2009 Season Kick-off

On the eve of the opening game for the 2009 soccer season, the UW-Stout Blue Devils are poised for a memorable and successful season. After arduous and competitive tryouts, and a fast-moving preparation, the Blue Devils are more united than would normally be expected for a team with half returners and half newcomers. They are focused and determined to take this program to the next level, and I personally am very excited to see all that they will accomplish this year.

Preseason ends tomorrow, but classes do not begin for another week, so the team will continue to focus on only soccer for a few more days. The 2009 team has worked hard to learn each others' strengths, to communicate well and to come together for a common purpose. Along with all the soccer playing, this team has conditioned, lifted, done yoga, gone night hiking, competed in synchronized swimming and discovered the ultimate ninja in each of them.

This team wants to enjoy what they do.

This team wants to compete.

This team wants to win.

This team is going to accomplish great things.

This team is ready to kick off the season, and I am confident that they will kick it off well!

Fresh Start

The August steam continues to increase, and that can only mean one thing: preseason practices are about to start.

One week from tonight, the UW-Stout women's soccer team will have all arrived on campus and they will have completed the first practice of the 2009 season. I expect that at this time of night, on that first day, there will be a number of emotions floating through the rooms at South Hall and in the houses of upper classmen. There will be relief for some, and increased anxiety for others. There will be fatigue, excitement, confusion, sadness, intensity and for the lucky few...they may actually be sleeping.

Regardless of how it starts individually for the players who come to start the 2009 season, what really matters is how they finish things as a complete and cohesive unit. It is a challenge for any coaching staff to encourage that eventual unity, on the heels of competitive tryouts, but the challenge needs to be owned by each and every player named to the 2009 squad. It is up to them how they move and react as a group, but that movement starts with the decision by each player to take part in the effort.

One week from tonight will be the start of a season full of stories and pictures and moments that change lives. As a choice, I too choose to be caught up in the Stout movement, and I trust wholly that I will be changed for the better along the way.