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 Head Coach Michael Clark has agreed to author his own blog on this website for another season. He would like to field questions from fans, so here is your opportunity to ask away.
Simply email a question to coachclark@bridgewaterfootball.com.
Posts:
05.21.08 - Question & Answer
03.08.08 - Question & Answer
01.05.08 - Question & Answer
10.31.07 - Question & Answer
10.09.07 - Question & Answer
08.06.07 - Question & Answer
06.05.07 - Question & Answer
05.17.07 - Question & Answer
05.10.07 - Question & Answer |
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Question & Answer posted by Mike Clark | 05/21/08 | Post Comments
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Christian (Tampa, FL): By the looks of the updated roster on Bridgewaterfootball.com, you only have six returning defensive linemen. During the spring, did you move anyone from other positions to the d-line? Also, do you have any good recruiting prospects and/or numbers for that position?
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Clark: Both sides of the line of scrimmage are thin. Jason Jones, a former LB, was moved to DE and although linemen are always a priority in recruiting, they are difficult to get. We have young speed on both perimeters (offense and defense), but if you lose control of the line of scrimmage, speed will not show (i.e. versus Wesley in the NCAA South Region final). |
Mark (Richmond, VA): From last year's freshmen class, what couple of players have surprised you the most and improved the most over last season and this spring?
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Clark: Tyler Beiler, if he chooses to get stronger, has great potential as a college wide receiver. He has good stretch speed, and Julius Delbridge caught the ball much better in the spring. He wears contacts now and it made a big difference. Hagan Driskell has an arm that can stretch the field if we secure protection for him. He was able to spread the ball around and all our receivers (including the TE’s and H-backs) can all run and catch. Although we will be young here, there are quality people at these positions. |
Kevin (Weyers Cave, VA): Is Division III like Division I in that you keep kids around all summer to prepare for the fall season?
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Clark: Unlike Division I, we do not have summer scholarship budgets that allow kids to stay on campus. We will have kids that try to stay in the area and work or go to summer school (they pay their own way) so they can workout together. Really to compete successfully at the college level in football at any level you have to work year around. You get breaks, but there really isn't an offseason. The difficult thing at Division III is that for the next 13 weeks we have to count on kids doing the necessary training on their own. We have a lot of young linemen who are not strong enough yet and a few key offensive linemen who are overweight. In Division I we would get those kids four days a week for the next 13 weeks and get the necessary changes. At the Division III level their motivation has to come to some extent from within. We provide the necessary support and plan, but are not able to monitor it on a day-to-day basis. |
Troy (Charleston, SC): With likely the smallest senior class since you came to Bridgewater in 1995, what will we have to do to replace the experience we've used in previous years?
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Clark: This was a bubble class we saw coming a few years ago in terms of numbers. Sometimes it is difficult for these kids in that you have to make decisions based for a young football team, and not for the small group of mature players at the top. The positive is that the kids we will be coaching in 2008 will be around for the next two or three years. Reminds me a lot of the 1999 group. That was team that was young and had great energy and talent. However, there is no rule that says a young team can’t be good now. Unlike the 1999 team, these kids are in a program where the expectation is to win and on some level that is a positive. |
Gregory (Harrisonburg, VA): On paper, how good does this year's recruiting class look?
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Clark: I really don’t like to comment on the recruiting class prior to their arrival. Competition has been tougher than it has ever been and our academic profile and financial aid matrix changed this winter so we have to see where it shakes down. We will have windows of opportunity for this group that have not been around for freshmen in the past eight years or so. We have to count on them doing the right things over the summer to get prepared. |
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Question & Answer posted by Mike Clark | 03/08/08 | Post Comments
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Pat (Reston, VA): Because of the changes by the NCAA football rules committee (of which you're the chairman), will there be a financial impact on schools -- will anyone have to install or upgrade their play clocks to comply?
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Clark: We asked the major clock manufacturers and the cost should be minimal. It will involve putting a chip or an adjusted switch in the box that runs them from the press box. Division I had to do it a year ago when they used the 15 second ready for play after a TV stoppage. |
Sally (Roanoke, VA): Why does it take so long for recruiting to play out at the Division III level?
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Clark: At our level, with financial aid being the number one variable, most schools don't get formal financial aid contracts out to students until the month of March. At that time the kids are able to compare offers which can vary from school to school and finalize the decision making process. There are student athletes making decisions now, but at a slower pace. Many of our recruiting battles are with Division I-AA programs who want the top unsigned players to walk-on. At these schools, usually the kids want to see them practice in spring ball before making a choice. It is not a defined time process at our level and there are a lot of voices out there. In a three hour radius there are 10 new football playing schools who have been added to the mix since I arrived at Bridgewater. |
Jim (Fredericksburg, VA): During spring ball, what do you see as the most important area for development for the 2008 Eagles?
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Clark: Losing as many seniors as we did, I could say every aspect and be close to right on. By scale I think progress at the offensive line position is a must. It is the most important position we are recruiting and the young speed we have will not show if you can’t compete on the line of scrimmage. |
James (Westminster, MD): What determines, from a financial aid perspective, who gets what from a particular school. I hear how some schools, through how they scholarship, can be tough to out recruit?
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Clark: With a certain level of student athlete, we have a tough time competing financially with state schools. What happens is that merit profiles can vary from school to school and what is award level at school “A” might not be at school “B”. This could be a long answer, but financial aid is an institutional control issue and how schools meet the need based aid of admitted students is always an important variable. I think that is why Division III coaches deal in such high volume recruiting in that often times many of the important issues are pulled out of our hands. You have to be able to absorb losses. It is a fact too that sometimes kids make choices when is not about the money, and those are the ones you really have to try to win. All our competition recruits very hard now, that was not the case a few years ago. |
Anonymous: How do you sell the extra costs of private education to parents?
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Clark: There is a personal touch at the Bridgewaters of the world and there are a lot of checks and balances that are not available at large major state institutions. Having had children go to both state and private schools and having worked at both myself, in my opinion the state schools waste more money than the private schools spend. However, you can get a great education in a lot of different environments and the chance to be an athlete in your college experience is something I can sell in good faith. If we get the big picture right, the kids will draw on this the rest of their lives. |
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Question & Answer posted by Mike Clark | 01/05/08 | Post Comments
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Jay (Roanoke, VA): What do you see as your strongest selling point in the recruiting process this year?
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Clark: Sometimes in recruiting you can turn a weakness into strength. Although losing 30-plus seniors will have a large impact on our program, for the first time since 1999 we are able to offer the right athlete a chance to contribute quickly based on our numbers. Really BC overall and W&L on defense are the groups in the ODAC that lose key people. It is a young league overall at the other schools. It will be nice to use the “Not having to wait to play line” that our competition has used against us in the past to our advantage. What goes around comes around. |
Michael (Washington, DC): With so many unknowns, what group do you compare the 2008 Eagle team too based on your previous teams?
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Clark: I see a lot of similarities to the program now relative to where we were in 1999. I think there are young talented kids who really don’t feel any pressure to live up to the past performance of someone else. That is kind of refreshing in a way. Although overall we deserve to be very proud of past performance, it needs to be about dreams now not memories in some sense. I heard a great line from Tom Brady over the Holiday. He was asked what Championship meant the most to him and he responded, “The next one.” Feel that way myself right now. |
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Question & Answer posted by Mike Clark | 10/31/07 | Post Comments
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Sarah (Charleston, SC): Given the explosiveness we've seen from freshman [Darrin] McKenzie when he gets on the field, any chance we could see him on punt and/or kickoff returns this season? That kid in space is scary, like PJ Berry was.
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Clark: McKenzie is an explosive player who has been out of football due to injury for the past two years. Right now he backs up [Phillip] Carter and [David] Argaud in that role, and they are pretty good. Darrin is one of the good young skill players in our program. |
Anonymous: Since we can’t win the conference title, and making the playoffs at 8-2 (if we win the last two games) is nearly impossible, do you start building towards next year with two weeks left in this season? In other words, will you give the younger kids more of a chance to play, or will you continue to play the upperclassmen?
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Clark: I have a lot of loyalty to the seniors in this program, most of whom have done the right things despite two close and disappointing losses. I will play the kids who give us the best the chance to win the game on Saturday and not take class or next season into consideration. |
Kenny (Winston Salem, NC): What factors play in your decision to kick deep or shallow when we kick-off in a game?
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Clark: Wind. Often, into the wind, the shallow high kicks can be the easiest to cover and secure the best field position on. That unit has been pretty good for us this year despite kicking from the 30. |
Susan (Winchester, VA): Without giving away too much, can you tell us what you saw on film that convinced you that your defense could shut down the Guilford offense, or was it a matter of more talent and desire?
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Clark: We had a good plan and the extra week was a big help. A spread the field offense like Guilford actually plays to our strength which is speed. We are not very big on defense and the power teams pose us a bigger challenge. |
Steve (Philadelphia, PA): After turnovers (by the other team) why not throw long as the other team may be sitting back? Against Hampton Sydney there were times you may have gone for the juggler and did not. Next year is no doubt a rebuilding year so why are we so conservative with all these upperclassmen?
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Clark: We will loosen up and take more of a risk on the offensive side of the ball. Going into 2007 we felt the running backs and offensive line would be the bells for us. Phil [Carter] has done a great job, but his yardage has gotten more difficult the last couple of weeks. Injury has hampered the continuity in the [offensive] line a bit, but we will get back to trying to get what I refer to as the cheap points. They are momentum shifters that are needed. |
Matt (Harrisonburg, VA): With us having not won the ODAC crown for the second straight season, do you think in the coming years it will be easier to get our players to chase a championship as oppose to defending them?
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Clark: We will kick into climb mode again. Our goals are still championships, and not returning to that level in 2007 is a huge disappointment. However, operating a little bit under the radar will have its advantages (see HSC/RMC in '07). |
Mike (Bear, DE): With so many seniors leaving this season, where do you think the biggest need in terms or recruiting will be?
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Clark: Recruiting will be broad based, but when you lose 34 seniors, we will have broad based appeal. Talented young kids are in the program, but for the first time in a long time, there will be quick playing time opportunity out there for kids coming into the program. |
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Question & Answer posted by Mike Clark | 10/09/07 | Post Comments
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Pat (Sterling, VA): How do you get the team to refocus after last week's loss?
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Clark: You count on the maturity of your team. They have a lot invested in this year, and as I told them after the game, a 9-1 BC team - I believe - will get a chance to meet all of their goals. We got some good Guilford work done during the off week. |
Mike (Bear, DE): What do you see as the biggest weakness of our team?
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Clark: We have to get better pressuring the passer on defense. As a group, we have yet to put together a full 60 minutes of play and production. The first and third quarters of the Ferrum game we chased our true potential, but we will have to do that for 60 minutes to reach our long term goals. |
Matt (Harrisonburg, VA): What were you thinking when you saw that [Hampden-Sydney] Coach Marty Favret was going to go for two when the score was 31-30?
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Clark: Not surprised, because he could not have been sure he would have gotten the ball back with enough time to work. |
Greg (Charlottesville, VA): What will be the biggest key in slowing down [Guilford quarterback Josh] Vogelbach next week?
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Clark: Pressure and playing with confidence in the secondary. He will get his share of plays, we have to still be very aggressive in going for the football when it is in air. |
Anonymous: Who do you think is the best team in the ODAC outside of Bridgewater?
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Clark: [The ODAC] is a poor mans SEC. You better be able to play each week. Who would have picked Florida to be a two-loss team at this point. There are big games every week in the conference. |
Dave (Staunton, VA): Are you in favor of replay on the Division I level?
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Clark: Yes, I think in time some level of it will filter down into the lower Divisions. Even the tape we had at Hampden-Sydney would have corrected two fumble calls that were both wrong by the officials - one in our favor, the other to Hampden-Sydney. |
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Question & Answer posted by Mike Clark | 08/06/07 | Post Comments
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Hal (Winchester, VA): What is your biggest worry going into the season?
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Clark: We lost Kristin Grasson, who was our manager and a valuable asset, and we do not have the film situation settled as of now. On the field, there will be pressure for us to quickly develop depth at some critical positions. Quarterback on offense and the secondary on defense being two of them. |
Anonymous (Crozet, VA): What position do you think we will have the most depth at?
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Clark: The offensive line. There is an experienced group there including eight seniors who should play. |
Matt (Harrisonburg, VA): Which ODAC school did the best job recruiting? Was there a certain conference foe that stands out as having won over recruits you were going after as well?
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Clark: Hard to tell. There are a lot of new coaches in the league and they really hustled on the recruiting circuit. Emory & Henry beat us on a couple of key kids for the first time in a while, but I always felt - particularly in Division III - it is best to evaluate classes a couple of years out. Our numbers are decent, but we in time will find if quality matches. |
Jeremy (Bartow, WV): I know you have to take one game at a time, but in the back of your mind is playing in Georgia in September a concern in terms of hot weather?
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Clark: A 10- to 11-hour bus ride down and back concerns me more than the weather. By that time in the season heat should not be an issue. I remember the Hanover trip a few years ago - that is a long time to sit on a bus. |
Anonymous (Richmond, VA): With our starting quarterback being a senior this year, how will you go about grooming one (or more) for 2008?
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Clark: We will live for the moment, but we have a large senior class (which Jeff [Highfill] is a part of) that is capable of carrying a heavy load. Your hope is that you are able to work the backup quarterbacks into controlled situations, not out of necessity. About 10 days into camp, that will be one of the big decisions we will have to make on who that person is going to be. |
Todd (Harrisonburg, VA): Any news on a recruiting list being posted? Just wondering who was going to brought in this year.
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Clark: Matt has provided that list on his website. Click here to view it. |
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Question & Answer posted by Mike Clark | 06/05/07 | Post Comments
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David (Rock Hill, SC): With character issues from all levels of competition making headlines, how does the Bridgewater athletic department and/or admissions office monitor current players and screen incoming recruits?
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Clark: A lot of times in Division III, the volume of recruits we have to deal with probably does not allow us to do as extensive of evaluations as we would like during the recruiting process. Once kids are involved in the program, I think a Division III coach gets a greater level of control and hopefully can set standards that shape players in a positive way. I have always felt nothing replaces peer pressure to do the right thing in a football program. With limited support staff at our level, too many high maintenance kids would drain a coach and a program. We are not without issues, but for the most part we have kids who manage their business well. |
Bo (Broadway, VA): It seemed that in 2006, the tight end and fullback positions didn't handle the ball as much as in past seasons. Do you think that was a product of Coach Colbert's philosophy being gone, a lack of experience at those positions, or the result of having eight to 10 defenders in the box?
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Clark: Offensive plans adjust to personnel. After the departure of Robert Mathews early in the season, for the first time in many years we did not have TB speed at the FB position. Tyler Thomas, who did a nice job for us, was more in the Joel Pearson FB mold and was very unselfish in becoming a blocker for the TB position. Our starting TE, Jeff Jones, was a back-up defensive end [in 2005] who was new to the position [in 2006]. He improved as season progressed, but the position was not one that developed into a featured one last season. We did not coach the position full time in 2006 either and plan to change that in 2007. |
Hal (Winchester, VA): How is the recruiting list put together (i.e. referrals from HS coaches, press clippings, kids contacting you) and who is involved in formulating it? Does the success of our program help or hurt?
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Clark: Combination of all three, and we subscribe to a recruiting service also. Success helps, but it is a double edge sword in that often times top high school recruits expect to unrealistically play right away. Our competition plays that card a lot with recruits. With next year’s senior class being so large, hopefully we can be attractive on both fronts in our recruiting in 2007 and 2008. |
Todd (Harrisonburg, VA): We all know the 757 area code is a fertile ground for recruiting and Bridgewater has had success recruiting that area in the past. Has Christopher Newport (CNU) slowed the recruiting trails at the beach? Also, will it impact recruiting with Old Dominion University (ODU) starting football?
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Clark: CNU impacts the whole state, while seldom being beat recruiting-wise by any of the private schools. Their cost, combined with program quality and being a state school, trumps most efforts. ODU will impact CNU, particularly in their early stages. They will push to get walk-on players who I believe will give it a shot there in an effort to earn a scholarship. This will have a trickle down effect through CNU to the rest of us. This 2007 class will hopefully give us a couple of impact players from the 757 area. A couple of kids from that area ran really well on the tape that we saw. Coach Raeford still works that area very hard for us. |
Jeremy (Bartow, WV): During your playing days at Cincinnati, what memories do you have of playing against Dan Marino (Pittsburgh), Steve Largent (Tulsa) and John Jefferson (Arizona State)?
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Clark: I was a senior when Marino was a freshman. He came in late and in a 35-0 game but did not do a lot of damage. Their QB at the time was a guy called Rick Trocano, and we could not stop him or block Hugh Greene on their defense. As a freshman at UC, I did not play against Largent, although he did score twice against us in one game. Remind me to tell you a story someday around those touchdowns and the trip home. In 1976, I started at CB on a defense that shutout Arizona State, who was coached by Frank Kush, 14-0. In a scrapbook somewhere, I have a picture of me tackling John Jefferson. Their other WR was Larry Mucker (who played for the Washington Redskins) and the TE was Bruce Hardy (Miami Dolphins). We had a good defensive group at UC that year, five guys were drafted off of it (I was not in that group). |
Rick (Midlothian, VA): What obstacles do you encounter in recruiting the central region [of Virginia]? It seems that Hampden-Sydney (H-SC) is always heavily represented by recruits from that region.
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Clark: H-SC, beyond geography and being close, has deep roots in that area and former Coach Chris Bell was also a native who coached in the high school ranks in the metro area. We have not had the same coach working that area over the last five years. I believe if Stephon Healey continues to work it over time, our results and volume from the area will improve. |
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Question & Answer posted by Mike Clark | 05/17/07 | Post Comments
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Taylor (Staunton, VA): After the loss of Coach Higgison, would you consider yourself a candidate to call the defense in 2007 like you have at other schools in the past?
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Clark: In these situations I have always felt it is in the program's interest to hire the best coach available. We will remain flexible as far as positions on the staff go.
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Todd (Harrisonburg, VA): Any more news on the renovations to Jopson Field? Some time ago there was some information about a donor and redoing the press box, adding chair back seats. Any plans for a new scoreboard?
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Clark: We have begun renovations on press box area and a covered chair-back bench seating area. Ed Callahan and Clyde Pugh gave us an initial gift and we will work over the summer to add money to complete the project. In the conference there have been big upgrades to facilities at Catholic, Hampden-Sydney, Guilford and Washington & Lee, and this will help us keep pace. A new scoreboard will be in place this fall that Coke has stepped up and helped to sponsor.
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Bo (Broadway, VA): It seems that foot speed has been of importance in recruiting since you arrived at Bridgewater. In a perfect world I know BC would recruit size with speed. What is your philosophy on how speed can out perform size on the gridiron?
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Clark: When in doubt, bet on the team that can run. Speed makes up for a lot of mistakes over the course of a game. It allows you to create plays on Saturday.
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Kevin (Dayton, VA): First, was there any concern from the NCAA Rules Committee about the increased chance of injury that may occur during kickoffs now that the kicking team is being moved back to the 30-yard line? Second, will this new rule change the way you cover kickoffs (i.e. more speed guys on coverage, more sideline kicks)?
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Clark: It was brought up from the trainers’ representative at the meeting who is a non-voting member of the group. The kickoff is the highest risk play because of the space and speed involved. Kicking form the 30 was the Division III and II sacrifice to keep pace of Division I games. At the Division I level, even with a lower tee, too many touchbacks happened. Speed has always been a must on these units and at our level field position should improve, thus helping the offensive people. Kicking into the wind at Jopson could cause problems, and we spent time in spring working with kickers on strategy. Penalties that force you to kick form the 25, 20, or 15 will really have to be avoided.
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Todd (Harrisonburg, VA): As you look at this years recruiting class, do see an impact players as freshman/transfers that could come in and contribute right away? Or is there a position that may be thin that a freshman/transfer would have to step in a play right away?
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Clark: I really don’t like commenting on players who have not yet practiced. On average, about a half dozen newcomers usually have Saturday impact in our program. Although we have a large senior class, there are some very thin positions where we will have to develop young talent to get through the season.
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Question & Answer posted by Mike Clark | 05/10/07 | Post Comments
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Kevin (Dayton, VA): Do you ever go back and watch the 2001 offense on film to see what worked, why it worked and if it can be replicated?
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Clark: On occasion we will go back to study previous film. In that offense, as in most, the players probably dictated the success more so than the plans. In 2001 there was an experienced offensive line that was paired with a four-year starter at quarterback, a 6-foot, 225-pound tailback who was fast, and five wide receivers who had breakaway speed. That combination would have had good success in a lot offensive sets. I think we have replicated it in pieces, not collectively over a season. Maybe 2007 will be its match?
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Jeremy (Bartow, WV): In general, is it harder to block punts, extra points and field goals at the Division III level or in Division 1-A?
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Clark: Varies from year to year, but I would guess that the quality of kickers, snappers, and playing surfaces at the Division I level should make it harder there. On a side note, in 2006 (my 27th year of college coaching) I coached a team that went an entire season without blocking a punt. One of many corrections slated for 2007.
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Mike (Reston, VA): What would you like to see from the parents?
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Clark: I've included an excerpt from a letter I gave to parents last August when kids reported;
“As a rule, it is my policy that I do not discuss football playing time issues with parents unless I have already done so with the individual player. Directly with the player will always be our staff’s method of operation. We feel that is the way the college athletic experience should be managed. We are in a competitive environment and in a big operation I realize that not everyone can be totally happy at the same time. I have to make decisions that are based on what I feel is best for the total operation and I know sometimes those are not easy on individuals.
When it comes to academics, feel free to contact me at anytime. We hope your returns here are multiple and football is important, but this needs to be the highest priority. Look forward to sharing and celebrating success with you in the year to come.”
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Hal (Winchester, VA): With Coach Colbert leaving to take the head post at St. Vincent, is there a chance we’ll play them in the coming years?
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Clark: Bob and I talked and really just could not work out a date that fit. As a start-up program he is like Army, everybody wants to play them so he can have his pick and I believe he is booked through 2010. He even stole McDaniel from us starting in 2008, but I told him I would try not to bash him in my blog.
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Jeremy (Bartow, WV): How did coaching for Frank Beamer at Murray State and Virginia Tech impact your coaching philosophy?
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Clark: Frank was pretty patient with kids and he was a coach who I believe the kids always felt he was working for them. I have tried to follow the Japanese Proverb - "They work for you; and you work for them." In his Head Coaching role, Frank lets his coaches coach and he is a get your work done and go home guy. We seldom had a situation where you felt he was looking over your shoulder. He does not micro-manage, and although he has now reached celebrity status I doubt it has changed him much. I don't feel I have to make every decision for our team to be successful, and in my time with him I saw him do that a lot.
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Matt (Harrisonburg, VA): Do you foresee Bridgewater installing lights at Jopson Field in the near future?
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Clark: No, my personal opinion is that lights would have to be paired with an artificial turf facility somewhere on campus to justify them.
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