AFCA Convention Recap
Tuesday January 13th, 2009
I just returned from the annual AFCA Convention in Nashville, TN. I had a blast! I had a chance to meet over 30 college football coaches from across the country. This is the third year in a row, I have had a chance to attend. This convention runs during a pivotal time during the college recruiting process. As many of the coaches are starting to look for the best kicker and punters in the 2009 class. Many of also looking at the 2010 class as well.
During the morning on Sunday, I talked with long time friend Toby Neinas, now special teams coordinator from the University of New Mexico. I also had a chance to talk to the Special Teams Coach Andre Powell from Clemson University.
In the afternoon I had lunch with QB ocach and kicking coach for William & Mary, Christian Taylor. During the rest of the day I had nice conversations with multiple head coaches and assistance coaches from IVY League schools to DIII schools. Many asked about my current crop of kicking prospects. There were plenty more, but unfortunely, I taper my list for fear of other kicking coaches stealing information.
This TKS class of 2009 is abundant in talent. I provided each coach with reffereals and spreadsheet of kicking prospects for 2009 and class of 2010. Jason Myers, Mater Dei HS, has a ton of talent, and was named TKS Kicker of the Year.
I always ask myself at this point in the year for recruiting and high school football coaches. “Do college special teams coaches know what they are looking for?” What I dont understand, is that college coaches usually look a prospects statistics and then look at thier DVD. From there they base their judgement. Can you truly make a accurate assement on a kicker if you never seen them kick live? Do they know how to evalualate a 17 year-old high school kicker? I always wonder about that. Thats why I travel to these events because my refereal as a kicking coach goes a long way when kickers are not often recruited enough.
Dont get me wrong I believe there are some college coaches that know what there are talking about. For example, Toby Neinas at UNM, he does his reseach, learns to art of kicking and just last year picked up a great punter Brian Stohavich from San Diego, CA. He watched him the TKS SDSU Kicking Camp watched him during his senior season and watched him at the TKS Kicking Combines for a number of years. As a freshmen punter, he was the lone bright spot for for SDSU football. But for the most part coaches look at a DVD and try to asses a kicker or punters abilities.
The Kicking System, Owner, John Matich talking with college coaches
That why I think its essential to add close up practice film on your highlight DVD. TKS has partnered with The Sports TV (www.thesportstv.com) to produce the best football kicking DVD’s around. As you can see on our prospects page, there are some high quality video of some talented San Diego kickers and punters. Coaches can at least get a close-up look at their technique. As you know, most high school film is tough to watch and at times dont even follow the ball.
Another highlight was watching San Diego Chargers play the Pittsburg Steelers in the NFL playoffs, at a party sponsored by Field Turf. There must of been over 200 coaches cramped in this one room with two hugh mega LCD TV’s. Sadly, the San Diego Chargers lost. Of course during this time, I was busy networking make more contacts for the TKS Kickers and Punters.
Overall the trip was as success, I passed out over 30 DVD’s and almost lost my voice by the end of the trip. Next year I will have to plan to stay longer as there was not enough time to talk to everyone. I gained some new contacts and visited with old friends and wished them luck in their recruiting endeavors.
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