The JV game at home today has been cancelled. The freshman are still on at Jennings County at 6 pm.

Two weeks ago while we were preparing for New Albany, we talked about the movie “Glory” and being trained properly for all situations. We asked if New Albany could play “Fast”? As we prepared that week, this was our focus in our game plan. This past Monday, we missed an opportunity to be “properly trained” as it rained all practice. I guess hi-insight is 20/20, but after we finished our Defensive period in the cold rain, I gave in and went inside to finish our offensive part of practice in the gym. My mistake, as we must “train them properly” for all situations. We should have learned our lesson in practice and not under fire as we did Friday Night. Offensively, we were our own worst enemy on Friday Night with 5 turnovers inside the 10 yd line. We were all unprepared for the weather, me included, both mentally and physically. I learned a great deal from this situation and we need to move on to another week of proper training. Just know boys, “NO MORE GYM!” Come prepared daily for whatever the weather may be as we will be outside for practice. In closing about Friday night’s game. In my 30 plus years of playing and coaching, these elements and circumstances were the worst I ever encountered! I thought some of our players may have had hyperthermia!
As we turn our focus to Jennings County this week and the end our regular season 2012, we look forward to our practices this week at our regular time. Fall break should be enjoyable for all, but our need to continue to improve weekly in practice this week will determine how far we can go in the playoffs. We have plenty of room for improvement in all areas and after speaking with quite a few players and staff this weekend, we are all looking forward to putting Friday Night’s performance behind us and getting an opportunity to showcase RED DEVIL FOOTBALL in Jennings County on Friday Night. Should be fun as conditions are forecasted to be DRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last night’s sectional draw could not have been better for Jeffersonville Football in my opinion. We have an opportunity to play at home the 1st two rounds of the playoffs if we win. This is a great opportunity for our program and our community, to get another shot at our cross town rivals New Albany in the sectional opener. The countdown to Friday night’s return performance of Jeffersonville Football continues….. REMEMBER NOVEMBER!
As always, any questions or concerns please call me first at 502-773-8500 then email me at loldham@gcs.k12.in.us

FIRST ROUND WE WILL PLAY NEW ALBANY AT JEFF [7PM FRIDAY OCTOBER 19TH]

For all of the “old timers”, players, parents and the community we get another year to brag again on the second lopsided victory win in this grand old rivalry series. What a game it was, as I believe we played well on both offense and defense. Most may have noticed that we did not play well on special teams with the exception of extra point. Too many times the ball was dropped or not caught on returns. But the most embarrassing part was the blocked punt with 10 men on the field. This was definitely a coaching mistake in which we take all the blame, especially since we had all three time outs. We could have taken a delay of game which may have cost us 6 inches. This was a definite learning and teaching moment for us and for the team. I was proud of our emotion, throughout the game and afterwards. What a great way to celebrate Senior Night at Blair Field with lasting memories for all our outgoing seniors. Thanks for your commitment to our program.
Perspective on this week’s game in Columbus! It has been 15 years since Jeffersonville last won the HHC title in 1997. Most of our boys were still in diapers, some not even talking or walking and a few freshmen were not even born. I was an assistant coach at ST. X and had never been a Head Coach to date. It was the year I got married, as the boys saw us renew our vows in Lexington this summer on our anniversary. It’s been a long time since we have had a team like this one. I am sure the 2008-09 teams with Wright-Baker were fun to watch too, however this team is capable of doing GREAT things this year. Our potential has not been reached. We continue to get better and work on our entire game each week in practice. We continue to make changes and create new challenges for our opponents each week. We are blessed as coaches to have such a great, skilled and talented team. We must continue with the team approach we have maintained throughout this season. No one is bigger than the TEAM! In just a season and a half, we are competing for a Conference Championship on Friday night. This did not happen by chance. We have laid a foundation based on LOVE! These roots have crept into your homes and have created a “bond or unity” that cannot be breached. We have truly established where the “outside” has not affected the “inside of the UPPER ROOM on Friday Nights”! There is no greater JOY as a coach, than to see the bonding of a team, and the STRENGTH it posses, when the outside forces cannot ALTER the inside focus on the prize!
Parents, this is the week we have all been waiting for since we beat Floyd Central 63-15. You have wanted me to talk about it but I would not, until now. We have figured it would all come down to this game for the HHC Championship. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming of this moment! Just two years ago, as I stood on the sideline, I watched them score on their 1st offensive play and continue to roll to a 49-0 lead at halftime! Then Coach Gaddis showed what a class individual he is, and asked for a running clock for the Second Half, powerful. Last year, we took a great stride in playing to a score of 20-14, with possession of the ball and a chance to go ahead with less than 5 minutes remaining in the half! Two turnovers later we were down 33-14 at halftime. We must have come a long way to be in this position! How did this happen? Is it real? Are WE for real? If we beat the #1 team in 4A does that make us a winner? I think we will have the answers to many of these questions after the game on Friday night, but as for winner? We are ALL winners! We are beginning to birth a program that will continue to be at the top of the Conference consistently, and with the foundation we have built, look forward to the future. It’s amazing the challenges a Head Coach goes through daily. I am committed to grow the roots from the “seeds” we sowed last season. I am committed to the challenges that occur, both on the field and off, to the maintaining of a championship attitude! One that is built on “Love”, and servant leadership that has been provided structure and meaning to our boys. Thanks for letting me serve you in this role. I am truly honored to be called “Coach”!
As for Friday Night boys, the countdown continues….. We must wait till Friday to get the results! Those results will be earned Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in practice. Let’s have a great week at practice so we can take advantage of this opportunity that lies ahead. This week is going to be great. No pressure on us at all, they are the 8 time reigning conference champions. If we lose, people we say “Told YA”! When we win, people will say “2012 HHC Champions!!!!! Let’s, Go To Work, Champs.

What a game Friday night. Our boys had no enthusiasm and we still played well enough to win 50-13. We know that attitude, effort and enthusiasm are our motto. We were defiantly lacking in that one category and this cannot continue! We have 3 regular season games remaining, with a possible chance of a HHC Conference Title. How can we not be enthusiastic about that? Let’s finish the regular season on an 8 game winning streak! We need to re-focus and get the “Big One” this week. Our rivals from the other side of 65 should know that we are improved too!
Football is a game of strategy and skill. It takes a great deal to go right in order to maintain a high level of performance. Our attitudes after the game in the locker room and after speaking with the coaches this weekend were I believe to be a little selfish. We thought we were going to win by whatever and put up great individual stats. The game did not go as we planned in practice or what we had envisioned. We had to make adjustments to what they were doing! Once we adjusted, we controlled the game and won. We all should have been extremely pleased with this outing, but for some reason, we were not celebrating the win accordingly. We as a team and nation must understand that we need to make corrections in each and every game. I have never been a part of a perfect victory! We make mistakes and must correct them. I make them in every game and I must be sharp with play calls ect… However, when individual statistics come before Team success, which in this case I believe to be true, we a putting the “me” before the “WE”! This can be extremely dangerous to a TEAM! Envy has no place here!
The schedule for the week is as follows: Senior Night on Friday at Home so come early to the game as we recognize our seniors. Freshman and JV will play at New Albany on Saturday starting at 10 am with JV to follow 30 minutes after the freshman finish winning! Parents please call the Coach of each level if you have questions or concerns. Doug Obradovich is our Head Freshman coach and his cell # is 502-649-7602. Alfonzo Browning is our Head JV coach and his cell # is 859-536-1285. Their emails are also listed on the team pages web- site. Your son should also be able to communicate this information to you as to when, where and what time we play. They are reminded at practice at daily as to what time the bus leaves and where we are playing. If you could call the appropriate coach it would be appreciated when you have a communication issue. Remember, we are trying to teach them to be responsible too.
In closing, I certainly hope our team can keep adjusting to what “others” throw at us both on and off the field. It is important to know that there is a great deal of “static” going on daily around the program. Our team is well grounded in the “truth” and outside influences cannot separate our unity. In fact, it has helped us with our Resolve. We know that anything worth having only comes with hard work and sacrifice! Our team needs positive encouragement at home with a “TEAM” focus in mind! Often we tell our children what they want to hear and not necessarily WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR! The stat I was most proud of Friday night, Jeffersonville wins! As it takes a village to raise a child… It takes a TEAM to raise a BANNER!!!!
As always, I am proud to serve you as your football coach so any questions or concerns please call or email me at loldham@gcs.k12.in.us or 502-773-8500.
Lonnie Oldham