Blog: Brown Beginnings, Issue 9 (Why Scout Teams Matter)
As the release of the non-fiction book The Boys in Brown approaches, author Jon J. Kerr takes readers inside the process. On Tuesdays, the series Brown Beginnings gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the conception and reporting of the story. Thursdays, he blogs about the writing and publishing steps before launch.
There’s much debate swirling on the internet around the topic of youth sports. HBO’s documentary series “Read Sports” ran a piece last month on the topic. This Instagram post by former NFL player James Harrison was a catalyst for much online discussion.
The topic raises questions. Are we praising our children too much? Are parents too involved? What does this all mean? Our answers to these questions are purely subjective, conclusions neither right or wrong. It all depends on your world view. One thing is certain, it makes for engaging–and often combative–debate. Ah, the internet.
As the Carmel football season wore on in 2010, it became apparent the team possessed uncanny chemistry. I wrote in a previous blog post about the healthy tension around the program. But, as the victories rolled up, there was growing awareness of ownership of roles not obvious to those only watching games on Friday night. These players were not getting press accolades or participation trophies. But within the program, they were valued and often recognized. What I’m talking about is the Scout Team.
Photo Credit: Steve Lester
By the week of the first game, team roles were clearly established. The starters started, the back ups backed up. By the middle of the season, injuries began to deplete the roster. I remember a practice before the Carmel’s final home game against Notre Dame in week 8 when it dressed 38 players. Coaches had to cut back on specific drills as there weren’t enough bodies to run them. Anytime there are injuries, the circumstance creates an opportunity for second team players to receive a “promotion” to first team. That did happen in 2010 as sophomore Tim Serio stepped in at fullback and junior John Salvi became a starter on defense. And both played well when called upon.
Carmel’s attrition didn’t impact its mastery over opponents. It won eight regular season games that year by an average margin of victory of 30 points. In its first two playoff games, it scored 97 points while allowing 13. Not only did the Corsairs win a lot, they dominated. This often meant second or even third string players, got to play. For them, the chance to perform on a grand stage, in front of thousands of fans, was a reward. But it was not Friday nights, but on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, on the less-celebratory practice fields, where the scout team’s worth truly shined. Here is a short book excerpt on the team’s routine during the week:
Tuesday and Wednesday of game week are what coach’s call “work days”. Offensive and defensive game plans for Friday’s opponent are installed. Special teams –– punt, punt return, kickoff and kickoff return –– are a major emphasis. Starters get heavy reps. Backup players, also known as the “scout team,” run the opposing team’s plays. The practice session’s final drill –– the Team Drill –– pits both offense vs. defense. It’s all designed to get the boys playing at peak performance by 7:30 Friday night.
Teenagers can be a petulant bunch. They want what they want, when they want it. Delayed gratification is a concept as foreign as VHS tapes or Alicia Silverstone. In sports, participation is the payoff (unless you are the child of James Harrison). But in 2010, up and own the Corsairs’ roster, participation was a matter of perspective. For quarterback Brian Serio, it was taking every first team practice rep and every game snap. For Jim and Eric Hessing, it was making sure they were locked in for every practice snap. They knew they weren’t going to see the field against a Joliet Catholic or Marist if the game was competitive. They were back ups. But their roles–scout team players–was to them, the most important job on the team.
From a pure football perspective, Carmel’s 2010 success has much to do with its scout team, which includes several other seniors. All are most likely playing their last year of organized football, and all are taking hits in practice so the starters can be better prepared on Friday night.
“When we beat Marist, on the car ride home, I was really pumped because if the scout team guys hadn’t been going 100 percent, we wouldn’t have won,” Eric Hessing says.
Chuck Hessing, the boys’ father, said he asked Jim one night about his son’s lack of playing time, about how he felt being on the scout team, most likely to never see the field in a competitive circumstance.
“I said, ‘Do you feel like you are being cheated?’ And he said, ‘Dad, the best players are out there.’”
“Every night at 10:30, Jimmy comes down to tell me everything they have to do to beat the other team,” Sandy Hessing said, their mother. “He’s on MaxPreps and iHigh and figuring out what to do.”
Those late night conversations with her son are often about how he can improve his play, so he can help his teammates.
“What Jim said to me was, ‘I have to get better. [Tight end] Patrick Mulroy is not getting the right grade as I’m not getting him ready for the game,’” Sandy said. ‘”I’ve got to get back to practice and work harder.’”
This acceptance, this curtailment of one’s self-interests, is counterintuitive for most teenagers yet this dynamic is critical to team chemistry.
Photo credit: Steve Lester
Often over the last few years I’ve been asked, ‘why was that team so good? Well, yes, the Corsairs had a lot of talent. And yes, they had great coaching and terrific community support. But the connective tissue binding those foundational pieces were players like Jim and Eric Hessing, Matt Principe, Jake Klahs, Seamus Quilty, Bryan Parrish, Tom Leahy, Paul Madison, Connor Greene, Jeff Schroeder, Garrett Sykora, Mike Reimer, John Krzeminski, Brad Kamins, Mike Kolb, Sean Terrett and J.C. Pawlak. Their willingness to embrace their less-than-glamorous circumstances, and in many cases, transcend it, is that season’s dirty little secret.
