1. Ball Security – If you study football games at all levels, probably 90 percent are won by the team that wins the turnover battle. We stress ball security every day, in every drill.

2. Field Position – This is something of which my college coach, Bobby Dodd, was the master. He would quick-kick on third down to win the field position battle.

3. Physical Dominance – Winning at the line of scrimmage.

4. Special Teams – Every bit as important as offense and defense. We devote significant time every day to special teams.

5. Big Plays – Runs of 15 or more yards and passes of 20 or more yards.

6. Poise – That’s a nice way of saying, no stupid penalties. Those five-yard penalties for false starts or delay of game are inexcusable and can kill a drive.

7. Never Quit – A Champion has singleness of purpose; is unselfish; is tough; is prepared; and never quits . . . never.

At the University of Georgia, we believe in balancing a physical running game with a play-action passing attack.  In fact, our system is much like those used by teams in the NFL. However, even more important than our scheme is our philosophy - the core values of our offense.  

There are two main points that we stress to our offensive football team, the first of which is to respect the football.  It is our most valuable asset, and without it, we can do nothing. More often than not, the team who has fewer turnovers wins the game.

Secondly, Georgia football players must display toughness.  There are two kinds of toughness, physical and mental.  A championship football team is full of players who can play just as hard in the fourth quarter as they do in the first.  In terms of mental toughness, they must be capable of actually executing plays when facing adversity.  This adversity could include fatigue, injury, or a deficit on the scoreboard. Mentally tough football players are capable of overcoming these obstacles and making plays in spite of the adversity.

If you can accomplish these two goals -- protecting the football and developing toughness -- your team will undoubtedly achieve more success this year.  Good luck this season, and watch Georgia play as often as you can!

Go Dawgs!

My six-year-old son has recently become more active in youth football and is beginning to learn the ins and outs of the game. While the offense his coaches run is nowhere near as complex as the option system we use at Georgia Tech, it is important at this stage to reinforce the basic skills and techniques of an offense. The success of the Yellow Jacket system relies on our players’ abilities to continue developing across multiple areas and remain willing to learn.

Young players are influenced greatly by the highlight reel, and they will note how fast Roddy Jones and Jonathan Dwyer run, or how far Josh Nesbitt can throw the ball. Finding players to emulate is great to keep kids interested in the game. While those players are great models at their respective positions, coaches at any level should always teach the full range of skills needed to play those positions well. Don’t assume that every player on the team knows how to properly get in a stance, make a tackle or carry the football. We are always working with the Yellow Jackets on fine-tuning basic skills and using them as building blocks to more-complicated elements of football.  At any level, successful teams only move on to more detailed elements of the game after proving they can grasp fundamentals.

Football success goes beyond Xs and Os, and young players can learn character traits that will guide them through life early on the gridiron. At Georgia Tech, we expect our players to be on time, listen to the coaches and demonstrate responsibility. My players know that as long as they hustle, work hard and do what is asked, success will follow. The self-discipline a player gains from the football field carries down the road through school and into any career.  With that said, it is important at any level of football to have fun. Football does require practice and work, but players are out there because they enjoy it. Kids just beginning with sports can decide they want to play something else if they are not having fun, and building that desire to come back to the field will keep them interested.

Work hard and teach hard, but have fun out there as well. Best of luck this season, and Go Jackets!

For more information about registering your championship team for 2009 Game Day activities please contact Anton Dawson at 404-586-1923 or adawson@macoc.com.  This is an exclusive offer for Chick-fil-A Bowl Youth League partners.  To find out more information about how your league can become an official youth league partner contact Anton Dawson at 404-586-1923.

Chick-fil-A Bowl Youth League (CBYL) partners have the opportunity to participate in a fundraising campaign for the 2009 season.  For a limited time the Chick-fil-A Bowl is offering its youth football partners and supporters a discounted $10 ticket to the Chick-fil-A Bowl FanFest.  $5 of the ticket price will be donated to the youth league team or organization of the buyer’s choice.  Ticket buyers must specify the team or organization that they are crediting the sale to on the website order form.  Order forms without a specified sales designation will be distributed equally between CBYL partner leagues.

Discounted tickets through this promotion will only be available through Sunday, December 6th at midnight. To purchase tickets click the following link: http://www.chick-fil-abowl.com/youthfundraiser/

For additional information, please call 404-586-1923.

Four teams from Chick-fil-A Bowl Youth League partners were recipients of uniform grants from NCAA Football.  Teams receiving grants were the Cascade Youth Organization, Ray of Hope Youth Sports, Rock Chapel Park and South Cobb Jr. Eagles.  These teams are members of the Metro Atlanta Youth Football League, North Metro Football League and North Georgia Football League.

Youth organizations had to submit applications that showed financial need and examples of their efforts to allow community members access to their football programs.  Only 100 organizations across the country received grants whose total value was $150,000.  Uniforms were provided by Russell Athletic and are modeled after the jerseys of several NCAA collegiate football teams.  Information about the grant application process was actively promoted by the Chick-fil-A Bowl to its youth football partners through its ongoing relationship with NCAA Football.

For more information about the 2009 NCAA Football Uniform Grants please see the following link: http://www.ncaafootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=38&url_article_id=
16505&change_well_id=2

Following the instructional period Morehouse College Head Football Coach Rich Freeman gathered the group to offer words of encouragement for the participants as they began preparations for the upcoming football season.  Following the speech from Coach Freeman the youth athletes received t-shirts and enjoyed lunch courtesy of Chick-fil-A.