Entry #9 - 11/4/03

Today has been a very inspiring day. As our ball club goes through their winter strength and speed conditioning programs, I have begun to see some positive chemistry develop. Our winter workouts are very difficult and we are very meticulous to make sure no stone is left unturned. After any of our sessions, whether it is in the weight room or a speed session on the astroturf in the Dome, our players are completely spent. Having a great work ethic and the willingness to push yourself harder than you ever have before are something that is required by our players in our program. Four years ago when I first arrived at ETSU and started our winter speed/conditioning program our kids did not buy into it. The baseball program was on life support and I would say only about 25% of the team really got after it. Those 25% saw some great results and really improved. But more importantly those 25% began laying a foundation of expectations. The next year about 50% bought into it and more of the foundation was laid. The following year about 75% bought into it. Now I believe we are close to 100%.

Not once this year have I had to get on our guys about working hard, giving great effort, or putting extra work in on their own. The players are expecting each other to work hard. They are pushing each other every repetition. One of my favorite saying to my players is, "Anybody can get tired". For some fatigue may come sooner than for others. But what separates individuals is what you do when you get to that stage. Do you shut it down? Or do you reach down deep and continue. What you do when you become uncomfortable is what really makes a difference. If it didn't make a difference then everybody on earth would be successful. I remember Charlie Taaffe, my football coach at The Citadel used to say, "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." That is such a true statement. Challenge yourself the next time you do something physical, or when you are tired of studying, or when you are doing housework and when that little voice inside your head pops up and says, "Hey stupid, what are you doing?" "Slow down." "You need to quit." "This is not very fun." See if you can fight off the urge to shut it down. Only rare individuals can go that extra step.

This morning the Pirate Club which is an organization that raises money for athletic scholarships here at ETSU put on a fund raising breakfast. It was a very inspiring 59 minutes. The Pirate Club Director is Jo Ann Paty. She is supported by a very hard working staff and complimented by a Pirate Club Board which consists of many outstanding people in our community. Jo Ann is an unbelievable person. She simply gets it done. She definitely has no fear of fatigue. She is always on the go and always exuberates tons of energy and excitement. Every time I visit with Jo Ann I leave with great enthusiasm. The Pirate Club is in good hands with her running the show. I know I speak for all the coaches and athletes here at ETSU in that we are very appreciative for everything she does and all of her efforts in order to make ETSU athletics a success.

One of the great benefits of being a coach is that occasionally your players inspire you. Whether they go out of their way to do a good deed or overcome a major obstacle, it is a great feeling inside when you see them grow as people and as athletes. This morning was one of those moments. Trevor Smith, a junior, right-handed pitcher from Newport, TN was asked to give a testimonial about what ETSU athletics means to him at this morning's breakfast. To be asked to do this is a great honor, but it is not an easy thing to pull off. He was speaking in front of 250 people, many of whom were very successful and prominent people in the Tri-Cities area. He was also speaking in front of his peers as many athletes from the various athletic programs were also in attendance.

The night before Trevor had stopped by the office to talk about his presentation. Not many things can rattle Trevor, but he admitted to being a little nervous. My advice was to just be yourself and speak from your heart. Well that is what he did and he did it well. When he was finished there was not a dry eye in the place and everyone in the building could feel how special it was to be an athlete at ETSU. During his talk he covered many points but one of the things that stuck out to me was when he said, "He loved his teammates." Wow! How cool is that. For those of us who have played athletics that really hit home. It made me feel great because that is what we sell in our baseball program. We want our players to develop friendships that will last a lifetime. We want ETSU Baseball to always be a part of their life. Maybe our players are starting to figure this out.

When I look back at all the games I participated in as an athlete, it is difficult for me to remember scores, statistics or even all the outcomes, but I do remember my teammates. Ask me who did what and I can't remember, but ask me about my teammates and I can remember. For example ask me who was the most dedicated, laziest, hardest worker, or most talented and I can tell you right away. I was blessed to have always had great teammates. I loved my teammates and still do to this day. They will always be apart of my life. No matter how long of period it is between when we see each other, once we are back together it seems like we have never been apart. Thank you Trevor for reminding me again of that feeling of love I have for those guys. Until next time...

Coach Skole