Playing in the Dirt...: Earning a living...　職歴

Earning a living...　職歴

One of my high school classes
I'm in the middle just to the left of
the clock holding a kid in a headlock.

It seems that we're all the sum of all the little things that we do; this obviously goes beyond the workplace.
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For those, like myself, who possess evolving interests the drudgery of working merely for financial gain is insufficient. My obsession with pursuing personal fulfillment and not following the herd has been a long running one.
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Obviously, there's no perfect place or situation; however, the challenge of making a path where none exists is somehow invigorating. The old adage seek and you shall find seems to apply. My advice to anyone going their own way would be carry out your mission, maintain your principles, and never give up; it's only over when you stop trying.

These days, whenever someone asks me what I do for a living I say that I'm a football coach; no benefits, no stability, and no promises for the future. As long as I can continue to grow and balance coaching football with the other elements of my life I'll continue. Despite living in a place where football barely shows up on the radar, I consider it an honor to be able to force kids to run up mountains.

For the details of what its like to manage a busy schedule teaching at multiple schools and coaching high school football in Japan click below and read "Life in the Pony Express" (For my background in English scroll down)

LinK

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Life in the Pony Express...

講師プロフィール

1964年アメリカ、フィラデルフィア生まれ。大学を卒業後、マスメディア関係の会社で。

広報や営業事務に携わり、大きく貢献する。ハンプトンでは、ボスニア難民の人々へ

ボランティアで英語を教える等、優しい一面も持つ。その後は、英語教育に目覚め、

英語教師として働く。

Japan

職歴

.....................LinKS

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2002 - 2004　株式会社イーオンウエストジャパン広島市英会話講師
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2004 - 2005　 進徳女子高等学校 英語科教師
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2005 - 2007 .....株式会社インタラック ALT（外国語指導助手）府中緑ヶ丘中学校・府中中学校 / 府中中央小学校 / 府中南小学校 / 府中北小学校 / 府中東小学校 / 府中小学校

2007 - 2009　広島県立総合技術高等学校 ALT （外国語指導助手）/ 英語科教師

2005 - 2010　   広島城北高等学校　アメリカンフットボール部コーチ
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2009  - 2010 田布施中学校 ALT （外国語指導助手）/ 英語科教師
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2010  - 2016 崇徳中学校 高等学校 アメリカンフットボール部コーチ
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2011 - 2018    広島修道大学付属鈴峯女子高等学校・中学校 英語科教師
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2017 - 2022 Owner - Hiroshima Gridiron Academy (HGA) アメリカンフットボール & トレーニングクラブ

アーロンの英語科教師 Blog: http://wakariyasuieigo.blogspot.com/

Johoku

平成22年4月27日

推薦書

広島城北高等学校長　福原　紘治郎

（記載者　教諭　竹下　徹也）

Aaron．A．Billups（ｱｰﾛﾝ･ｴｰ･ﾋﾞﾙｱｯﾌﾟｽ）さんは，1964年1月8日アメリカ・フィラデルフィアに生まれ，少年期にアメリカンフットボールと出会い，Hampton University でﾏｽﾒﾃﾞｨｱｺﾐｭﾆｹｰｼｮﾝを専攻する傍らでプレーを続け，卒業後はプロフットボール Mason-Dixon Football League（日本のプロ野球における四国･九州ｱｲﾗﾝﾄﾞﾘｰｸﾞなどの独立リーグに相当）で５年間プレーした。そのうちの3年間はキャプテンとチームマネージングを兼務し，1993年にはリーグ優勝に導くなど華々しい戦績を残して現役を引退する。その後，マスメディア関係の仕事に就きながらボスニア難民の人々へボランティアで英語を教えていく中で，英語教育に目覚め2002年に単身で来日する。
その後，英会話講師の仕事に携わりながら，2005年に本校アメリカンフットボール部のコーチに就任し，2007年からはヘッドコーチとして，彼の座右の銘である”Football is Life”（普段の生活はフットボールに集約される）の言葉のもと，自分の信念に基づいて指導にあたった。ボランティアでありながらも，請け負った以上はコーチとしての責任感で，子ども達が安全に満足のいくフットボールの活動ができるよう心掛けるとともに，フットボール選手としての育成だけを目的とせず，子ども達のこの先の人生において，フットボールを通じて得た経験が役に立ってくれることを望み，健全な人間的成長を目的とした指導も心掛けていた。彼の指導は，子ども達にフットボールの楽しさを知ってもらうことを根底におき，本場アメリカのプロフットボールで培った豊富な知識と経験をもとに，体力トレーニングから基本スキルの習得を段階的に織り交ぜながら系統立てられたものであり，器材や部員数が揃わない練習環境の中でも，常に生徒が満足し納得できる方法を模索していった。そのコーチングプログラムを年間の試合スケジュールの中に組み込み，実戦経験を通じてモチベーションの維持を図りながら子ども達自身に成長を感じさせるものであり，選手不足のチーム状況においても，ゲームに対応できるよう全ての選手が様々なポジションをこなせるようなシステムを構築した。
このようなフットボールの指導の中で，集団競技において規律を重んじ個人の活動を犠牲にすることを厭わず，チームとしての目標を達成することの喜びや，試合中に起こり得る様々な状況を想定して準備することの大切さを教えた。そして，それらは人生においても通ずることであり，子ども達が社会性を身に付ける上で，スポーツはこの上ない環境であるという考えのもと，フットボールを通じて何事に対しても競争心をもって攻撃的に戦い，最後まで諦めず継続することはとても重要であることを子ども達に伝えてくれた。
しかしながら，子ども達に以上の事を伝えるためには言語や文化の違いによる障壁があったことは否めず，そのため自身が子ども達とともに練習やトレーニングに常に加わり，自らのプレーによって体現する指導スタイルを持って，徐々に日本語能力を高めるとともにコミュニケーション能力を高めていった。また，そのコーチングを実践するために敢えてパートタイムの仕事を選択し，雨の日も風の日も練習を休まず，多忙な毎日を送りながらも，自らの生活をフットボールに注ぐことで，身をもってその信念を伝え続け，子ども達にそのことを伝えられたことを彼は自分の喜びとしていた。
私は，彼のフットボールコーチとしての指導方針と卓越した手腕は，それが人生のいかなる場面においても通ずるという彼の信念から，英語教育においても今後の活躍が大いに期待できると確信している。

.Sotoku

拝啓　早春の候、御校ますますご清祥のこととお慶び申し上げます。本日は当校アメリカンフットボール部コーチを務めて頂きましたアーロン・ビラップス氏をご紹介させて頂く為、失礼は重々承知いたしておりますが、本人のたっての希望もあり筆を取らせて頂きました。
アーロン氏はプロチームにも籍を置かれた名プレーヤーで、引退後日本のフットボールの発展に貢献したいとの思いで来日され、縁あり広島城北高校でコーチをされておられましたが、平成22年に無理をお願いして当校クラブのコーチに就任して頂きました。そのお蔭をもちまして、平成22年より春の関西大会・秋の全国大会に４年連続で出場することができました。
アーロン氏は来日当初より、一から自分の力でクラブを立ち上げて、全国に通用するチーム作りを将来的にはしたいという強い思いがあり、当校クラブとしてもアーロン氏によりチーム力が確立され、指導者も育てて頂いて来年度に向けてチームに安定感がみられる様になってきましたので、アーロン氏の意志を尊重して当校クラブを離れる事を了承致しました。
残念ながらアメリカンフットボールに関しましては、広島地区の加盟校は広島城北高校・崇徳高校２校のみで、関西・関東地区に遠く及ばない位置にあります。アーロン氏の手腕をもってして部員さえ確保できれば、僭越ながら関西・関東の代表校に引けを取らないチームが出来ると今でも信じております。当クラブにおいてそれが出来なかったことが痛恨の極みです。
ご多忙中とは存じますが、話だけでもとのお考えがありましたら、アーロン氏と面談して頂ければ幸いです。
最後になりましたが、御校の更なるご発展をお祈り申し上げます。

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　敬具

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平成28年2月19日

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崇徳高等学校アメリカンフットボール顧問

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　梅田　容嗣

United States

学歴

1982 - 1987　Hampton University ハンプトン大学　バージニア州　米国マスメディアコミュニケーション専攻学士号

職歴

.....................LinKS

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1990 - 1992　 Peninsula Poseidons バージニア州代表

1994 - 1996　 WSB Radio Group ジョージア州マネージャー

1997 - 1999 　Butler Motorsports ジョージア州営業

1999 - 2002 　REMSA, Inc. バージニア州地域マーケティングマネージャー

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Formal Education

Bachelor of arts - Mass Media Communications – 1987

Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia USA

Post Graduate work: Marketing & Economics

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Highlights of Experience
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Japan
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Coach (American Football)

2010 - 2016 Sotoku High School - (Hiroshima) Trained and advised young athletes on the football team. Sotoku is locally considered a "sports oriented" school where the students are admitted to college in part due to their athletic skills. My objective was to teach life transferable lessons while improving the player's skills and understanding of the sport. My methodology was to practice, train, and on occasion, compete alongside them to help them understand and enjoy the sport. Sotoku is isolated from the majority of the other high school football programs in Japan. For details see blog links: .Football in Japan... , Still in the game...

English Teacher / Curriculum Development (contractor)

2004 - Present Suzugamine Girls School / Sakuragaoka High School / Sogogijutsu High School / Shintoku High School / Fuchu-cho Board of Education - (Hiroshima), Tabuse Board of Education - (Yamaguchi)

Developed and administered student centered English curriculum for high school (O.C. - 1, Business English, English Immersion), junior high (ALT, Curriculum Modification), and elementary school levels (Solo Interactive Curriculum). Produced testing materials at the junior and senior high school levels. Developed and administered Business English curriculum for both practical and technical applications. My teaching methodology is interactive. Some former business clients (links): JSW Steel, TTI Japan. For more about my teaching experience see blog links: .Life in the Pony Express... , .A day in the saddle... , .Easy to understand English...

Coach (American Football)

2005 - 2010 Johoku Gakuen - (Hiroshima) Taught football and life transferable skills utilizing discipline, rigorous training, and competitive adversity. Designed and administered a teaching and training regimen to specifically suit the academic environment at this particular school. Johoku is isolated from the majority of the other high school football programs in Japan. The team was comprised of first and second year high school students. All objectives were achieved without school funding. For details see blog links: .Football in Japan... , Still in the game... , The hardest working boys in Western Japan... , .The first scrimmage... , .A kick in the pants... , .Gambling to survive...

English Instructor

2002 - 2004 AEON Corporation - (Hiroshima) Taught conversational English and grammar to Japanese students of assorted backgrounds. Developed and administered Business English curriculum. Taught English conversation and TOEIC classes. Web: http://www.aeonet.com/ .

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United States

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Volunteer Refugee English & Cultural Acclimation Skills Program

2001 - 2002 Catholic Diocese of Richmond - (Hampton, Virginia) Assisted Bosnian refugees with English language skills, job placement, and general adaptation to living in the United States. Web: https://richmonddiocese.org/

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Southeast Region Marketing Manager

1999 - 2002 REMSA, Incorporated - (Newport News, Virginia) Marketed and promoted REMSA's technical & professional staffing services to federal, municipal, and commercial clients in the eastern region of the United States. Generated new business and established ongoing contacts at the federal, state, and municipal levels. Repositioned the company with its new status as a competitor in the private and municipal sectors. Synthesized REMSA's image and marketing. *Please note - I wasn't involved in designing the current REMSA web page. Web: http://www.remsainc.com/

Historic Pirate Reenactor

1999 - 2002 Crew member / Gunner / Pirate Reenactor - (Hampton, VA & Beaufort, NC) Performed authentic historic reenactments, usually the manning and firing of shipboard cannon and going aloft at historically themed tall Ship festivals. Activities were performed while ships were underway which necessitated ongoing training in seamanship. Events were held in the mid Atlantic coastal region of the United States. Specialized in early 18th century piracy, in particular the pirate Caesar (birth date unknown - 1719), one of the notorious Black Beard's (aka Edward Teach, 1680 - 1718) crew members. Trained as crew member aboard Captain Horatio Sinbad's Meka II, a period two masted Brigantine class ship based in Beaufort, North Carolina. Web: http://www.pirate-privateer.com/. Trained in the fine old art of period gunnery (mounted swivel guns, flintlock pistols, and cannon). Web: https://festevents.org/events/2018-season-events/norfolkharborfest/sail-norfolk-2017/, Blog link: Piracy 2.0...

New Business Development / Regional Wholesale / Sales - Marketing

1997 - 1999 Butler Motorsports - (Atlanta, Georgia) Developed and managed wholesale accounts, retail sales, enhanced and promoted Butler Motorsports (high end, aftermarket performance division) concept. During first year generated over $450,000 in new wholesale revenue (previously non-existent category). Instrumental in turning a previously under performing Atlanta area business into a profitable establishment. This was achieved by integrating myself into local auto dealership's daily business processes; as a result I was able to generate non-traditional revenue during what had historically been seasonal lulls. Instrumental in multiplying the profitability of the business by establishing and maintaining wholesale partnerships with regional automotive aftermarket performance merchants to re-sell our authorized products (Claus Ettensberger, Pirelli, TSW, Enkei, HKS) and services. Web: http://www.butlertire.com/about, Blog link: .Life in the pits...

Account Executive - Media Consultant.

1994 - 1996 WSB Radio Group - (Atlanta, Georgia) Developed over $500,000 in new business revenue for Sports Talk 680 “The Fan” and News Talk 750 WSB AM. Established and maintained new business starting from zero (no billing clients). Assembled and executed strategic marketing campaigns for regional and national clients utilizing WSB’s resources (News Talk 750 WSB AM, Sports Talk 680 The Fan, Atlanta Braves Baseball, Atlanta Falcons Football, University of Georgia Football ). Responsible for creative aspect of radio copy for direct billing clientele. Negotiated with ad agencies. Held highest AUR (average unit rate) on AM sales staff in 1996. Center for Sales Strategy seminar (CSS) attendee and graduate. Web: http://wsbradio.com/, http://www.coxmediagroup.com/, Blog link: Trading paint...

President

1990 - 1992 Peninsula Poseidons - (Newport News, Virginia) Presided over the AFA's (American Football Association) second ranked (1992) football organization. Attended MDFL (Mason-Dixon Football League) organizational meetings and functions. Participated in promotional and civic events to promote and integrate the football organization into the community. Recruited key personnel for a 10-man coaching staff and a 55-man football roster. Negotiated with regional US military installations for games held on military facilities. Handled public relations as team spokesman to the media and at civic events. Starter as player (Defensive Back) from 1991-1993. Team Captain 1991 and 1992. MDFL All-League team DB 1990, 1991,1992. For details scroll down to articles: We all had two lives... , Business as usual... Blog link: The Poseidon Adventure...

For a satirical summary of my experiences & observations
click the link below
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The running man...
Assorted tales, observations & ramblings
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Contact: crossculture64@yahoo.com
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The Peninsula (VA) Poseidons 1991 - 1993

Coached by John Quillen and backed by Peninsula developers George and Ed Fiscella, the Poseidons went on to become one of the more successful regional football organizations in the country during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. Big contracts? Not one. These guys went to work every day just as most folks do. Endorsement opportunities? Maybe the occasional parking ticket. Fun? Hell yes. Where else can a grown man get together with fifty or so buddies and legally thump some heads? (For more click on photo)

"Hubba"... (Happy hour)

TE (#81) Terrence Howell, also known as "Hubba", was a load to bring down. A lot of DBs would make "career decisions" and opt out of taking him on head on, only to find out that the big man was deceptively quick. ... Don't let his size fool you, I've seen him go 75 plus yards to the house leaving many a DB in the dust. ...He was definitely old school because he had his socks pulled all the way up to his throat....He's a Virginia Tech alumnus. (click article for Virginia Tech football link)

The secondary...

Homerun hitters...

On the left, WR (#12) Robert Barnes terrorized defenses with his circus catches and slashing runs...on the right, CB (#8) Melvin Dillard. Dillard was usually the leading receiver for the other team's QB...the catch is...he's on OUR team, not theirs. If you threw his way, it was his ball (as many opposing QB's found out). He was also a kick returner extraordinaire. ...Dillard is a Tabb High School and division III powerhouse Ferrum College product. As a Division III All-American DB and kick returner at Ferrum, Dillard led the nation in punt returns. ...Barnes played college ball at Virginia State University and is also a former Peninsula Pirate. (click photo for more)

The annual Johoku High School OB (alumni) game...

The annual Johoku OB (alumni) game December 2007. In front wearing red are the current Johoku High School players. On the right, in the black are the current Johoku Junior High flag football team members (many of these same players are members of the 2009 - 2010 Longhorns team). Standing on the left in steet clothes in the rear wearing white are the OBs (alumni). I'm in the front on the far right. Every year I've played in this game alongside the current high school squad. They've been doing this event for years. The OB team consists of current college players, X - League players, and plain old "salarymen". ...Johoku Field, Hiroshima

The brain...

The sacred red "brain" (pictured in my right hand) was our master plan. It contained the deep, dark, intricacies of Johoku's offensive and defensive systems. It also contained laminated diagrams of our passing game complete with distances and angles..it allowed everyone in the huddle to understand the details of their assignments quickly without explanation. ...It also allowed some of the college players that joined the "combined scrimmages" to integrate into our offense easily. ...If it were to come-up missing, responsible parties would have been exhiled to a remote island... August 2009

Road Trips... 5 Hours plus...

Headed to the “jungle" (Kansai) for a game. It takes about five hours by bus from Hiroshima to the Kansai (Osaka-Kobe) area. There are only two high school football teams (Johoku and Sotoku) in the westernmost part of Japan so we have to travel to the Kansai area to compete; either that or we scrimmage the few Hiroshima area colleges or adult clubs. Aside from Sotoku the closest opponent is Mikki High School which is four hours east of Hiroshima by bus. There's no allocated funding from the school that I'm aware of so the player’s equipment and transportation costs come out of their parent's pockets. Charter bus fees to Kansai start from $1,200.00 round trip. The cost is evenly divided among the players for away games. In Japan most schools don't provide sports uniforms or pay expenses as in America; private schools in Japan operate more or less as businesses with little or no government funding (Click on photo for more)

The Rivalry... Johoku vs Sotoku

Doing things in unison...

The guys entered the stadium, warmed-up, and did everything in unison. Nothing novel or new in football, but for most of these guys it was. With them, I made sure everything was done this way. I even mandated that each and every member of the team be similarly equipped with regard to arm pads and the types of cleats they used. The things I wanted to emphasize with them were responsibility, preparedness, and thinking about the details. The football itself was just a means to an end. ...Before the Ritsumeikan Moriyama scrimmage, Shiga... March 2009 (Click photo for more)

The dungeon...

This is the inside of my office, spare equipment storage, player confession chamber, locker room. Not the cleanest place in the world as a new form of fungus was discovered at the base of the shelves near the flag football team's shoes. You can see my shoulder pads (#3) on the top of the shelf. This is also where we keep "loaner" football gear for alumni and visitors. Due to our chronic manpower shortage I've established a rule where if a college player or alumnus wants to visit he has to suit up and join me in being another target for the day. Don't have a helmet? We have them in all types and sizes, Riddell, Schutt, you name it; though mostly older models. We also have shoulder pads if you need them. Forgot your cleats? We have those too. High tops or low? Don't worry about a mouth piece either because we'll make you a temporary one out of tape and pre-wrap, although they don't taste very good (for more on football on a budget click on photo)

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My class room was all dirt. ...In Japan, 99% of the football teams play on dirt. In the summer its hard as rock and in the winter it freezes. It is best the day after rain when it is kind of soft. ...In the event of a scrimmage or game after hard rain, the players use buckets and cups to remove the water before we use the field. I've seen parents and alumni help do this prior to the annual OB (alumni) game. After each and every practice or game, all throughout Japan, it is standard procedure for all members of the team to use giant "rakes" to level the entire field and remove imperfections so the ground is smooth and ready for the next practice or event. ...A lot of football programs in America could benefit from doing more of the minutia of the "day to day" stuff. ...Who needs state of the art weight facilities when just "heavy" weights used outdoors will do? The game is played outdoors... ...Who needs air conditioned indoor practice facilities when the elements add to the mental and physical toughness? ...Fix your own damn helmet!!, ...Cut your own field's grass. ..It all adds to the experience.

"No budget" football (not necessarily a bad thing)...

The "Edo Jidai" (Edo period 1603-1868) blocking sled at Johoku's practice field. It was more dangerous than useful, but it’s all we had (we broke it in 2009). As you can probably deduce, this is definitely the "anti-Nebraska" program with regard to facilities; and that’s not entirely a bad thing. Apparently for some it would be considered a luxury to have "blue chip" athletes, state of the art weight rooms, and indoor practice facilities. Grounds keepers and training staff might also be considered frivolous depending on where you are. What an eye opener this experience was for me coming from America. As a result of what I’ve had to deal with here consider me a convert. Somehow it all seems more fitting to do things the hard way. Overcoming difficulty is the definition of preparation. If weights are heavy, they’re good enough to lift. If weather is bad, practice in it. ...No squat rack or blocking sled available? Use a mountain. ...No trainer? Tape the players yourself, or better yet, teach them to tape themselves. If the players have low motivation for rigorous training, train with them. I strongly believe that having everyone involved in the minutia of the day to day makes for a better organization. Though football in Japan isn’t developed to anywhere near the level that it is in the US, I’ve come to realize that a lot of what’s deemed as necessary in American football programs isn’t. In the various (US) football programs that I’ve been a part of over the years we didn’t always make full use of what we had. Though by no means impoverished many of those football programs aspired to emulate what the most bloated programs were doing. There’s a mentality that the most newfangled facilities somehow improve the quality of the sport. Case in point: in the summer of 2008 I met a young “aspiring” high school football player from Kyushu (see “the Guys from Fukuoka”). He and his three teammates had travelled three hours by bus to Hiroshima just to practice with my six players. The kid had a huge heart and the physical ability to match. In the various drills he excelled in each. He caught everything I threw, too high, too far, too low. He clearly stood out from everyone and had a big, eager smile on his face the whole time. I looked down at his feet and noticed he had two un-matching shoes, both of which were completely worn out. Turns out, he didn’t own any (Click photo for more)

The stairway to pain...

The "mountain" was made of dirt with a 150 yard, steep stairway at it's base. ...This is where we trained our legs for power and stamina. ...These stairs go vertical about 150 feet from the ground and are about 150 yards total in length. The stairs extend another 10 yards downward beyond the bottom of this picture (they are blocked by a small cemetery), and another 60 yards or so upward beyond the grey pole in the upper center of this picture. The players hated this mountain training. They didn't speak English, but if they heard me say the word "mountain" they'd start mumbling profanity in Japanese. ...After the weight training (...usually 2 twice a week) was finished we would run from the school (...1/2 a mile downhill from this place) to the base of this mountain. We would usually run 2 or 3 sprints up the staircase, intermittently doing plyometrics at the bottom. ...Occasionally, we’d run to the top of this mountain, turn to the left, and follow the mountain trail on a roundabout 1/2 mile course that would lead us back here where we started. ...We (myself included) always ran in full football gear in all weather. ...When we first started the mountain training, the players always complained. After we started "blowing out" teams in the second half of games, they seemed as if they actually looked forward to the mountain training. ...Back in 2007, when I first started using the mountain trail, I would run with the team just to the top of the stairs and wait for them to return from the trail run. ...The very first time I sent the players off to run the trail, only half of them came back. ...The rest had gotten lost and took about 30 minutes to return. Since then, I always ran with them and made sure to carry my cell phone. ...There are some benefits to training with the players, such as: understanding how they felt based on the current conditions which allowed me to make adjustments. It was also a useful psychological tactic (click photo for more examples of daily routine integrated "free training" ).

Game day support...

The video crew… A variety of folks supported the Johoku football team. On game days some duties were handled by a local OB (alumni) that happened to live wherever we were playing. Once or twice when we were undermanned a local alumnus would suit up so we had enough members to compete. Food and labor for special events was often provided by player’s parents. In the photo above the videographer is the sister of one of the Johoku player's. Most of the photography was done by Mr. Oda (the father of a former player) or myself. The video footage taken at our practice field was done by Mr. Takeshita, who is a man of many talents. ...Osaka, Japan 2006

"@#% damn it!!" ; ...internationally understood.

After the "tongue lashing", I applied the silent treatment to initiate "mental pressure" on #88... It didn't work in this case though... It's a good thing that the fans and the referees in Japan didn't understand the English profanity I was using. The funny thing is, my players DID understand my profanity... They knew that if a sentence began or ended with "goddamn it" that they did something wrong. Otherwise, they didn't understand a word of English. Hiroshima 2009 (Click photo for more)

The "11 men" era... (2007- 2008)

During the 2007 - 2008 season, the team was only able to compete two times the entire year as a result of having so few members. The players learned to work just for works sake. On this particular day, we scrounged together eleven players just to compete. The Captain, Noma (#26) wasn't able to participate due to an injury...so we actually had ten Johoku students available. Fortunately, one of the OBs (alumni) was available and joined the team as the eleventh man. The team we faced (the Titans) had thirty-five or so players. To make a long story short, we outplayed the other team and let them escape with a 6 - 6 tie. The game ended with our offense on their 5 yard line and a fumbled snap. …And the moral of this story? ...take your pick. (Click photo for more)

Disbelief...

After the "11 man" game (Johoku's eleven players vs the Titans thirty-five players resulting in a 6 - 6 tie) the guys are filled with a sense of accomplishment, obviously outplaying their own expectations. For the four guys on the left (...all 10th graders), this was their first football game. The prior scheduled game against our rival Sotoku, had been deemed a forfeit (three months earlier) in the second quarter of the game as a result of two of the eleven players getting injured (one before kick-off). I vowed never to be put in that situation again because it is bad for football in Japan and for the players on both teams. It was obviously no coincidence that the three players to come up lame early, were the same who wouldn't invest themselves in the physical or mental preparation required (they wouldn't come to practice, but they showed-up for the game). We aren't playing golf here folks...bodies must be conditioned. That kind of thinking didn't play well at Johoku (...academic school?). I'm getting ahead of myself here...Anyway, as a result of the last forfeit and this game with only eleven players, I decided that I would suit-up myself if we had thirteen or fewer players available on game day.

Earning a living... 職歴

(1991) Newport News, Virginia...

The Peninsula (VA) Poseidons 1991 - 1993

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Poseidons photos 1991 - 93

Coach, John Quillen

Behind the curtain...

Home...

Season one...Step one...

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"Lump"

The Quarterback derby...

"Hubba"... (Happy hour)

Chapman

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Barnes

The "voice"

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"J.R."... (Galloping to an end zone near you)

Perez

Poseidons vs Virginia (Richmond) Ravens

Our nemesis...

The second season...

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The Traveler...

Second season,...First test...

Deja vu... dem damn Bears.

Priorities...

Crossed the bay...

MDFL standings after 1992 playoffs.

The secondary...

Homerun hitters...

Business as usual...

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The Charlotte (NC) Eagles...

We all had two lives...

The Pirates of yore... 1988 - 1990

Pirates (a tale of hidden treasure)

"Bull"

Hampton University (VA) 1982 - 1987

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1985 CIAA champs...

Before "HU" there was this...

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The fellas... circa 1983

Gone to the Wolves... 1981 - 1982

The Lakewood Lancers... 1978 - 1980

One last victory...

Lakewood (CA) Lancers... 1980

The West Long Beach Bears, (California)... 1976 - 1977

4 decades, 9 teams, 11 coaches, and 16,000 miles later... Hiroshima, Japan (2005 - ? )

Football life in Western Japan...(2005 - present)

The "Guys from Fukuoka"

Game days...

My "American football" in Japan culture sensei...

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The annual Johoku High School OB (alumni) game...

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The "Immaculate tackle"...

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Meet the parents...

Visitors

We'd play just about anybody...

The "Guys from Fukuoka"... (4 guys on a mission)

The brain...

Road Trips... 5 Hours plus...

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From Johoku H.S. to Mikki H.S., 4 Hours by bus... our second "closest" opponent.

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The "back-up"... (a tale of discovering one's place in the food chain)

The rally...

The Rivalry... Johoku vs Sotoku

A long day...

Doing things in unison...

Johoku @ Kobe's Rokko...

Our "facility"...

The dungeon...

Earning a living...　職歴