Entry #36 - 12/13/04

Well it is that time of year again. Our players are entranced in finals and preparing to go home for their holiday vacation. I know they are excited to finish up their exams and head home to see their families and friends. I also know my assistant coaches are looking forward to a few days off and the chance to spend some time with their families as well. It will be a well deserved break for all of them.

This time of year is always nice but after a while I get a little restless. Even though everyone is gone for the holidays, I will still come into the office everyday. I will count down the days until our players will return. I know when they return it will be time to get down to work and that is what I am looking forward to. I have great expectations for this season.

I have been very pleased with our team’s performance in all facets this semester. We had a very productive fall season, with many players showing vast improvements. We were outstanding in our winter conditioning. This summer, our staff made a decision to increase our workouts this winter. I was not sure how our players would respond, but they surpassed my expectations. Our guys look great as they head home to be with their friends and families. I just hope that in four weeks when they return, they will have maintained everything they have gained this winter. In the classroom, it looks like we will have a good semester as well. I will keep my fingers crossed. Our players have also done a great job with community service this semester. They have been outstanding on campus, in the community and especially with the youth of Johnson City.

The holidays will be exciting around my house as my two boys are digging in for the big day. It should be very fast paced. My wife recently returned from a much needed vacation in Cancun. During this week I had the boys by myself. Wow! What an education that was. You never realize what Mama does, until Mama is gone. My wife is “superhuman”. How she handles those boys in such an organized manner is unbelievable. To say the least I was very excited to have her return. To be honest it was a great week for me and my boys. I had a blast and I think they did as well. I think everything went rather smoothly. On about the fifth day I became a little worried when I realized they had not had one vegetable to eat since Mom had left. Tilo advised me that I wasn’t hitting all the food groups. Oops.

Graduation ceremonies at ETSU will be held this weekend. Our program will have three former players walk across that stage and receive their diploma; Josh Kite, Jackson Simerly and Josh Warner. I am extremely proud of these young men. To see where these three young men are today compared to where they were when I first laid eyes on them is unbelievable. My journey with all of them has been very special. It will be a great day.

When our players walk across that stage it gives me the best feeling inside. When our players earn their degrees, those are by far my best days as a coach. We have a tradition we started here at ETSU that when you receive your diploma, before you walk off the stage after you receive your diploma, you give a signal to your other teammates in attendance. It is a very discreet signal, no one but your teammates, coaches and baseball alumni would ever notice the signal. The sign represents the appreciation and love you have for your teammates and ETSU Baseball. It signifies every moment you spent with those guys. It represents everything that you put into your time here at ETSU. It is the stamp that ETSU Baseball will always be a part of your life. While you are waiting for your turn to walk across the stage, it is always much anticipated and enjoyable to watch your teammates give the sign.

Due to a prior commitment, I regret that this Saturday I will not be able to be in attendance for graduation. My wife Jody will be there in my place. Saturday morning I will set the alarms on my watch and cell phone to go off about the same time that these young men will be walking across the stage. When those alarms sound I will reflect about those young men and the exciting lives they have ahead of themselves. I will visualize them shaking hands with Dr. Stanton, our President. And then I will visualize them giving their teammates the sign. My heart will swell with pride and a feeling of warmth will overcome me. Way to go guys! You did it! ETSU Baseball, not just for a few years, but for a lifetime. Until next time…..

Coach Skole