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Links to success
By KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer INVERNESS -- The Monday after Citrus lost its preseason game to Ridgewood, Hurricanes coach Larry Bishop trotted out a metal chain to the practice field. The players were puzzled. But after Bishop had some of them pull one end of the chain and some yank from the other side, the picture came into focus. Because Bishop had placed a weak link in the middle, it broke. "I thought it was a great analogy for them because it showed them what teamwork can or can't do," Bishop said. "That visual helped them see what teamwork was all about." After the demonstration, Bishop gave one link (each about 21/2 inches wide and 3/16 inches thick) to each of the team's 42 players and eight managers (whom Citrus coaches believe are an integral part of the program), along with a piece of string to attach to the link. The idea: Every person is a small piece of the team. And without each doing his or her job, little will be accomplished. "Nobody wants to be the weakest link," running back/defensive back Isaiah Webb said. Those 50 links might have fixed a team. Citrus, which went 1-9 last season, is 2-0 for the first time since 1994. The Hurricanes play Lecanto tonight. If they win, they will move to the top of the standings in conference and district play. Bishop's chain has made believers. "At first, I thought it was kind of corny," said running back/defensive back Courtney Henry. "But now I think it's one of the best ideas coach has ever had. It's been great for the team. We work better as a team and everybody has been outstanding." Bishop got the idea at a coaching clinic several years ago and actually talked about doing it with Citrus' other coaches this summer. But for one reason or another, it was put on the back burner, until the "Canes lost to Ridgewood 28-14 After a promising three weeks of practice, Bishop and his staff were surprised and disappointed by Citrus' effort. The next day, Bishop went to Florida City Hardware and bought the links. Four days after receiving them, the Hurricanes rallied from a 10-0 deficit to stun Central 21-10. Last week, Citrus beat Hernando 35-21. "Everybody has learned their lesson," Henry said. "It makes perfect sense to me. If everybody does their job, we can go undefeated." Players were given the freedom to personalize their links. Tight end/defensive end Steve Strong, for example, painted his in Citrus' black and gold. Henry wrote his name on his link and others have done the same. Every Friday, players wear the links around their neck to school. "Everybody wants to look at it," Henry said. "I tell them it's a symbol of our team unity." In the locker room before games, managers collect the links and connect them to form the chain. When the players run onto the field, the chain follows them and remains on the sideline during games. "It's amazing what a little piece of string and metal can do to a football team," Webb said. "Everybody took it to heart. Everybody has stepped up." -- Keith Niebuhr can be reached at 860-7337 or niebuhr@sptimes.com.
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Citrus Times Letters |
