***Super 6***

Remarks

Congratulations to all the coaches and players who participated in the Super 6.  It was wonderful to be able to watch the games on AFN.  What a great bunch of young men we have in our schools.  Coaching takes a great deal of sacrifice, but I am thankful for men like you who are willing to pour out your lives to help build character and success in the lives of our young men in this game called football.

 On a personal note: I am still trying to recover from all the drama we experienced here in Naples this year.  It has been a tough season for me.  I am still debating on whether I will be coaching next year.  However, I do not regret the time I have spent on the sidelines, on the practice field, on the long bus rides and airport layovers, sleeping on gymnasium floors, and standing in both rain and sun.  All the drama that comes from the outside is shadowed by the enjoyment of coaching these young men.  Over the years I have seen good coaches and I have seen not so good coaches (I think I lay somewhere in-between), but rarely have I ever met a coach that did not desire the best for his players.  I love this game, because it brings out the warrior in us all.  Every game is a battle.  The great part about it though is that we leave the battle field… bruised and sometimes bloody, yes, but more importantly, we leave our battlefields as friends.  Heads held high, not because we won, but because we gave our best.

 

Anyway, thank you for your part, gentlemen.  For those I had the opportunity in meeting this season… I hope we will have an opportunity to get to know each other better as time moves own.  For those I have not yet met, I hope we will have the opportunity.  I know I can learn a lot from each of you.  May God richly bless all of you.

 

Steve W. Altstiel (Sticky)

D.B.S. Candidate, M.A. Sec. Ed.
Biology Teacher
Science Department Chair
Assistant Football Coach
Naples American High School
Naples, Italy

 

I loved being able to watch the Super 6 over here in the states and seeing the Baumholder stadium and some familiar faces on the sidelines brought back some wonderful memories.  AFN did a really nice job. 

 However, scuttlebutt here in the states is that both Fox and ESPN picked up on the incredible sideline expert and they will both be vying for his talent before the coming bowl season.  His expert analysis and demonstration of correct ball carrying technique had everyone begging for more!  Soon we'll all be able to say, "I knew him when--" as Stunning Steve heads on to the big time.

Best wishes to all of you,

Mick Plummer

 

Coaches
 
Congratulations from the Pacific for finishing another great season of DoDDS-Europe HS football. I know some of you, and certainly feel a kinship with all of you. As Marcus said, it is great to be in the football coaching fraternity.
 
So great that you were able to have the Super 6 on AFN. I sent a note of thanks to the AFN- Europe guy but it was returned as undeliverable. Anyone have a different e-mail?
 
As to the debate over natural grass vs artificial sports turf, I can offer this: we have played two games over the past two years on artificial surfaces. One at Daegu American (Camp Walker) last October, and one at Kinnick (Yokosuka Navy) this October. We have a very good natural grass surface at Mike Petty Stadium here at Kubasaki, but I would say that those two games that we played on artificial the past two years were the sharpest that we have executed on offense. The surfaces are fast and the footing very sure. At Kinnick there were heavy thunderstorms for hours before the game. We did our walk-thru at noon in the rain and the footing on that field was perfect. When we kicked the game off that evening the surface was perfect while the surrounding areas of natural grass had mud puddles and standing water everywhere as a result of all the recent rains.
 
One negative...we did get a few injuries. A concussion at Daegu from a head slam to the surface and two leg injuries at Kinnick (when the foot is planted it doesn't move).
 
As I track the scores coming out of the venues with artificial surfaces each week I see high scoring games (for example, the "Small School" Championship Game last Saturday at Daegu ended 46-38).
 
If you are looking for Championship Games where the offenses can finish up the season on a high note then look for an artificial surface venue. As I read the estripes accounts of this years Super 6 games it took me back to Panama where we played almost every game on a muddy beat up field. Roadgrader straight ahead offense and everybody up plug defense was the order of the day.
 
It sounds like the Baumholder folks have given you great support and you have had a great run of Championship Day events there. It seems that you all have a tough decision going forward.
 
Our Pacific Large School Playoffs started last night here. It rained (water and fumbles).
 
Thanks to you all for the time and talents that you give on behalf our our deserving student-athletes, and again, congratulations to you all on the conclusion of another successful season.
 
Fred
Kubasaki

 
As you all can tell, I never really keep quiet on much, so wanted to add my two cents in as well.  Congrats to all the teams who made it to the super 6, as I stood on the sidelines and enjoyed watching the games (plus getting my mug on AFN) I would have much rather been coaching in the game  I think a better venue (sport turf field) would be best for all of the teams in the finals,  but until we get one built, baumholder does a great job hosting this event. 
 
Lets use this email to also start sending me nominations for the Coach of the Year for 09.  Send your nominations directly to me, with a short write up to why.  Those coaches nominated by three or more will end up on the final ballot, which I will send out.  Like to get this done before the All Europe committee meets which should be in a few weeks. 
 

Steve

Coaches,

 A littlerambling….. Trying to keep my mind busy today..

Another football season in Europe is behind us. Hopefully, all of us made a difference in the lives of many young men (and a few young ladies)! All in all, hopefully, much growth has occurred in our students. With deployments, it is crucial that we be there for the many kids that need a mentor and father figure, now more than ever…..

In the off-season, it is time to evaluate our programs, eliminate counterproductive methodology/issues and focus on “getting better”. On March 12-14, all of us should plan to attend the coaching clinic in Rota. By then, all of us will appreciate the sun and a little warmth. It is also a good time to enjoy our great fraternity. Arriving Friday and leaving Sunday will give us some good time to relax and talk. Go ahead and ask for an APL day….

We often get comments about Baumholder as a site for the Super 6. The weather in Baumholder is usually rainy. I know we left blue skies when we left Saturday morning, but we also know that our crowds at home would be small compared to the crowds we get at the SUPER 6. I still remember counting 155 people in the stands for our championship game in 2002. Going back to individual sites does not appeal to most of us. The AFN broadcast was possible because of our central site. All of us enjoy watching the games. It is great to see the other divisions…..

When our boys were slipping and falling at Baumholder on Saturday, it certainly crossed my mind that it was not the best facility for our offense. Nevertheless, the folks at Baumholder HS have worked hard to host us every year and we need a facility like this to showcase our programs. Until we can find another facility that has the seating, lighting and support systems in place, it seems that Minick field is our best option. This year, we were offered a turf stadium in Monchengladbach, with seating for 12,000. It was a gorgeous site and support was there. The new-style turf would have made a great all-weather surface to play on. However, moving to a German facility would have required a decision to move to a non-DoDDS facility. It did not happen…

Rumors continue that there will be a turf field in Kaiserslautern soon. With budget constraints, it may be a while! No other school or military post has lighted all-weather facilities except for the turf field at Rota.

What other issues do we need to talk about? Once again, let us know if we can help you with anything. All of us are in this together…..

Marcus George

Ansbach High School
DSN-4672-808/809 Civ. 09802-7220

From USA: 0049-9802-7220-- 6 hours ahead (EST)