A coaching potpouri: FAMU Holmes takes from his former coaches to develop his own style

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Practice was over on the second day of Earl Holmes first preseason camp as head football coach at FAMU. As usual the players gathered in a half circle around their coach for the obligatory speech.

It wasn’t a particularly good workout. Holmes didn’t like the lack of energy he’d seen. Too many players were lagging, he thought.

There wasn’t a single hint he wanted to get their attention by being philosophical. Holmes went right to the heart of the matter.

“This is not a pity party,” he said in tone loud enough to be heard across the practice field. “Don’t feel sorry for yourself because you’re tired. Heck, everybody is tired.”

It wasn’t a much different way than any other coach would have let his players know that they’ve got to try harder. But was coming from a young man who is already showing a coaching style that is very much old school.

CONTINUE READING



CONTINUE READING