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Letter From The Publisherby: John GallupEditor and Publisher © More from this issue Moving up the Coaching Ladder While we’ve worked with hundreds of coaches over the years, Bill Blankenship’s story is different, and that’s why it’s so compelling. AFM profiled Blankenship in our June 2003 issue (pictured) after he had won the first of what would be three Oklahoma 6A state championships at Tulsa’s Union High School. The former QB at the University of Tulsa would achieve a 154-26 record at Union and became widely recognized as one of the top high school coaches in the country. So why would he abruptly resign from Union after another championship season in 2005? Especially without having another job lined up. You’ll get the answer starting on page 18 and find out how Blankenship went from high school legend to unemployed to college assistant to FBS head coach in a little over five years. He’s not the first coach to go from high school to D-I college coaching, but with his record at Union and experience as an assistant at Tulsa, we think he could be one of the best. The most interesting part of the survey is where we ask for your suggestions about what you’d like to see in future issues of AFM. We get hundreds of comments, we read every one and we incorporate your ideas into our editorial planning. This month’s issue is a good example. Many of you asked for more drills, especially position-specific drills, and in this issue we’re delivering running back drills, tackling drills and drills for your entire 11-man defensive unit. We hope they will be a positive addition to your pre-season practices. Thank you to the 600-plus coaches who participated in our reader survey. The information you provide is valuable and will help us continue making AFM your most valuable coaching resource. One of those challenges is dealing with the oppressive August heat that most of us around the country experience. Practicing during the hottest days of the year is not just uncomfortable but, as every coach should know, it also presents potentially dangerous conditions for athletes that are not acclimated to the heat. AFM got together with the National Athletic Trainers Association to give coaches guidelines for beating the August heat and provide critical information about types of heat illness, how to recognize their signs and what to do if you have an athlete in trouble. Safer football is better football, and we urge all coaches to learn everything they can about dealing with heat illness. |
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