2020 has been quite the year.  From Coronavirus dominating everything, to being an election year (and a crazy one at that), 2020 has been far from the "norm".  Here in Florida we have spring football and I knew things were crazy when that got cancelled.  As we approached summer workouts and those were cancelled too, or put on hold, or had to be done outside spaced six feet apart I knew things were going to get real interesting come time for season.  Well, the season start date was a week away when the state decided it would move the start back one month.  Now I knew we were in trouble.  Schools were still being virtual despite the governor's office demanding brick and mortar learning.  I wondered if we'd have a season at all.  

Well, the powers that be felt the pressure from our community and decided to move forward with the season.  As I'm writing this, that August day we found out we were playing seems like four years ago.  Next there was logistics, only five in the locker room at a time, had to wear masks, didn't have to wear masks, had to take two buses to away games, take everyone's temperatures before practice, don't take temperatures etc.  You name it, it was thrown our way.  From losing players to contact tracing to our entire JV being quarantined to the season finally being taken away because of Coronavirus it was a season full of highs and lows.  Our two losses were complete beat downs by far superior teams.  Our wins, all but two were by a touchdown or less, and only one was by a double digit margin.  We had two one point wins, one four point and one nine point win.  The other win was by 22.  

Defensively in our two losses we gave up 88 points.  In our five wins, we gave up 43 points for an 8.6 average.  We scored twice as well, a pick six and a fumble returned for a touchdown.  Overall I was very pleased with my defense.  We were quite a bit more vanilla this season than last staying in our 40 stuff in every game but one.  We did not run our 50 look at all and ran our 30 stuff only one time.  For not having spring, having a short start period (we normally get three weeks of practice prior to the season, this year we had two) we executed pretty well.  

What I was even more impressed with was my coaching staff.  I'm the oldest, by far on staff.  I have two guys with one year under their belt, one rookie, and one guy going into his sixth season of coaching.  I'm in year 20.  Last year these guys were even younger and we had our growing pains.  This year, to see what they became in one short year, has been quite amazing.  We work on our side of the ball.  Seven days a week.  We grade film every day but Thursday and Sunday.  We break down every film we get on an opponent.  We make up scouting reports, scout cards etc. and these guys were not used to that in year one.  They've made a very impressive leap in year two and it showed.  I know it sounds like I'm tooting our own horn here, and quite frankly, I am, but we did a phenomenal job on our side of the ball with very limited talent.  Our ability to get the most out of our guys was incredible.  A true testament to the guys I work with. 

I'm really appreciative that our seniors got a season.  We are in year two of a complete staff overhaul, so these guys had to deal with that.  They had to deal with getting used to a coaching staff that knew there was a toxic culture in place that had to be dealt with and was willing to sacrifice some guys to make sure our new culture took root.  It translated into only two wins a year ago, but in year two we more than doubled that win total.  Not only was it going from a .20 win percentage to a .71, but it was in how we won.  Nail biting close game, come from behind, down by double digit games, hang on for dear life games.  Games that I've seen teams in this same uniform lose by double digits in years past.  I honestly believe we've laid a pretty good foundation down in our culture change that's going on here.  I can tell you this...that's a damn good feeling. 

Moving forward, I have no idea what 2021 will bring.  We are getting JV kids that have had a season cut short and have only won two games in the past two season.  In 365 days I wonder how I'll feel then, but right now, even with the cupboard bare, I'm still pretty excited for next season and this offseason.  Hope everyone's having a good season and stay safe out there. 

Ramnish