From Coach Joe Wieland:
At our coaches meeting last night, we talked about the game and practices and have made some adjustments to the strings, meaning for every kid that moves up, another moves down. That is part of being on a team.
I am attempting to talk to each of the players before the next practice so that they are not caught off guard in front of their teammates AND so that I can tell them what they need to do to get a spot back.
After talking to my son Bailey and telling him that he was not starting at linebacker this week, he was very mad, but I talked about things he could do to get back into the lineup.
If your son comes home and is upset, please ask him what he can do to improve, rather than focus on the loss of position or which other player took his spot. Players can also talk to their position coaches to find out what they need to do to improve.
As I said earlier this year, lineups will change week to week based on opponent, practice and games.
Thanks,
Joe Wieland
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Words for the Day: Pay attention, running backs, QBs and receivers
"That's Football 101: Be good to the big guys and they'll be good to you."
From a Ron Cook article on Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
From a Ron Cook article on Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Monday, September 14, 2009
Coach Wieland: New Practice Schedule Clarified
From Coach Joe Wieland:
Very simple.
Every week until we tell you different:
Monday, 5:00-7:15
Wednesday, 5:30-7:00(Unless you have a prior scheduled commitment, mandatory)
Thursday, 5:00-7:15
Very simple.
Every week until we tell you different:
Monday, 5:00-7:15
Wednesday, 5:30-7:00(Unless you have a prior scheduled commitment, mandatory)
Thursday, 5:00-7:15
Game Story: Junior Blue Dukes 38, Nicolet 0
Led by a suffocating defense, and fueled by big plays on both sides of the line of scrimmage, the Junior Blue Dukes rolled to a 38-0 victory over Nicolet Sept. 12 at Nicolet High School Field.
The Blue Dukes overcame an early turnover to take the lead on Macklin Kortebein's 35-yard fumble return. In the second quarter, the Blue Dukes racked up touchdowns on a Bailey Weiland run and TD passes from Jake Fisher to Zach Casey and Anthony Enea. In the second half, Casey scored on a long run and Van Bassindale zoomed to the house after deftly stripping a Nicolet back of the ball.
Fisher and Bassindale tailed the two successful extra points in the game.
Nicolet tried to run to the outside on the Blue Dukes, but the swarming defense would have nothing of it. According to coach Jon Bassindale's preliminary tally, at least 14 Blue Dukes players were in on tackles. One of the tackling highlights occurred when Jonathan Downs introduced himself to a Nicolet ball carrier with a pad-crunching hit that knocked him flat.
Blue Dukes stalwart Ryan Hummer was banged up and had to leave the game, but Ryan and his dad Steve reported he will be practicing fully Wednesday and expects to play in Saturday's home game against Homestead.
Coach Joe Wieland encouraged players to enjoy the victory but also to remember that Homestead, our next opponent, isn't reading our press clippings.
The Homestead game begins at noon Saturday, Sept. 19, at lovely Lubar Stadium in Whitefish Bay.
The Blue Dukes overcame an early turnover to take the lead on Macklin Kortebein's 35-yard fumble return. In the second quarter, the Blue Dukes racked up touchdowns on a Bailey Weiland run and TD passes from Jake Fisher to Zach Casey and Anthony Enea. In the second half, Casey scored on a long run and Van Bassindale zoomed to the house after deftly stripping a Nicolet back of the ball.
Fisher and Bassindale tailed the two successful extra points in the game.
Nicolet tried to run to the outside on the Blue Dukes, but the swarming defense would have nothing of it. According to coach Jon Bassindale's preliminary tally, at least 14 Blue Dukes players were in on tackles. One of the tackling highlights occurred when Jonathan Downs introduced himself to a Nicolet ball carrier with a pad-crunching hit that knocked him flat.
Blue Dukes stalwart Ryan Hummer was banged up and had to leave the game, but Ryan and his dad Steve reported he will be practicing fully Wednesday and expects to play in Saturday's home game against Homestead.
Coach Joe Wieland encouraged players to enjoy the victory but also to remember that Homestead, our next opponent, isn't reading our press clippings.
The Homestead game begins at noon Saturday, Sept. 19, at lovely Lubar Stadium in Whitefish Bay.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Game Day: Karen's photos from the Nicolet game
I married way above my station in life. Not only is Karen a wonderful partner and a great mother, she is also a fine photographer. Here is a slideshow of some of her candid photos from Saturday's Nicolet game:
Browse the photos online if you like.
Browse the photos online if you like.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Pictures/Walkthrough Friday
As Joe Wieland wrote earlier this week, picture day will be combined Friday afternoon with a final practice walk-through at the WFB High School upper field, behind the stadium.
Players should be there by 4 p.m. Friday, wearing their blue game pants and blue game jerseys. Pictures for our group are penciled in for 4:30 p.m., but I take all those scheduled times with bemused skepticism. Just have your guy there by 4 p.m. in blue.
Football czar Carl Fuda reports: no forms to fill out for this picture session. The photo company will email each of us.
As for Saturday's road game against Nicolet, Coach Wieland asks that the boys be at Nicolet HS by 3 p.m. Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. (Since that is a road game, that will be white jerseys with game blue pants.)
Players should be there by 4 p.m. Friday, wearing their blue game pants and blue game jerseys. Pictures for our group are penciled in for 4:30 p.m., but I take all those scheduled times with bemused skepticism. Just have your guy there by 4 p.m. in blue.
Football czar Carl Fuda reports: no forms to fill out for this picture session. The photo company will email each of us.
As for Saturday's road game against Nicolet, Coach Wieland asks that the boys be at Nicolet HS by 3 p.m. Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. (Since that is a road game, that will be white jerseys with game blue pants.)
Saturday, September 5, 2009
A few video clips from Thursday's scrimmages
Back to Back: These were the first two plays of the scrimmage:
Team Defense:
Team Defense:
Friday, September 4, 2009
Game Week: The Nicolet Game, Fairness & Absences
[This is condensed from emails sent by Coach Joe Wieland recently.]
After 3 weeks of practice, we are ready for some games. The first game is 9/12 at Nicolet HS at 4:00.
PLAYING TIME - Fair does not mean equal.
I want every player to have fun and feel like they are part of the team. After the scrimmage last night the coaches met and put together a plan so that all players will play in the game by the end of the 3rd quarter. By the end of the season, every player will have started at least one game. Not all players will play the same amount in the game. The playing time of some players is limited by their knowledge of the game, commitment to practice time or desire to play. When a player says to us, "I can only play safety", he is limited to one spot on the field.
GAMES ARE SHORT. Games are 4 8-minute quarters. That is less than the length of one practice. If you come to watch your son play, really watch for him or you may miss him. Ask him what position he plays and what quarter he thinks he will play in.
If you or your son have concerns about their role on the team, please let me know via email and we can set up a time to talk.
Reminder that practice Monday is optional, Tuesday and Thursday are mandatory.
Have a great weekend.
Thanks,
Joe Wieland
* * *
The coming week's schedule:
9/7 Labor Day (OPTIONAL PRACTICE) 5:00-dark
This is officially the first week of Monday/Thursday practices during the week. If you have plans, keep them and enjoy the day. If you do not have plans and are tired of listening to your boys complain that there is nothing to do and you need a break from them at the end of a 3 day weekend, send them to Lydell. All players/coaches who have been kicked out of their houses by annoyed wives/moms will have a fun practice. Absences will not be held against any players.
9/8 Tuesday ( Extra practice) 5:00-dark
This is planned to make up for the lost practice time on Monday. If you had planned other activities already scheduled because Tuesday is usually a "non-football" day, keep those plans and let me know via email. Absences will not be held against a player.
9/10 Thursday 5:00-Dark
* * *
9/12 GAME at Nicolet 4:00. All players must arrive at 3:00. [It's a road game, so it will be WHITE jerseys, unless Coach Wieland decrees something else.]
* * *
A note from Coach Wieland on Absences:
The coaching staff is working hard at insuring that all players get onto the field during games and scrimmages. We have a plan that gets every boy into the game in either the 1st, 2nd or 3rd quarter. When we know that someone will be gone due to a conflict, it makes planning easier.
IF YOU KNOW YOUR SON IS GOING TO MISS A FUTURE GAME, PLEASE LET US KNOW NOW.
After 3 weeks of practice, we are ready for some games. The first game is 9/12 at Nicolet HS at 4:00.
PLAYING TIME - Fair does not mean equal.
I want every player to have fun and feel like they are part of the team. After the scrimmage last night the coaches met and put together a plan so that all players will play in the game by the end of the 3rd quarter. By the end of the season, every player will have started at least one game. Not all players will play the same amount in the game. The playing time of some players is limited by their knowledge of the game, commitment to practice time or desire to play. When a player says to us, "I can only play safety", he is limited to one spot on the field.
GAMES ARE SHORT. Games are 4 8-minute quarters. That is less than the length of one practice. If you come to watch your son play, really watch for him or you may miss him. Ask him what position he plays and what quarter he thinks he will play in.
If you or your son have concerns about their role on the team, please let me know via email and we can set up a time to talk.
Reminder that practice Monday is optional, Tuesday and Thursday are mandatory.
Have a great weekend.
Thanks,
Joe Wieland
* * *
The coming week's schedule:
9/7 Labor Day (OPTIONAL PRACTICE) 5:00-dark
This is officially the first week of Monday/Thursday practices during the week. If you have plans, keep them and enjoy the day. If you do not have plans and are tired of listening to your boys complain that there is nothing to do and you need a break from them at the end of a 3 day weekend, send them to Lydell. All players/coaches who have been kicked out of their houses by annoyed wives/moms will have a fun practice. Absences will not be held against any players.
9/8 Tuesday ( Extra practice) 5:00-dark
This is planned to make up for the lost practice time on Monday. If you had planned other activities already scheduled because Tuesday is usually a "non-football" day, keep those plans and let me know via email. Absences will not be held against a player.
9/10 Thursday 5:00-Dark
* * *
9/12 GAME at Nicolet 4:00. All players must arrive at 3:00. [It's a road game, so it will be WHITE jerseys, unless Coach Wieland decrees something else.]
* * *
A note from Coach Wieland on Absences:
The coaching staff is working hard at insuring that all players get onto the field during games and scrimmages. We have a plan that gets every boy into the game in either the 1st, 2nd or 3rd quarter. When we know that someone will be gone due to a conflict, it makes planning easier.
IF YOU KNOW YOUR SON IS GOING TO MISS A FUTURE GAME, PLEASE LET US KNOW NOW.
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