Commentary
HANGING UP BOOTS, BUT MEMORIES LIVE ON
Dynamos alumnus Brad Higginbotham, a veteran with the Houston Fire Department, is pondering retirement from soccer after many years as a youth player in the Dynamos Soccer Club and men's leagues at various levels. Brad was among the "original" Dynamos players when the Select Club was started. He said it is difficult to put into words his love for the sport and the impact it has had on his life. But he did a good job of it, both playing and putting it into words. Here are Brad's thoughts:
"I’ve played soccer with many teams and cannot post this without thought to all those teams. Tonight may be the last night I have with a great group of men I’ve gone into battle with every Sunday night for over 13 years—as the underground Jossy’s Giants (Dynamos' trainer Mark Wilkinson was an original member). I always felt comfortable against all odds every time I took the field with this talented group, and those who know me well knew that I always questioned whether I contributed enough. Regardless of the outcome we always went out afterwards to re-hash the games. The guys who are younger will one day realize how valuable every game has been. One player I had the privilege to share the field with--Ged Brannan, Tranmere Rovers,Motherwell FC, Manchester City--once said, “Never stop playing.” It may not have been the best we played but the last one was a great game to play. The boys are legends and played as legends. Perhaps the Jossys will be resurrected one day. Outdoors was always my favorite soccer until I got a little older, then my legs couldn't keep up with younger guys at a high level. So indoor became a place where a seasoned talented group of players could use tactics to slow down faster younger players and win off counter attacks. I always believed you learned more about a person playing with or against them than having open conversations with them. After we moved to Conroe, I was driving more than an hour and a half over the past three years just to play ball Sunday nights with this group. Other guys were coming to the fields straight off the road, dog-tired from out-of-town tournaments. I think the team meant a lot to everyone. I always had a great appreciation for all the talented players who shared the field every Sunday night, and everyone had their place on the field. For me, I stuck to basics and found my place as a reliable defender who could distribute the ball to more skilled players ahead of me and together we moved as a unit. Just because you're defending doesn't mean you don't find yourself part of an attack, everyone covering a promising advance up the field. Everyone could depend on the others and even if we were down, we always felt like winning the game was only a matter of working out the problem. The team functioned successfully for years setting traps by maintaining possession in the back, pulling resources from the opposing team into our defensive third then finding the target player waiting up high for the counter attack. We always spent time together after the game rather than parting ways to go home straight away. The time we spent off the field is what made the team last so long. Sometimes when you're still in a competitive system for club, college, or some professionals it is a job where you are competing with each other for position and time on the field. This was a team where we played for each other. I don't know if I am able to describe my feelings for the team but I can easily say they are like family. It has not been uncommon for me to be watching my kids play and have a coach from another club yell in my direction to get my attention just to say, "Hey I see you over there even though I'm busy." Soccer turned out to be something much more important in my life than I ever anticipated. There are a lot of other things I do with my time outside of work but I won't be able to get away from the game. I train kids on the side with personal training working on things I wish I had spent more time on, and hope my own children will develop the abilities some of the players from the Jossy's Giants possess. Incredible group of people and our conversations outside of soccer after the games would encompass anything from philosophy, food, other sports, gambling, relationships, concerts, vacations. Everyone knew each other pretty well. I will miss it.
U-17 MATCH REPORT
By Dave Hill
Texans 1, Dynamos 0, under the lights at Dyess Park
Halftime: 0-0
First Half
The boys (Dynamos) started the game well. I was pleased with how we were pressing , not allowing the Texans time on the ball. To be fair, Texans were pressing quite well, too, making it difficult for us to possess the ball and create goal-scoring chances. We transitioned well both ways and defended well all through the team. Back four solid and compact with good starting positions. There was not much space between our lines and players won 1v1 battles well. I would have liked a little more quality in the final third with our passing especially the final ball and finish.
Second Half
Summary
I believe we were the better team even though five ECNL players were moved in to play us. We created far more chances and deserved to win the game, but we have to take our chances which we have not been doing enough.. Even in defeat I’m very proud of how they played.
After reaching the Elite 8 in the college women’s national tournament, Baylor University was beaten last weekend by third-ranked Duke, 4-0, in Durham. It was the deepest run by the Bears in their program history. Losing a player to two yellow cards late in the first half, Baylor played with 10 the rest of the way and couldn't overcome an early Duke lead. It was the first time Baylor allowed four goals since a 4-3 loss to West Virginia on Sept. 29, 2013, in Waco. In semi-finals Friday in Orlando, Fla., Stanford faced Duke and South Carolina played UCLA for a place in the Sunday finals.
LOOKING BACK
2010--"Tonight was bittersweet in that I am so happy that we are national champions, but I'm so sad it is over. I couldn't have asked for a better experience or a better group of girls to end my career with."--Keeper Club alumnus Kristi Koudelka, after helping record-setting Lee University to its third consecutive NAIA national title and the Lady Flames’ 15th consecutive national tournament victory, a 3-0 win over Hastings College (Neb.). Keeper Koudelka was selected as the tournament's top defensive player.
THE BUZZ
All in the Dynamos family are saddened by news of the death Tuesday of former player Hannah Vandemotter after a lengthy battle with a vicious immune disease. Dynamos trainers who knew Hannah were especially hard hit. “She is the sweetest kid and was a very good player and a real pleasure to work with,” said Director of Training Olivier Finidori. “She played for Wilkie when he first joined the club.”. . .Dynamos goalkeepers will get together on Thurs., Dec. 14, for the Keeper Club’s final training session and annual Christmas party at the Dyess Park Far Pavilion (north concession building). A brisk training session starts at 5pm, followed by food and gift exchange at 6 o’clock. Admission is a wrapped gift costing $10 or less (or something around the house the keeper no longer wants!). . . There’s still time to purchase unique Christmas ornaments offered by the U17 Dynamos girls in a fundraiser which will help raise money for upcoming events. Check it out at www.dynamosU17@yahoo.com. . .Former Dutch international and veteran coach Vera Pauw has been named by the Houston Dash as its new head coach. The 54-year-old Pauw last coached the South African women's national team, which went to the 2016 Brazil Olympics and the semifinals of the African championships in 2014. Paux and her staff will represent the Dash in the 2018 National Women's Soccer League college draft on January 18 at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia. . .Lionel Messi, who finally announced he is staying at Barcelona through 2021, was honored with his fourth Golden Shoe Award as Europe's top goal scorer (37 goals in 34 LaLiga matches) during the 2016-2017 season. The 5-7 forward has tied Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo for most times (4) winning the award. . . .If you have items for The Buzz or the Coaches Memo, email to jwalker@dynamossoccer.com.
QUOTABLE
“Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see the beauty, believe in them and try to follow where they lead.”—Coach Louisa May Alcott
THOUGHT ON COACHING
"No matter who you are or what you do, you're able to live with yourself if you leave something better than it was when you got there.”--Kevin Sumlin, immediately after last week's loss to LSU, not knowing if it would be his final game as head football coach at Texas A&M (Houston Chronicle). He was relieved of his duties shortly afterward.
ANOTHER THOUGHT
"Non-achievers blame their circumstances; winners rise above their circumstances. Some concentrate on the blank wall that boxes them in; winners always look for a way to get under it, over it, around it, or through it.—Coach Nido Qubein, The Simplest Things
IT’S ONLY FAIR
Getting away from soccer to relax for the holidays, Coach Cy Fair found himself catching a few games at the Woodlands, another at Lindsey Lyons, then watching matches from Germany, England, and Scotland on the telly. Now, he says, he is refreshed and ready to direct his U12s again. Coach Flo maintains there are no speed limits on the road to excellence.