A Texas High School football coach who shall go unnamed went 9-3 in his first season and “got nothing but heat” for his record. Next year the same record. In football crazy Texas expectations are for championships, or there can be consequences.
After the second season a guy off the street came into the coach’s office and without introduction said, “I made $12 million last year. I am going to spend every damn cent of it to get you fired.”
The coach responded, “Sir, you write me a check for $3 million (and) I am out of here—and you’re $9 million ahead.”
Minnesotan Ron Stolski chuckles when telling that Texas tale. The coach told him that is a true story and the only reason he is still coaching is because he later won a state title.
Stolski met that coach a few years ago at a national coaches’ convention. The Texan is part of a network of coaches nationally and in Minnesota that Stolski and other leaders of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association have used to build the Minnesota Football Clinic into a model event.
This 2014 clinic will be held next week at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis Park. Last year’s event drew a record attendance of over 1,100 attendees and with presenters the total reached 1,300. Vendor spaces are sold out for this year but advance registrations to attend are still being accepted and walk-ups are also welcome for the March 27-29 clinic.
High school and college presenters from Minnesota and other states will talk about the technical, organizational and psychological aspects of football at the clinic. The teaching sessions draw not just one or two individuals from prep football programs but multiple members of staffs who can learn more about their responsibilities. Lining up the presenters is the job of Claud Allaire who is the clinic’s program manager. “He does a tremendous job,” Stolski said.
The extensive 2014 roster of clinic speakers will include Gophers coach Jerry Kill and former Vikings center Matt Birk, and on the evening of March 29 a new group of Minnesotans will be inducted into the MFCA Hall of Fame. Clinic attendees will also watch the Gophers practice at TCF Bank Stadium on March 29.
Stolski, who is both executive director of the MFCA and head football coach at Brainerd High School, has been a clinic organizer for years but credits others for its successes. The state has a long history of successful football clinics and Stolski praises Minnesota football coaching leaders like Les Dreschel, Chuck Elias, Tom Mahoney, Dave Nigon, Bob Roy and Don Swanson for their early contributions.
The MFCA broke away from the Nike Clinic several years ago and decided to co-sponsor the Minnesota Football Clinic with the Gophers. The effort has been rewarding while creating and maintaining an event where attendees not only come to learn but also to network and enjoy the company of fellow coaches.
A couple of presenters from Texas let Stolski know a few years ago what they think of the Minnesota clinic, describing it as “the best high school clinic we’ve been to.” One of the presenters said the session rooms are not only packed with attendees but the coaches have a “thirst for learning.”
Then the coach added, “We go into a lot of clinics across the country. You just don’t see that (elsewhere).”
Stolski attended his first football clinic in the spring of 1964 at the University of Minnesota. Saint John’s football coach John Gagliardi, whose team had won the 1963 NAIA national title, was speaking in front of 400-plus attendees.
Stolski admired how the Johnnies’ ball carriers fought for yardage and were difficult to bring down. He asked the unconventional Gagliardi if he could describe a drill the Johnnies used in practice to make those ball carriers so difficult to stop.
Stolski recalled that Gagliardi responded by saying at Saint John’s players are taught to have faith. “They damn better not go down,” Gagliardi told the young coach who was expecting a more technical answer.
Through the years Stolski has met major college coaching legends at various clinics including Nebraska’s Bob Devaney. Al Fisher, a neighbor of Stolski, had played for Devaney. He encouraged Stolski to meet the great coach, and by chance that opportunity came one day at a clinic. The encounter made a huge impression on Stolski.
Devaney not only remembered Fisher but also knew the names of his children and wife. Devaney showed Stolski there was much more to relationships and caring for former players than just recalling they played for the coach. “That was a great lesson for a young coach,” Stolski said.
The clinics of years ago didn’t have concurrent small group sessions like today that offer topics such as “The Spin & Spread Series,” or defending no huddle offenses. The old clinics featured national headliners like Paul Bear Bryant, Woody Hayes, Duffy Daugherty or prominent college assistant coaches talking in a large hotel ballroom.
In his early days of attending clinics, Stolski learned it was wise to not sit too close to the stage. That was the case when a college assistant coach named Buck Nystrom was speaking.
“Very much of a tiger of a guy,” Stolski remembered. “You kind of wanted to see who was going to sit up front because you knew Buck was gonna get a couple of them up there (on the stage) as he demonstrated blocking techniques, how to shed a block and how to properly block.
“Before you know it old Buck would have his sport coat off (and) his tie off. He would be down to his T-shirt. He would be in a sweat, and he would be pounding the living hell out of these coaches who he called up there to demonstrate with.”
For several years the Leamington Hotel in downtown Minneapolis was the site of popular winter football clinics. As with clinics today, there was time for fellowship after a long day of listening to speakers. Stolski’s memories of the Leamington include being in a room with a few friends late at night when they heard a lot of noise out in the hallway.
Stolski investigated and on a narrow stairway he found some coaches moving a pop machine. The unit was several floors from its original location and still on its way to where the ambitious clinic attendees wanted it. Pushing and tugging, they were working hard on their post-midnight project.
Why were the fellas going to so much trouble that night? “The elevators were not working,” Stolski explained.
Hmm. Sounds like the coaches were thirsty for more than knowledge at that clinic long ago.
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