"Scouting reports, extended travel, missing family activities, hotels, long hours of practice in all kinds of weather, late nights working on your game plan". Throw in the stress of competition and the pressure to win, one might think I'm describing the typical job demands of a professional fisherman. I'm not. "Welcome to the world of Big Time Collegiate Football." The X's and O's of the life of a college football coach ironically can be so similar to the life of a professional tournament angler.
Recently I had the opportunity to spend a day fishing with Andre Powell, assistant coach for the University of North Carolina, one of the nations top college football programs. Powell's' primary title is running backs and special teams coach at UNC. Powell came to Carolina after spending five seasons at the University of Virginia, where he coached wide receivers and running backs. He coached several former Cavaliers who currently play in the NFL, including tailback Tiki Barber and Thomas Jones. Not only is he a great coach, he is an avid bass fisherman.
The work load of a coach at this level is heavy and consuming. He was able to take a day off after the hectic college recruiting & signing period. We made contact and set up a fishing trip to Kerr. Now anyone who knows me, know I bleed NC State red, attending all home football games. One would think that a rivalry of UNC vs NCSU proportions would be hard to overcome. But today is not about Tarheel Blue or Wolfpack Red, its about largemouth Green.
THE "X" AND "Oh" OF FOOTBALL & BASS FISHING
When we arrive at Kerr, its a balmy 20 degrees. Coach Powell plans on fishing an upcoming BFL on Kerr, so this focus is more as a scouting trip than actual game day. On the trip up to Kerr, Coach Powell ask me, "You're a Wolf-fee, aren't you"? I respond with a big smile, "Yep, but I'm also a big college football fan." So, while Coach Powell picks my brain about bass fishing, I plan on picking his about football. How many of us have sit there in our Lazy Boy, playing arm chair coach, thinking we could do a better job. Well, today, I get to see how well I could, compared to one who is the real deal. And Coach Powell gets to compare how he would fair, reading and executing a game plan, to catch bass to an experienced angler.
I tell Coach that we need to add one more factor found during a typical tournament day:, pressure. Here's, the deal, the guy who catches the biggest fish gets to take a picture of the other in an opposing schools hat. Coach Powell laughs, and after a few minutes for me to picture myself in a Carolina blue hat, I happily concur, "On second thought"!
Besides, neither of us need any added incentives to enjoy the moment. On this day, the quest is to forget about the pressures of the job. I feel alittle guilty even talking football with the coach after he begins to tell me the often unseen routine it involves. A routine that I am so familiar with. Along with the same goal, which is to win. A routine of practice, discipline, travel and the ups and downs associated with competition.
In between running from a likely spot that will hopefully produce later for him, we trade interesting tidbits of "life on the road". The worse part of my bass fishing career is being away from the family. A familiar theme in most of our conversation. It doesn't take long for me to feel like I have known Coach a long time. Even our early life is similar. We both were raised on farms, he in a small town from South Carolina and me here in North Carolina's Broadway.
It finally warms up enough to shun the bibs and heavy jackets. The lake is so peaceful, not a boat to be seen. Coach Powell seems to be deep into thought when I ask him, "thinking about a new play Coach"?
His comment is "no,...... just enjoying that sound."
I continue to cast, trying to figure out what sound he's referring to. Then I get it. Oh!.... its the sound of quiet. No phones ringing, no whistles blowing, no yelling, not even the cheers of the crowd.
Theres even a connection from my old high school. During our conversation about our kids, I tell Coach Powell that my girls play high school volleyball and softball. When I mention the name of the school, Western Harnett, he says "that sounds familiar". After a few cast with a jerkbait, he says, "Your football coach is Bill Wyrick." I nod yes as he continues, "Bill and I started our coaching careers together at West Point."
As the day progresses, we both comment on how the warmth of the sun feels good. Though the fish are not co-operating as well as planned, I can see that the coach is enjoying the peace and quiet of the lake. He makes the comment its therapy from the football field and day to day job operations. A job which requires taking care of over 100 young men already on the UNC team, and one of recruiting young men for next seasons squad. And a job of preparing for the next game. Just like the game of tournament fishing.
I spend hours studying lake maps and previous tournament results, just like he studies game film and player stats. Theres hours of practice, both on the field and lake, honing our skills. The recruiting process, along with away games is alot like my tournament schedule, many nights in hotels and away from family. The one difference here is that when I am home, I get to spend time with my family. Even when home, Coach Powell says that sometimes the simple things, like eating supper together is short and brief. Theres aways another game film to review or practice or recruiting.
