SORSN: Midway goes head-to-head with Greenback this week. Midway hates Greenback and Greenback hates Midway….been this way for as long as I can remember. You’ve commented that your team is a very emotional team. How do you keep your team focused on the task at hand and not let their emotions take them out of the game?
Craig: We are an experienced team that has been through the battles. They know what effort & mental preparation it takes to win big games. Greenback has beaten us the last two years and we are hungry for revenge.
SORSN: What’s your key areas to focus on in order to beat the Cherokees?
Craig: Stop Greenback’s run and make them one dimensional. Control the clock & win special teams & turn over battle. Out hit them every play. Make them earn everything.
SORSN: The penalties for your team have been held to a minimum in the last few games, which is often rare for a Greenwave team. What do you contribute this to?
Craig: Again, we have an experienced team that practices well (for the most part).
SORSN: The scenery around the football field has changed greatly over the last 5+ years. What do you miss the most: the “hump” in the middle of the field, the mule in the south end zone, or something else?
Craig: I don’t miss the hump or the mule. We have worked hard to improve our “Football Complex”. The thing I miss most is Ed Rose on the PA.
SORSN: For punishment of poor tackling, lack of motivation, etc., Coach “Butch” Thompson would send us running down to the other end of the field to pick a single blade of grass and run it back. And you’d better hoped that you got the right piece or you’d have to go back. After a horrible game of tackling, Coach Branson would put us through “Burma Road” (more on this at a later time). Spring training meant many, many trips up and down the hill on the far end of the grandstands. What is your drill that you use for punishment or a drill that the players just hate to do?
Craig: We do a 1 on 1 drill that has no rules. It’s a fight to the end. We do this for poor effort or lack of hustle. Sometimes we even let them call each other out.
SORSN: Who would win between Coach Justin O’Toole and Coach Chris Shillings: in a wrestling match? pie eating contest? swim suit contest?
Craig:
Raslin’ – O’Toole
Pie – Shillings – he likes pie
Swim suit – neither, that would be won by Coach Houston
SORSN: Has Coach Schillings ever invited you or any of the other coaching staff over to swim in his nice pool?
Craig: No, he hasn’t. I think he is afraid of what his neighbors might say.