6/15/2007 1:47:39 PM
Pre-Game

Pre-Game is a unique experience that is different from team to team. Two factors can really impact the dynamic of the pre-game ritual for a player, the Coaches philosophy on game day, and the team dynamic itself. Some coaches like pre-game to go a certain way and like their players to behave in a certain fashion for the coaches themselves to feel that they’re prepared adequately for the task at hand. Other coaches couldn’t care less what you do as a player to get yourself ready to play the game short of being disruptive or disrespectful to those around you. Which is the right way? Who knows…that’s like asking is it better as a player surround yourself with tranquility and calm before the game starts, or chaos and aggressive environments in preparation for the battle you’re about to engage in. It really depends on the player, and depends on the team. I can recall a time in college when I was first starting to play football really, so I sort of adopted the pre-game habits of my teammates. I would make a tape or CD of very upbeat songs, with active booming baselines, aggressive lyrics and fast tempos in an effort to guide my body and mind along the same lines, in order to facilitate a smooth transition into the combat that the game brings. It worked both for and against me it seemed, on the plus side I was a beast of a blocker and ran the ball with reckless abandon. On the negative side, I sometimes would move too fast for the play called, and be out of phase with the offence itself. It was almost as if my mentality would seem to switch somewhat to that of a defensive player for a time, which is not always beneficial to one who plays offence. Since then, I tend to gravitate to smoother, more tranquil sounds through my headphones and images in my head in hopes that they will stimulate both my mind and my body to operate in a fashion that is fluent and effortless to behold. Allowing the training and preparation that I’ve done prior to the game itself to facilitate the rapid responses necessary from my body itself.
Scanning around the Offensive bus as we ride down the road to McMahon Stadium, I see some of the vets engaged in a relaxed card game full of laughter and smiles. Several players are sleeping with headphones on, some glazing over the ready list of the plays to be run in the game and even a couple reading a book. Needless to say, it’s a tranquil scene currently…I wonder if it’s as calm on the defensive bus? ©

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Post Game

The bus ride back gets longer after a loss. Even in the preseason, it doesn’t sit well with most people, especially me. Being that I was only in for a quarter or so of action it was even more difficult for me to sit by and watch us go down in flames in McMahon. The mindset of a playmaker is to feel like things would be different if YOU were out there, whether that may be true or not isn’t really relevant because in your eyes you would be the difference. That being said, it was still interesting to watch our young guys battle and adjust to the Canadian game. I think it’s common for guys to come up from U.S. schools and the NFL camps and not really realize the speed of this game, and how demanding it is on you. The field size, the smaller more agile players at many positions, the extra man, even the fact that we make less makes us hungrier I think. That usually takes guys a couple games to figure out I think, and unfortunately many of them don’t get that long to impress. It’ll be interesting to see how it all shakes out, but for some reason I’m not overly concerned with the outcome of that game in terms of it being an indication of our team’s performance for the year.
It is always scary as a player to see one of your peers down for what seems like too long after a play has ended. But it is absolutely horrific to see one of your own lying flat trying and failing to move his arms and/or legs. It brings about a sobering realization that honestly isn’t at all welcome in the psyche of a pro-football player…the idea that we are mortal. For us to go out and play as fast as we do, with the reckless abandon that is necessary to make the plays that are required of us, we really cannot afford to think about the possibility of injury. The minute it creeps into your mind, you’re defeated already. This is partly why playing through injury is so difficult. Because to enter into a battle knowing you’re already wounded, puts too much of your thought on protecting that wound, which in turn usually leaves you vulnerable to another.
I prayed hard for Brandon Guillory last night and through this morning. And I’m thankful for every step I’m permitted to make on the field of play every day in practice or games. We truly are all on borrowed time, and I hope to make the best of mine.
Get better BG. ©

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