From the Coach... 07/05/06

What a GREAT weekend for the NWFA and women’s football. There were 4 playoff games around the country this weekend and they were all good games – with good teams. The Columbus Comets beat the Western Michigan Mayhem and now travel to Pensacola for the second round. The Cleveland Fusion beat the Philadelphia Phoenix and earned the right to travel to Oklahoma City and see how they match up with the Defending Southern Conference Champions. The St Louis Slam were victors against the Kentucky Karma and won the chance to prove themselves against the always hungry Massachusetts Mutiny. The Austin Outlaws traveled to the Chattanooga Locomotion and ran into a freight train. Chattanooga racked up a lot of yards on the ground and earned the right to play your DC Divas on July 8th.

The playoff race is getting tight, and much to my wife’s’ chagrin the sleepless nights have returned. Not sure if it’s the worry in stopping Chattanooga’s offense that’s keeping me up late at night or the fact that we have had less then stellar attendance at practices recently. We have been working hard for those that have shown up, but the numbers have really hampered us as far as being able to prepare. Injuries have mounted and we are going to be asking a lot of people to step up on July 8th

We are on a mission to bring championship football back to DC. Together this is something that we can accomplish. If we can’t get to practice that mission is in jeopardy. To quote a famous Coach, “You cannot win, if you cannot run. You cannot run, if you are not in shape. Practice does not make perfect - only perfect practice makes perfect.” – Paul Brown. What he means is that it is not enough just to attend practice but once you are there you have to make it mean something. It has to be PERFECT if you are going to get better. Looking back on these last few weeks I remember saying that our attendance and hard work would tell the tale of our fate. Now, I am hoping that is only half true.

On July 8th we will have another opportunity to show the world what Diva Football is all about. It is going to be a tuff game. It’s the playoffs! The Championship is on the line. I know we don’t want to go home early and neither does Chattanooga. This team is good enough to come in here and win. They are a veteran ball club, with a HUGE offensive line, and good talent at the skill positions. They are in your face and don’t really care what you think about it. It is what football is supposed to be - a fight to the finish, down in the trenches. Our defensive line is going to be TESTED. We will all have to wait and see how they will respond. See you all on the 8th.

Sincerely,

Ezra M. Cooper Jr., Head Coach