All-American

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The temperature on the field for the second day of practices has been a marked contrast to yesterday.  Day and Night.  Yesterday temperatures were pleasant in the mid-70's and today there's a biting chill in the air as the mercury isn't expected to push far past 40.  It's that blustery, biting chill that rattles you to the bones, even if you aren't being rattled to the core by the contact going on at the practice fields.  Basically, it's a strange day, weather-wise, in south Florida.

There are idle remarks here and there about the sudden cold.  For the most part though, you wouldn't be able to tell by listening to the players.  That is if they were talking.  On the field it's all business and these young men should be lauded for the workmanlike way in which they go about that business.  It's fitting really.  Throughout Offense-Defense's history they've been known to push a gritty, meat-and-potatoes style of football.  Hard-work, dedication, and contact have always been major cornerstones of their instruction.  These athletes are all very self-assured and confident in their abilities.  They have limitless talent and potential and yet they know there is still a lot of hard-work ahead.  Learning an entirely new coaching scheme isn't exactly the easiest thing in the world to accomplish in less than a week, but they've all embraced the challenge.  Staring down 11 All-Americans across the line of scrimmage from you is also a new experience, a daunting task.  These young men are ready, willing, and able to rise to the opportunity.  They aren't afraid to get their hands dirty.  Or their uniforms.  Or their faces.  Or anything for that matter.

And really, isn't that why they're all here?  Being an All-American is all of that.  It takes a certain, exclusive amount of talent.  It takes incredible dedication.  It takes an immense amount of courage.  These are tests these men have all passed with flying colors.

We're only two days away now.  Can you feel it?