MSaviolives said:
OaktownBear said:
sluggo said:
tthompson993 said:
I agree Sluggp but I think Colorado has better defenders than Cal has offensive players. They are trying to get the ball inside but Colorado's defense is doing a good job of preventing that and If it's Lars he is going to fumble it away most times anyway. I really like Celestine but he needs work on defense. He was late on his defensive rotations 3 different times that resulted in 3 made 3's by Colorado. Good to see Fox fired up on the sidelines as it appeared that Joel Brown was not running the offense or what passes as Fox's offense. I think that we will be a decent team before the end of the year. Go Bears.
Colorado has better players, but that has nothing to do with playing properly. Cal needs to have superior players, not just even players, to make up for poor offensive coaching.
I hate to see the style in which Fox yells at his players. Not because they can't take it, but more that he comes off as unlikeable. I don't think that is good for recruiting, either for getting new players or for keeping the players he has.
I'm not commenting on Fox here, but your last point is right on generally. Often when someone makes this point you get a whole lot of "these are men and if they can't take it they shouldn't be there." responses. That isn't the point. They can take it. The point is how do you motivate. There is scads of research that everyone from 5 year old to big, manly tough guys respond better to positive reinforcement. Which doesn't mean you never yell, but it does mean that it should not be the primary arrow in your pack
The same is true of animal training. Positive reinforcement works way better than punishment.
Not every animal is the same. Lenny Bruce once said that "No matter how many times you kick a dog, it will come back. Kick a cat once, and it may come back. Kick a cat twice and the cat will be gone."
And no player is the same. Some respond to "positive reinforcement", some need coddling, and some need a wake up call. A kick in the butt. Like the proverbial mule who you had to hit in the forehead with a 2x4 to get his attention. Of the latter, I feel ALL tactics like getting in the face of the player, intimidating him, challenging him verbally and more, should only be done in privacy, and never to embarrass the player (or the coach) in front of fans, friends or family. Bob Knight, Lou Campanelli, and Brad Duggan could have used more restraint. Dick Kuchen and Ben Braun might have been a little more aggressive. I don't know about Campanelli, but Knight and Duggan loved their players, were like fathers to many, and followed and were there to listen or give advice or help to their players long after the player graduated. Pete Newell was never intimidating in games or in practice, but players told me they feared him, feared what he might do to them. Except he never did it. He kept it all inside, never called timeouts and chewed on a towel all game long. The stress got to him, ulcers I think, and he was forced to retire from coaching teams. I think coaches have to get and keep the respect of their players. When the players disrespect you, or start to disobey you or laugh at you, you are done as a coach, for that team anyway.
SFCityBear