THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 18, 1996 TAG: 9610180711
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 92 lines
How players get along off the field can play a big role in how they play together on it.
Anything that can help promote team unity is a plus.
So what could be more unifying than sitting together and breaking bread before a big football game?
You know. The family that eats together. . . .
Until recently, such Friday afternoon rituals were more rare than well-done.
The usual fare had players going their separate ways after school to do goodness knows what until it was time to get ready to play.
And that left the opportunity for the dreaded ``no shows'' - guys who for whatever reason can't get back to school by the designated time.
Team meals help eliminate the problem - a major reason why more teams are turning to them.
``When I coached football here (from 1968-1985) I wore out a couple of trucks driving all over the place picking up kids who couldn't get back to school in time for the game,'' said Churchland athletic director Bill Strickland.
``I'd have to go get one here and another one there. The team meals put a stop to that and I think it works pretty well.''
Several South Hampton Roads teams have similar Friday afternoon game plans. Some stay at the school the entire time and others go out to dinner at local restaurants.
Ocean Lakes coach Jim Prince started a ``team meal'' concept eight years ago when he took on his first high school coaching job at Cox. It was such a success with players, coaches and parents that he brought it with him when he came to the Beach District's newest school three years ago.
``There are dozens of benefits,'' said Prince. ``Making sure they get a good, nutritious meal before the game is an important one.
``But the No. 1 reason is keeping the kids together in a supervised environment. Now we know what they do because we're controlling the atmosphere.''
Prince wanted to make his afternoons more special, so he enlisted the help of James Holt of Smoty's Sports Asylum - a sports restaurant close to the school.
``This is a tremendous situation for us,'' Prince said. ``Nobody has done this team meal thing for us like (Smoty's). This is a little classier, the kids like getting out and the food is fantastic for the kids.''
Around 3 each Friday afternoon, the Ocean Lakes players show up at Smoty's in game jerseys and take over the establishment. They play music and chat before chowing down on iced tea, pasta, french fries, lasagna, hamburgers, chicken . . . whatever Holt has cooked up for the day.
``This is real nice,'' Dolphins freshman kicker Chris Rice said. ``It makes it like a family and that really helps with the team feeling together.''
During the team meal, Prince gives a motivational speech. Afterward, the team breaks for the school, where game films are watched and pregame takes place.
At Churchland, the Truckers have several Friday afternoon options - spending time doing homework, watching game films or talking strategies before having their team meal. Churchland players can also bring their own meals or buy something prepared by the home economics department.
``They make money for their department, our kids eat a good meal before a game and everybody benefits,'' Strickland said.
For the past three years, the Tallwood Lions have enjoyed Friday trips to a nearby Golden Corral.
``We're like Jim Prince in that we're fortunate to have a guy like (Corral owner) Tom Barrows who wants to have the kids at his business for team meals,'' said Tallwood coach Ken Barto. ``We give out our weekly awards during the meal and it's a very positive thing that I think the kids really look forward to.
``And I think it keeps the kids focused to keep them together as a team until time to play. You don't have to worry about what they're doing and whether or not somebody's going to have a flat tire and not get back to school on time.''
Some private schools who play their games in the afternoon don't have time for pregame meals. At Norfolk Academy, players often arrive at school early for a team breakfast instead.
``The whole thing sounds like a great idea,'' Bulldogs athletic director Dave Trickler said. ``We don't have that much time before games, but the breakfast thing seems to really help with bonding.''
Booster clubs play an important part in many pregame meals, but players and coaches also work hard to help make things work.
Tallwood players have a magazine drive, others have car washes and raffles. Ocean Lakes coaches worked at the Bruce Smith Celebrity Golf weekend to offset the costs.
``I wish I would have started doing this earlier,'' Barto said. ``It works very well for us, and I'm sure it's an idea that's going to catch on.''
Because the family that eats together. . . . ILLUSTRATION: Photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT, The Virginian-Pilot
Ocean Lakes coach Jim Prince delivers a motivational speech during
dinner at Smoty's Sports Asylum. by CNB