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State Champion Tioga Tigers with Coach Aiello · Cover IV Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to Cover Four.
• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: If you're a Section Four football fan, this is your podcast.
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Coach Smith and I'll be your host.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: The Cover Four Podcast is brought to you by TDS Performance Improvement.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: Leading people is the most important responsibility in the world, yet 60% of first-time leaders fail, and only 5% of organizations have a leader development strategy.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_00: I developed the premier first-time leader development program to prevent these failures.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: Beginning in January 2023, I will deliver this monthly leader development program at the Tyoga Downs Casino, Nichols, New York.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: Visit TDSPI.com.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: That's TDSPI.com and click and find out if you're prepared to lead people.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: Our guest is Nick Aialo, head coach of the Tioga Tigers, who last weekend finished their season really strong, winning their second New York State championship in a row and third overall.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: Coach Ayala will reflect on how his preseason began when he was forced to coach from the couch or golf cart.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: He will explain the importance of his coaching staff and how their young student athletes understand the hard work, dedication, and teamwork required to reach their goals.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: He will also share insight into how he inspires all youth levels of up-and-coming Tioga Tigers.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: He has some great advice for people wanting to get into the coaching profession as well.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: Here we go.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: Hi, Coach Ayalo.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome back to the Cover Four podcast.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: And congratulations to you, the team, and the whole Tyoga Tigers football community on another state championship.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: This makes two consecutive and the third overall.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: So things must be uh pretty well there in Tioga football community right now.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: How about you?
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, uh a lot a lot of excitement going on.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_01: It was it was a good day on Saturday, and and the community still fired up.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um you know, and I appreciate you having me on again.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_01: Uh it's it's been a good year in Tiger Land and uh just just really excited and and still very proud of what the kids have accomplished.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, you're definitely and accomplish is a great word.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: You can you can kind of see it um in their the way they go about the the game, you know, because you we only see them on game day, you see them all the time, but you can I've got a pretty trained eye from coaching and then also recruiting student athletes.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: So I can kind of tell you see they they got the right uh mannerisms.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: I call it the spine angle where they're up and they're not slouching and down on themselves.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: Um they're helping people up when they uh block them down, tackle them, those kind of things.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: So you really do have what I call a true football community.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: It's not just okay, we get to the varsity and we'll write a roll.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: You know, you've got youth football all the way up through to the varsity team.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: One thing I want to start off with, coaches um is begin with the most important aspect of the team.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: And that's obviously the people that are involved.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: It's the coaching staff, the players, and the overall relationships.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_00: And tell me a little bit about the the team personality this year.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, this uh, I mean, really, it was a young team.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, we returned some experience from last year with a lot of sophomores that had played.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but we and we only had three seniors on the roster this year, but but we know we knew uh that this junior class would be something special.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_01: Uh they were uh you know special when they were young, coming up through the youth ranks, uh through modified.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um they spent uh they were freshmen during that uh COVID spring season, and we kept them all down on JV.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_01: We wanted them to play together.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um and and we didn't want to pull any of freshmen up during that time.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_01: Uh we just wanted them to play football and and um and and it worked out really, really well.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: And so um, you know, the the thing about this group too is for a lot of them, I would say football is not really their main sport.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_01: And so um, you know, looking back on the year, uh we we we almost had to wait a little bit, wait a little bit for them.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_01: A lot of them wrestle, a lot of them do the basketball, a lot of them uh do baseball.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_01: And so uh summertime, we went to a team camp uh right at the end of June.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_01: And but we really didn't pick things up until about the end of July, going in early part of August, after they're done with the rest of their um offseason stuff with their other sports.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_01: And but from that time on, man, they they were locked in.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_01: Uh they knew where they wanted to be at the end of the season.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um and what what's what's special about this group is uh uh they they carry that attitude that they uh they know what it takes to win.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_01: They know what it takes to um be able to perform on the big stage and get the championships they want.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that's probably what I'm most proud of them for is they put the work in and they put the preparation in.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_01: They didn't they don't cut corners and they understand that if you do cut corners, you aren't going to get what you want.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_01: Um and for being such a young group, there there is quite a bit of maturity there when it comes to that and having that mental toughness and that mental discipline to do what it takes to win.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_01: So um, you know, and in terms of a personality, um I think that's it.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's just a a certain attitude they have that I think they got from last year's seniors.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_01: I think they had a lot of success when they were young.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I think they experience um in other sports, uh, they experience playing on the big stage and understanding what it takes to win.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_01: And um and they carry themselves real well.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_01: Uh the the way they they approach the field, the way they approach uh the game of football and their other athletics, they like to compete and they're going to compete, and you're gonna get the best they have, and they're gonna prepare themselves.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_01: And and I think that's why I enjoy coaching this group so much.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and it's evident too, and these are gonna be lifelong lessons that they're gonna take with them, the work ethic, what it takes to put in to do things and being part of a team.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: So they're really set up not just to play on championship weekend, they're set up for life in terms of you know being able to do what it takes and and work together as a team.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_00: And because you know you know, coach, you got if you got 10 guys that are doing their own thing out there and you got one guy that's in the system, it's not gonna work.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: You need everybody on the same page, and that that says a lot about you and the overall community as well.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_00: It's a definitely a reflection on you.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_00: Take us on a journey through this season, and and and if you can remember one thing that kind of stands out that's funny because you have quite a lot of good statistical things going on.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: You ran the table last year, you ran the table this year, you're at 14 and zero, and I believe that's the most wins in the modern playoff era in a season.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_00: And you're on a 27-game win streak, it takes you back to week six in the 2020 shortened season.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: So your student athletes are are not accustomed to winning.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_00: But what you alluded to is they know what it takes to prevent that, and that's what they do.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: So take us kind of through this season, and if you got something funny you can share with us that happened, or maybe more than once.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know if it's funny, but uh, for me, the season didn't start off in the uh the best way.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_01: I tore my Achilles tenant back in um back in the spring, and I ended up having a problem with the uh uh with the incision.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_01: And so, you know, I talked about that team camp earlier.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_01: I was actually in the hospital on a hospital bed um uh after a second surgery uh while the rest of my staff were taking uh the team up to the Cortland team camp.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_01: And and so that's kind of how my summer went.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_01: I spent a lot of time on the couch.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um and you know, as the kids are working out, I'm I'm I'm doing my best.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_01: I have kids coming over to watch film from seven on sevens.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_01: I uh um at one point I had an assistant coach at a seven on seven, and I was calling plays from the couch and you know through the phone and stuff.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_00: So it is technology, great.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it is the technology was was very beneficial this summer.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_01: So and I started coaching.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um, one of my friends actually had a golf cart he let me borrow.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_01: So I I was coaching from a golf cart, and and uh that's how my preseason was.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_01: Um and and and I do want to mention my staff uh because because man, they they put the time in.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um I I couldn't be there a lot this summer.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_01: And um by the time we hit preseason when when I was able to go, uh our kids were ready.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_01: And uh they actually had a phenomenal summer, even though I couldn't be there a whole lot.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, just just kudos to my staff uh uh for putting that work in.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_01: But but man, we we uh we signed up for a week zero game.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_01: Uh we we agreed to that way back in the spring.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um uh we went down to Waverly and played against the Section 9 team, Marlboro, uh, who's class B.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_01: And so that really drove us all summer long.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_01: And and and for those two pre- uh getting ready for a game in two weeks is tough.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_01: And um, but but because of a good summer, I we were we felt comfortable going into that game, and our kids performed really, really well.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then from there, uh we had our only non-league game against Newark Valley week one.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and we played well that week too.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_01: And and um, and then you know, we we hit our our D division.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, section four, there's only eight of us, so we play seven, seven league games, and um and we were rolling.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and we had some good wins, some solid wins.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_01: And again, you you know, you you go into a season thinking you could be good, but until you know you start getting into games and seeing what you can do, um yeah, you know, that that's when you really start to figure out what kind of team you are.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_01: And then I'd say, you know, the um I guess if you're looking for a turning point or where I thought we stepped our game up would be after the the first Delhi game.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um Delhi came into our place, it was our homecoming.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_01: And um, but it was a heck of a game.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it was a lot of fun uh to be a part of that game because it was we had to we had to um we had to get some big plays.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um you know, we scored on a fourth down pass.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_01: Um uh Delhi came in just ready to go for us.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, they were they were ready and they really played their tails off.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_01: And um, and that game really kind of came down to the wire, and we ended up beating them 28-21.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, a lot of a lot of people thought we played bad uh after that game.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_01: And I was thinking, you know, we did what we had to do to win.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_01: Um and Delhi really just played really, really well.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and and they were ready for us.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, we we kind of used that game as motivation for the rest of the season.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_01: We we figured we'd see them again.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and and that's how the how the season played out.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_01: You know, we ended up seeing them in the um in the sectional finals.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_01: Um between those two games, though, I thought uh I guess the other uh I guess we'll call it a turning point or another big big part of our regular season was the last game of the year.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um we lost the game, the league game against Deposit Hancock, and with a change in the rules from last year, we were able to pick up another game in which we went against Athens.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_01: And I just thought um, you know, we we found out on a Monday night we weren't gonna play deposit.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_01: Uh we knew Athens was off because they were supposed to play SARE that week, uh, which Sayre did not field the team this year.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_01: And so um, you know, I just thought, hey, if we're if we're gonna be playoff ready and if we're gonna be able to beat the teams I know we have to beat, you know, win or lose going against Athens was gonna help us.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_01: And and because they were big, um, had some big receivers, had a big quarterback, um, some tough nose running backs.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_01: So I thought it'd be just a great test for us to see where we're at.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_01: Had no bearing on our playoff status whatsoever.
• 11:15
  SPEAKER_01: So um, you know, we went down there and and and the kids were excited about it.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_01: And then and they they got ready in three days to play that team and really went down.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_01: It was a good game.
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I can't, I think it was 29, 13, or 14 or something, the final score.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_01: But uh, but man, our kids really showed that it hit, hey, you know, and uh when we know it's on the line, we're gonna play really hard.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_01: And and and we really used that game uh to roll in the playoffs.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER_01: Um yeah, from there we played Spencer um round one, Del High round two.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_01: That was a big week because the kids really wanted to prove that um you know that they could play better against them.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_01: And uh and that was a tough game.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_01: You know, it was it was raining a lot and everything, but but man, the kids played well.
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um then from there up to uh we went up to CNS and Syracuse, played against Dulgeville, uh who was undefeated at the time, had some good backs and stuff.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_01: But um, but again, yeah, these kids, and then I was talking about earlier, I mean, they locked in come playoff time.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, they knew it was almost like they had just been waiting and waiting and waiting, and finally it was playoffs, and finally it was time to roll for them, and they got locked in and and they got uh ready every single week.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and and we beat Dolgeville uh handedly, and they were excited about that.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_01: But then our sights were on Randolph after that.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, it was a little nerve-wracking.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_01: We didn't even know who we're gonna play until uh after Monday night of that state semifinal week, and and we had to play on a Friday because the section six and five games, uh those regional games got pushed to Monday because of that huge snowstorm that Buffalo had.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_01: And so, you know, we go into practice Monday, not really knowing who we're gonna play.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_01: We um, you know, we thought it would be Randolph, but Oakfield, Alabama also beat Randolph last year.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_01: So anyway, um, you know, we we got ready for Randolph in three days.
• 12:57
  SPEAKER_01: And uh man, you know, what what a game uh that Randolph game was.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, for me personally and as well as some uh some of my staff, it was um it was a really great victory because um it really kind of showed how full circle um as a staff and as a program we went.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, we lost to them eight years ago, but we lost to them three times in a row.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_01: Um and it was it was one of those things like we knew we had to get better, but it it was gonna, it just took us a while to develop a system that we thought was good enough.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, so going against Randolph um and beating them um you know was great for this team because it punched our ticket to the dome.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, but but also program-wise, I I thought it it it it was just nice.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_01: It you know, we have a ton of respect for the Randolph program.
• 13:41
  SPEAKER_01: Uh me being from Western York, I played against them when I was in high school.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_01: Um so so anyway, that was a big win for us.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_01: And then and then the state championship game.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_01: I, you know, we couldn't play a more perfect game.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um I was it was really kind of like an exclamation point.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_01: And uh and I was so happy, you know, one of the things I loved about that game is it wasn't just one guy.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um so many, so many kids played so well in that game and had big plays.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_01: It was really um yeah, you know, just just awesome to see so many kids step up and have their moment and on that big stage.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I know the score, you know, it got up there, but um, but man, it was it was just an exciting day, and I was really happy for the kids and proud of them because uh that's what they worked so hard for all season long.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_00: Well, sure.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_00: Plus, you started the season off on the couch, and now you're you're here at this championship game, and and your defense stepped up huge.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, they scored three touchdowns in that game, and I'm a defensive coordinator, so that's a soft spot in my heart when the defense can score like that, and that makes things um not easy, but a little bit easier for you in terms of play calling and how aggressive you can be doing certain stunts, blitzes, those kinds of things.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yep, definitely.
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_01: And and they, you know, going into that game, and they're 13-0.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it it's an undefeated team, and and I mean, that staff had they won back-to-back state championships in 16-17.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_01: And um, they they ran, they run a style no huddle, like a power uh game, power offensive no-huddle.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, getting ready for that and getting the kids ready for that.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and and again, the kids just were phenomenal in understanding how important their preparation was, and they were ready when when uh by the time the uh kickoff at noon on Saturday, they were ready.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, absolutely.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_00: I didn't I saw little bits of uh video pieces on uh on Twitter uh on and off a little bit because I watched quite a few of your games on YouTube this year.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_00: I was lucky to be able to watch the I think the Del High game I watched, the seven-point game, and there's a few other games I watched you play as well.
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_00: But uh it was big for you guys to step up on week zero to play a team like that.
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_00: And and I just you can see it kind of carried throughout the season because you really you were only challenged really a couple of times.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_00: The the first Del High game, and the Del High is is uh Delaware Academy, that's a that's a great program, too.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_00: And then um, you know, the Randolph game, which you alluded to, and they've gone been kind of a nemesis of yours over the years.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and it's always good to get over that particular hump too, and also for the kids in a program.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_00: But I want to step back to one thing I coach leaders in in business, and one of the true attributes of a leader is that the organization functions well when they're absent.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_00: And you were physically absent.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you might have been in touch electronically, but you weren't there necessarily seeing everything and barking at everybody and doing different things like a coach normally does and it with enthusiasm.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_00: But that says a lot for your staff that they they could step up and and and keep that uh level of consistency and approach.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_00: And uh that just says a lot for the overall program, specifically for you, because you're the leader of the program.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_01: And again, my you know, we we we built up our staff actually going back to uh you know eight years ago playing against Randolph.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_01: I remember it was just three of us, you know, walking through the line and we were and we talked about, we noticed how big their staff was, how many you know, people they had helping them out.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_01: And uh, I have a tremendous amount of help right now.
• 17:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, you it's it's hard to find one guy you trust, let alone a whole handful of them.
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_01: And um, you know, I think I think the guys from our youth to and in the school programs, modified JV and so on.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_01: I think we just have a lot of guys that believe in our our vision of what we want our program to be for a small school uh football program, and a lot of guys buying in and it's and it's working out.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_01: And um, and I'm I'm very appreciative of of the effort they put in, but also just um you know, grinding out the with this vision we want.
• 17:37
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, and uh the other thing too, you uh I always believed in what I called uniform uniforms from a player perspective.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER_00: Everybody wears you know the same socks.
• 17:48
  SPEAKER_00: The only the only thing that um I kind of let go a little bit was if you had to wear a medical device, you you wore the medical device, but everybody um wore this what I call the uniform uniform.
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_00: But where I'm going with this is your coaching staff.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_00: You all look the same.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_00: There was no question that you were a uh Tyoga coaching staff member, you know, with the the khaki pants and uh the shirt and the hats and everything.
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_00: And that goes a long ways too.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um people don't realize that, but that's a that shows a form of unity at the coaching level.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_00: You're you have a in essence a uniform uniform.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_00: You know, that that uh that really goes a long ways uh in that regard.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_00: Um, let's see, what else is I gonna hit you up with?
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, the your uh winning streak that you're on.
• 18:33
  SPEAKER_00: It's a you know 27-game winning streak.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_00: What I think is one of the hardest things to do is your team in probably better part of three years now really hasn't faced a ton of adversity, but it's because they understand what they need to do.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_00: And and uh you alluded to it earlier, how hard they have to work and the time they put in and the efforts, not just time, it's what you do with that time, you know, right from the weight room to stretching to skills stuff, you know, and and team stuff.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's it's not easy.
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_00: And you've got what's going like a small college staff uh in terms of what you're doing.
• 19:10
  SPEAKER_00: So that's just a lot for the the overall program.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um you know, I you don't think about it much while you're in the middle of it.
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_01: Um uh you're reminded about it every time you look in the in the media somewhere, you know.
• 19:22
  SPEAKER_01: But um, but now now that it's over and you reflect on that, it's just like uh, you know, holy couch, it's it's it's it's quite a ride to be on.
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_01: And these kids, um, you know, it'd be different if I thought these kids just showed up and played.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and it's not like that, like you were talking about.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I I really think that they deserve the success that they've had um because they do work hard.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and and you talk about handling adversity and and and we may not uh have have had it a whole lot in terms of wins and losses or losses for that matter.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but again, you know, these can these guys compete in in multi-sports, and and um um I I think I think the adversity they face as competitors is what drives them in whatever sport they're in, really.
• 20:05
  SPEAKER_01: And and um I that's just how I feel about this group.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I just feel that if they did have some adversity, I think they would be just fine.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_01: I think they would have the mental toughness and the mental discipline to do what they needed to do to be successful.
• 20:18
  SPEAKER_01: Um that's just it that's what they carry with them.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_00: And last year you did have what I call the ultimate adversity.
• 20:26
  SPEAKER_00: You lost a student athlete.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and that is that's a real tough life lesson for for people to learn.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_00: And I I remember having some conversations with you last year about that and how that kind of carried forward through things, but that that's you know, that's an that's a form of adversity as well.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_00: And they they were like a family, and they you know, they came together and and dealt with it like you would as a smaller biological family.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so it's uh that's that's a tough life lesson right there.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_00: That's that's adversity uh in the first.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and and like I said, I it um you know these kids are yeah, I'm just very proud of them.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_01: I'm proud of the way they carry themselves.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_01: And um, you know, I'm proud of the streak they're on, I'm proud of them being back-to-back champs, and and uh, and it's just it's it's very well deserving for this group of kids.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_00: Um let's see, there's one other thing I wanted to run by.
• 21:21
  SPEAKER_00: Uh okay, if we you're approached by somebody that wants to get into the coaching profession or a student athlete, they don't even have to be uh, you know, in the Tyoga community, and they say, hey coach, you know, what do you recommend?
• 21:33
  SPEAKER_00: I I want to play football, you know, I'm in a fifth grade, fourth grade, or somebody that really wants to get into coaching.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe it's a a parent and um maybe they're uh empty nest and they want to get back and get into coaching.
• 21:46
  SPEAKER_00: What would you tell those those two different people, the student young student athlete and the uh potential coach?
• 21:53
  SPEAKER_01: You know, well, the young student athlete, I do everything to make sure they showed up on day one.
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_01: Um tell them how much fun it is and how much fun we had.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: and and uh how much you can learn from the game of football and and being on the team um and i and i think i think not just myself i think the the staff i have around me does a really good job at at recruiting those younger players and getting them out and and um approaching the game the right way approaching beginner beginner players the right way and and and helping them along um and in terms of coaching i you know i i always say you know anyone that's willing to spend the time coaching and and a lot of times volunteer their time coaching um uh is is something special it's someone giving back in in one way shape or form whether um they remember a coach that uh motivated them or um they just want to give back to the community give back to the youth and so i think that's special um you know in terms of advice uh don't just don't don't come in thinking you know it all uh you know come in be being ready to listen and learn um and the biggest thing too i i would say for for a coach starting out is you know be be be very mindful of the example uh you're setting for for kids um you know the kids are gonna play and act the way that you do around them exactly you can't necessarily be their friend uh you you have to set um you have to set the example you want for them you the way you want them to carry themselves and and the way you want them to play um the way you want them to help a guy off the field you know or whatever it may be um just be very very mindful of of the of the athlete's perception of of yourself and and um you should really base a lot of what you do and how you teach and coach uh around that you know and and and trying to make an impact because it it you know after it's all said and done who really cares what happens on the football field what's more important probably is how how they act uh when no one's around you know exactly that's the true sign of character and that's also five 10 15 years down the road you get that tap on the shoulder and you turn around and the guys hey coach how you doing you know that's what I find is really rewarding because I I still get scenarios like that either at the uh semi pro level or high school level or even at the youth level student athletes that I had coached and I and they come back and uh it it's really interesting.
• 24:20
  SPEAKER_00: Some of them had some hard times in life and I helped them through we had some tough love situations but uh I think they appreciate that as well and they want and they they want direction they want structure they want to be coached uh they don't want to be belittled and I think one of the things that a coach um doesn't necessarily get until somebody tells them that is they think okay I say one thing but your body language is saying another and they've got to sync up you know yeah they've they've got to sync up because if they're not sunk up then you're sending a mixed message and by the way your body language overrides what you say because you can say all the the the right things but if you go over and do something contrary to that uh you know your credibility is just shot and and they know they they they know they're oh absolutely yeah they do and I have to be careful that some I'm very animated in a lot of ways so I I do have to be careful with that but you know at the end of the day you you throw your arm around the guy they they they know what you're trying to do like you said tough love and um and and kids do want to be coached up and they and but as long as you know as long as they know how much you care um you know that that's that's what's important then they'll respect you and and um and and you'll have a lot of fun doing it.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_00: If they know you care then they're gonna care.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah exactly absolutely well coach uh again congratulations to you the team and the whole football community there in Tyoga great stuff I appreciate you taking the time to come and uh share some insight with us because I know probably your media responsibilities are are through the roof.
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_00: You probably got ESPN calling you late night shows on TVs yeah I wish I had actually I don't really I had to get it was tough to get through your agent it was easier probably going through your your defensive line than going through your agent to get a hold of you yeah well well I appreciate you having me on it yeah no I like having these conversations it is fun listen thanks again coach appreciate it right well thank you take care and keep the train rolling down there all right sounds good if you enjoyed this episode be sure to subscribe and remember tell your friends Coach Smith says visit cover four dot com and be the next fan up in football and life it's not where we line up it's where we wind up thank you for listening to the cover four podcast