (offensive coordinator) and Erv Strohbeen (line coach) are really the cornerstones of the program. They are lifers and truly love the Bandits. If they could I think they would sell one of their appendages to win a championship! It hasn’t taken long for me to realize how fortunate I am to have these two gentlemen on the staff. Both are exceptional coaches, know what is at stake, and are at the top of their profession in what they do. A name you will all recognize, who will be coming back this season not as a player but as our defensive backs coach, is John Zevenbergen. John is top notch! The fact we were able to convince John to join is the final piece of the leadership puzzle we have needed. John knows the game inside and out and contributes to the direction of our defense daily. John has already become my right-hand man and will prove to be invaluable to our team this season.
Just as important as our coaches is our veteran player leadership. We cannot place a value on the importance of a leader like Spetlar Tonga, Scott Jenson, or Damon Mothershead. Spet is a rock; a guy you know will always be there! He is a leader on and off the field. Just as important as the plays he makes is his passion for football and his ability to adjust the defense on the field during a game. Scott Jensen is a student of the game and knows Coach DeGeorgia’s system inside and out. Long before the season even started, Scott was working with guys who were planning on trying out for the team; doing whatever he could to get them ready for camp. Scott is respected by his teammates because of his unselfish and hardworking attitude towards his team and this game. One word comes to mind when I think of Damon Mothershead - smooth! Damon is as smooth as they come on and off the field; a result of a young man who as learned the art of patience. Damon uses his qualities with his team members; calming them and keeping them in check, so that they don’t get rattled. As you can see the nucleus of our team is solid, we are focused and ready for the task ahead.
The APFL is a tough league and we cannot take any team lightly. At this time we are focused on March 25, as the Blackhawk’s are not leaking any information, which tells me they are planning on coming to the Tyson ready to “welcome us” to their league. With great fan support this will not happen! We need everyone involved to contribute positively to the dream; the dream of a Bandit championship. I am asking that you as a Bandits fan remember to cheer for us, understand we may not always be perfect, and to never cheer against anyone. I want Sioux City’s kids to come to a game and leave every time feeling excited about their experience at our event. Coaches, players, and fans all have a role in this. We all need to mentor the type of behavior that should be a standard at any activity or event. With good leadership from you, our staff, and our veterans we will present a product we can all be proud of. Remember our team is working hard to be successful, not only for their dreams but for yours and others alike. Please support that and let’s get it right this season! I want you to know how excited I am to be a part of something as special as Bandit football and it is my goal to share that special feeling with as many people as we can, especially the kids in our community. Always try to keep them in mind and try to make their experience as special as football was to all of us when we were their age.
Bandit Nation is alive and well, ready for the 2011 season! I look forward to seeing all of you on March 25th when we “Welcome the Blackhawks” to Sioux City.
Coach Faulkenberry
03/16/11
Hello Bandit Nation!
I am Butch Faulkenberry, Head Coach of the Sioux City Bandits! This season I will be updating the “Bandit Nation” with articles in the “Coaches Corner” (I promise to shorten them up after this one.)
I will start by telling you a little bit about myself. As many of you already know, I coached the Iowa Sharks for three seasons with a great deal of success. Prior to my position with the Sharks, I was the head football coach in the Galva-Holstein School District. I have also coached high school football in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska in various capacities. I have experience coordinating both sides of the ball but feel most comfortable using my skills defensively. I love the game of football, the lessons it teaches, and the relationships that are built!
I view the Bandits as a proud organization that is competitive in nature with devout, loyal fans. I hope to be the Bandits head coach for some time. I have four children who I would like to raise in the area, so I am not planning on going anywhere anytime soon. I have worked hard to learn the history of this team to better prepare myself for the job that lies ahead.
For the Bandits to be successful one thing we need to do is spend less time looking for athletes and more time coaching and mentoring the players we have. As a former coach of the Sharks, I have a good understanding of the talent that has been overlooked in our area. The athletes we are coaching now are young men who are excited to play football and proud to have the opportunity to be a “Bandit!”
We are stressing character this year with our athletes. To me, character is the missing link to what this team is capable of accomplishing. Each player must put the team first and not worry about what’s in it for them. I want you as a fan to be overjoyed with the type of athlete we select to be in our program, not just because of the talent they possess, but because of who that person is! To me this is what makes great teams, teams you will remember and RESPECT! I am fully aware that in recent years our football team has let our community down by the behavior of some of our athletes. This is a result of poor leadership. It will be my responsibility to select fine young men and provide them with the proper leadership required in a top-notch organization. Not only do we want to be the best on the field, we need to be at our best off the field as well. As a father I understand the importance of good role modeling. I want everyone to feel good about bringing their families to a Bandits game!
For us to accomplish these goals it will take a collective effort. As the Bandits head coach, I am fortunate to have excellent leadership within my staff. Jarrod DeGeorgia (offensive coordinator) and Erv Strohbeen (line coach) are really the cornerstones of the program. They are lifers and truly love the Bandits. If they could I think they would sell one of their appendages to win a championship! It hasn’t taken long for me to realize how fortunate I am to have these two gentlemen on the staff. Both are exceptional coaches, know what is at stake, and are at the top of their profession in what they do. A name you will all recognize, who will be coming back this season not as a player but as our defensive backs coach, is John Zevenbergen. John is top notch! The fact we were able to convince John to join is the final piece of the leadership puzzle we have needed. John knows the game inside and out and contributes to the direction of our defense daily. John has already become my right-hand man and will prove to be invaluable to our team this season.
Just as important as our coaches is our veteran player leadership. We cannot place a value on the importance of a leader like Spetlar Tonga, Scott Jenson, or Damon Mothershead. Spet is a rock; a guy you know will always be there! He is a leader on and off the field. Just as important as the plays he makes is his passion for football and his ability to adjust the defense on the field during a game. Scott Jensen is a student of the game and knows Coach DeGeorgia’s system inside and out. Long before the season even started, Scott was working with guys who were planning on trying out for the team; doing whatever he could to get them ready for camp. Scott is respected by his teammates because of his unselfish and hardworking attitude towards his team and this game. One word comes to mind when I think of Damon Mothershead - smooth! Damon is as smooth as they come on and off the field; a result of a young man who as learned the art of patience. Damon uses his qualities with his team members; calming them and keeping them in check, so that they don’t get rattled. As you can see the nucleus of our team is solid, we are focused and ready for the task ahead.
The APFL is a tough league and we cannot take any team lightly. At this time we are focused on March 25, as the Blackhawk’s are not leaking any information, which tells me they are planning on coming to the Tyson ready to “welcome us” to their league. With great fan support this will not happen! We need everyone involved to contribute positively to the dream; the dream of a Bandit championship. I am asking that you as a Bandits fan remember to cheer for us, understand we may not always be perfect, and to never cheer against anyone. I want Sioux City’s kids to come to a game and leave every time feeling excited about their experience at our event. Coaches, players, and fans all have a role in this. We all need to mentor the type of behavior that should be a standard at any activity or event. With good leadership from you, our staff, and our veterans we will present a product we can all be proud of. Remember our team is working hard to be successful, not only for their dreams but for yours and others alike. Please support that and let’s get it right this season! I want you to know how excited I am to be a part of something as special as Bandit football and it is my goal to share that special feeling with as many people as we can, especially the kids in our community. Always try to keep them in mind and try to make their experience as special as football was to all of us when we were their age.
Bandit Nation is alive and well, ready for the 2011 season! I look forward to seeing all of you on March 25th when we “Welcome the Blackhawks” to Sioux City.
Coach Faulkenberry