It invites a question.
Will student-athletes, with empty fields and silent locker
rooms at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, get more football “now” than they
would if life were normal? At least in an “off the field” setting.
That thought is based upon the response of Veterans
Athletics Director and Head Football Coach Milan Turner as to how actively
engaged he and his team of coaches and players are with each other at this
time. (No disrespect to any of our other teams, as we suspect this is the same
with them.)
“As coaches,” said the third-year coach, with a 17-6 record
his first two years, “we’ve been having position meetings on Zoom. Checking in
on them. We have a coaches meeting Thursday at 9 (presumably a.m.), so that way
at the end of the week we’re able to meet and talk about our position meetings.
(Go over) any reminders or any things those coaches need to be relaying to
those players as well.
“And then on Mondays we have a full team meeting with our
players. So we get a chance to do devotions with our coaches. We get a chance
to have devotions with our players. To pray with them. To talk ball and make
sure they’re staying on top of their academics. Making sure they’re in their
meetings. Making sure they’re in their playbooks. Staying in Huddle and looking
at film.
“So we’re constantly putting those reminders out there. Also
trying to just encourage them each week. Whether it’s the position coaches or
me in my meetings. Keep doing their workouts. We keep sending them their
workouts each day through Huddle messenger. Making sure they’re on track and
again, just encouraging them through this unprecedented time we’re all going
through.”
Turner continued that the demeanor of the coaches and kids
has been “really good”. Also, the response, as he said that has been “really
high”.
“They’re locked in. In the meetings we give them an
opportunity, especially our seniors, but we give our guys a chance to speak to
their teammates. It’s been really neat to see them talk to each other. About, ‘Hey.
Do your workouts. Stay on top of your schoolwork. Let’s make sure we’re in
great shape and ready to go when we come back.’
“So it’s been real positive. I’ve been very pleased with our
guys. The way they’ve handled it. Again, the participation has been very high.
I think it’s been very productive.
“I think it means a lot to them. A lot of them have said, ‘Hey
we miss you guys. I love what we have. Our culture. The family we’ve built.
Loving each other.’ They miss seeing each other. They miss being together.
“So that speaks a lot to me as a head coach to feel we have something those kids want to be a part of, and miss.”
For more on Turner’s thoughts, check out the full-length audio below.
