Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Franklin, Shafer finding unique ways to coach
4/11/2020 5:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Coaches find themselves having to be more innovative than ever during this time of social distancing and quarantine due to the reality of COVID-19.
The situation exists nationwide and, like their counterparts across the country, Middle Tennessee football coordinators find themselves teaching and instructing in ways previously unique to them.
The majority of all communication for defensive coordinator Scott Shafer and offensive coordinator Tony Franklin has occurred via Zoom and Facebook Live, both in meetings with their position coaches and student-athletes.
"We are all going through the same thing around the country, so we just want to do it better than the teams we play," Shafer said. "Right now, it is all virtual teaching and learning. Thank God kids in this generation are good with that. They help me more than I help them. I didn't even know what Zoom was before this. The kids are adjusting to the elements pretty well."
One manner in which Franklin has assured daily communication with players and coaches was to implement a plan where each student-athlete on offense would compile a day-to-day list.
"Each morning, I have every player on offense send me and their position coach a list of 10 of the most important things they will do that day and a schedule for how long they would spend on each item," Franklin said. "This can be creative workouts, time with family, football and such. It's different for everybody. They all have different stories and different situations.
"(Quarterback) Randall Johnson is in Los Angeles and is waiting in line for an hour just to get something to eat, whereas some of our players in rural communities may be able to go to the store and get everything they need for the week. It is a lot of listening to what their reality is. You have to dig deep to see where their anxiety is."
The daily list has lent itself to accountability for the players and allows Franklin and the position coaches to have a gauge of where players are and where the focus lies.
Shafer has brought the white board from his meeting room to his dining room and uses it for Zoom meetings with defensive personnel and with his position players.
"That has been very convenient," he said. "I have the white board in my dining room and use it when we meet. The kids can still ask questions. We just finished another install. We will go through the install, then we have a test. They will take the test together and then we talk it through."
Offensive personnel has been conducting similar meetings.
"We have had a lot of fundamental meetings, review of opponents and working on schematic things," Franklin said. "It has also given me time to make some adjustments and make some changes on how we get our information."
Franklin sees the challenge as an opportunity and says it has served as a positive in some different areas. Their meetings are about more than football.
"I have gotten to know our players better and learn more from them," he said. "I talk to them about fear and being afraid and overcoming fear. If you say you are not afraid you are lying. I talk to them about doing their part. The football part is important because that's why we have a job, but this is a time in our country where you don't talk about leadership if you aren't willing to step out on the edge and do things to help impact our young people and make a difference.
"It's time to be human and not just a football coach. Football is the least important part of what I'm doing as a man. I look at this as a great opportunity to be a better coach and a better human being, and try to inspire my players to do the same."
Though the Blue Raiders continue to progress during adverse times, Shafer admits the current situation has created tension.
"As coaches we are use to being hands-on, seeing the boys every day. I really miss them and the daily interaction, and I can't wait for this to pass where we can all be together," he said. "It has been a strain. I worry more than I ever have about how they are doing back home."
The pandemic also assures coaches will have to evaluate players differently than in the past because of the lack of spring practice, particularly newcomers and younger players who received few reps last season.
"We definitely will have to evaluate quicker who is ready to play because you don't have the luxury of film from spring practice and watch and evaluate," Shafer said.
Once players return, their time with coaches will become critical in regard to the upcoming season.
"We have to take full advantage of every minute we are allowed to be with them," Shafer said. "When we aren't able to be with them we have to have a good plan for them."
The situation exists nationwide and, like their counterparts across the country, Middle Tennessee football coordinators find themselves teaching and instructing in ways previously unique to them.
The majority of all communication for defensive coordinator Scott Shafer and offensive coordinator Tony Franklin has occurred via Zoom and Facebook Live, both in meetings with their position coaches and student-athletes.
"We are all going through the same thing around the country, so we just want to do it better than the teams we play," Shafer said. "Right now, it is all virtual teaching and learning. Thank God kids in this generation are good with that. They help me more than I help them. I didn't even know what Zoom was before this. The kids are adjusting to the elements pretty well."
One manner in which Franklin has assured daily communication with players and coaches was to implement a plan where each student-athlete on offense would compile a day-to-day list.
"Each morning, I have every player on offense send me and their position coach a list of 10 of the most important things they will do that day and a schedule for how long they would spend on each item," Franklin said. "This can be creative workouts, time with family, football and such. It's different for everybody. They all have different stories and different situations.
"(Quarterback) Randall Johnson is in Los Angeles and is waiting in line for an hour just to get something to eat, whereas some of our players in rural communities may be able to go to the store and get everything they need for the week. It is a lot of listening to what their reality is. You have to dig deep to see where their anxiety is."
The daily list has lent itself to accountability for the players and allows Franklin and the position coaches to have a gauge of where players are and where the focus lies.
Shafer has brought the white board from his meeting room to his dining room and uses it for Zoom meetings with defensive personnel and with his position players.
"That has been very convenient," he said. "I have the white board in my dining room and use it when we meet. The kids can still ask questions. We just finished another install. We will go through the install, then we have a test. They will take the test together and then we talk it through."
Offensive personnel has been conducting similar meetings.
"We have had a lot of fundamental meetings, review of opponents and working on schematic things," Franklin said. "It has also given me time to make some adjustments and make some changes on how we get our information."
Franklin sees the challenge as an opportunity and says it has served as a positive in some different areas. Their meetings are about more than football.
"I have gotten to know our players better and learn more from them," he said. "I talk to them about fear and being afraid and overcoming fear. If you say you are not afraid you are lying. I talk to them about doing their part. The football part is important because that's why we have a job, but this is a time in our country where you don't talk about leadership if you aren't willing to step out on the edge and do things to help impact our young people and make a difference.
"It's time to be human and not just a football coach. Football is the least important part of what I'm doing as a man. I look at this as a great opportunity to be a better coach and a better human being, and try to inspire my players to do the same."
Though the Blue Raiders continue to progress during adverse times, Shafer admits the current situation has created tension.
"As coaches we are use to being hands-on, seeing the boys every day. I really miss them and the daily interaction, and I can't wait for this to pass where we can all be together," he said. "It has been a strain. I worry more than I ever have about how they are doing back home."
The pandemic also assures coaches will have to evaluate players differently than in the past because of the lack of spring practice, particularly newcomers and younger players who received few reps last season.
"We definitely will have to evaluate quicker who is ready to play because you don't have the luxury of film from spring practice and watch and evaluate," Shafer said.
Once players return, their time with coaches will become critical in regard to the upcoming season.
"We have to take full advantage of every minute we are allowed to be with them," Shafer said. "When we aren't able to be with them we have to have a good plan for them."
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