Ramblings, Ravings,
and Musings
Dec. 3, 2002
It is a sleety day in Norman. OU lost to OSU
in football and it seems as though the whole place has a frown,
well perk up, mi amigos. OU has prevailed over OSU three straight
times in rugby as well as finally knocked the Texas monkey off
its back and kicked him in his simeon teeth. As we ready ourselves
for the always interesting festival of fun and filth known as
The End of the Year Party. We have time to reflect on an interesting
season. One of anticipated promise from last year's movement into
the top echelon of the West. One of shock in losing the season
opener to NSU a side we beat by 70 a season earlier. One of adversity,
injuries to Zimmerman, Joel Smith and Brad Yocum and the decision
of Richard to return to Africa. One of finding new talent and
new mates: Kyle, Mike, Jack, Merriot, Paul, Big Minks, Bo, Kicking
Prop. One of beating good opponents Texas, Nebraska, Rice, Baylor
and Tulsa. One of letting down and not showing up in force agai
nst
Texas A&M and responding with big victories against Baylor and
OSU.
It is the last that personifies the season
the best, one that gives hope. A knowledge that you can knock
us down or we can knock ourselves down, but you can't keep us
down. It is in the water of Norman, the juice that demands the
mindset that creates champions. The football team is drinking
this water today. We can be confident that they will rebound to
beat Colorado and go onto a BCS Bowl.
The rugby team has matured and will hit the
ground running Monday January 6 at noon at the OU clubhouse. We
will have access to the new multi-million dollar indoor practice
facility with its full sized field and cathedral ceiling. Mates
we have the best facilities in the country to play rugby. We now
need to develop the consistent mindset of teams that have these
types of facilities, that of champions. As a T-shirt I read on
the back of a 5 year old wrestler last night, Champions Train
and Losers Complain. No one else in the country undertook a full
fall season and will be training January 6 in a facility that
will allow for a real rugby practice. Next season when involved
in a tight match we can look to our mates and know, no one has
worked as hard as we have. Of course the fact of working harder
will help, but the psychology of knowing we worked harder can
provide the difference to make the next tackle or support the
runner or score the try to win the game.
Wednesday, tomorrow night at 9:30 we are having
a leadership meeting at my house 222 W. Apache. Across from the
Service Station. The first time we did this it turned us around
when we needed it most. Invitation is open to anyone who wants
to weigh in. Reply or drop me a line at 821-5959 if you are interested
or want more info. We still need dues from those who haven't paid
and money for those that bought shorts and socks and haven't paid
for them. We still have some left if you need them. I will have
them at the end of the year party. Speaking of which it is Saturday,
beginning at 6:30. $3.00 entry plus bring a dish that feeds four.
It is silly booger season every Tuesday and
Thursday night for anybody that wants some Clubsiders. We are
looking to kick start the team this spring. If you are interested
please drop me a line, give me your number and anyone else's that
wants some. I will schedule matches etc. Paul Schlatter is keen
on helping to pull this together. Who else is in? Are you available
to practice and travel to exotic destinations? I will keep the
spring light with a few matches here and there. But we need to
create a unit and build from there. We will practice with the
Varsity and schedule games with them.
Cheers Big Ears, Jon Velie
On A Bang
Nov. 26, 2001
The fall season has come to an end with a strong
performance by the Varsity squad. On a brilliant 70 degree mid-November
day, OU overcame OSU with a 34-24 victory at the newly dedicated
Al Velie Rugby Complex/Tarzan Pitch. Referee Lenny Burger unfurled
the American Flag held proudly by Veteran Tarzan Wilson as the
crowd swooned the National Anthem. Larry Naifeh gave some inspiring
words and Al and Tarzan accepted OU jerseys 9 and 6. Sue Velie
who suffers from a bad case of the Al Velie Rugby Complex was
on hand with pater familious Lester Velie.
The game was physical and a bit sloppy. However,
a few keen players stood out. Phillip Hobbs scored a brilliant
diving try at the end of the first half initiated by Wing Ryoishi
Uten from deep in OU's end. These two received the honors of most
valuable forward and back on the day. Danny Dunlop also played
a blinder. These three really sparked the Sooners all day. Roger
Gassett scored a couple of tries and Tyson Meek notched one as
well, pilfering ball from the OSU scrum and taking it in.
The game places OU in the driver's seat for
the Ozark Union Championship to be held in Norman in March 2003.
The victory caps the OU fall season record at 7-3. I believe we
have grown a great deal in the last two weeks mentally. We are
poised to kick off the Spring Season and compete for an Ozark
and Western Championship. We have a break from organized rugby
training until Monday January 6, at noon at the pitch. Players
must shift their attentions to school work but not go backwards
in fitness or strength. In fact, now is the time to hit the weights
and start running. At a minimum players need to get three days
a week of bench, squats and power cleans. We are working on getting
access to a wrestling room to cross-train. It will increase our
tackling skills, toughness and overall fitness. Stay tuned for
dates and times and drop me a line if interested.
Silly Booger is now on for Tuesdays and Thursdays
beginning at 5:30. It is not mandatory but a fun way to stay fit
and score tryskies.
The end of the year party is Saturday Night
at 6:30 PM. It is $3.00 for singles $5.00 for couples. Bring a
dish that will feed four. We still need dues for those have not
paid. We owe some bills. We will name this years award winners
as well as award letter winners.
In closing I am very proud of this semester's
squad. It handled adversity and finally came together. As a whole
it was a very tough team. I challenge those returning next semester
to commit to becoming the best they can, use this time to improve
their individual skills such as passing, defense and position
specific duties, get fitter and stronger and come in to camp mentally
prepared to succeed. I hope this is done by individuals acting
as a team. If these athletes take this challenge and do so as
a team we will achieve great things this Spring.
See you soon, Jon Velie
As James Brown
Once Said
Nov. 18, 2002
I feel good, nananananana like I knew that
I would, nanananananana. It's a beautiful fall day in Norman and
all is right in our rugby world. The Tyson Meek captaincy started
off a glorious foot with a 71-0 pounding of the Baylor Bears Saturday
in Waco, Texas. Sean Logsdon scored a hat trick, Tyson and Ryoishi
scored two, and none of them taller than 5'8. Come to think of
it 11 of the 12 tries on the weekend came from guys that would
not be allowed on some of the rides at Disney World. Who cares
about A or B division lets see another team in the rugby 6 foot
and under league compete with us. Bring on the Mini-All-Blacks.
The other tryski-scorers in the Quinton Griffin mold were Ernesto
Puche, Merriot Johnson and Brian Griffith. Roger Gassett was the
only 6 footer to dot down on the day.
The muyi cool thing is not the win, but how
we got there. It is all about the preparation, the victories or
successes in life that mean the most are those that took some
doing or a joint effort, the taste of victory after defeat is
sweeter and individual prizes always less fun than team awards.
So the taste is back, like a fat watermelon in the summer time.
It was sweetened because we jelled. The players held themselves
accountable. For those that follow these raves you have been privy
to our mental letdown and meltdown as of late. Well this reporter
is here to tell you that those days are past, I am confident we
will not see a relapse. We have checked out of Betty Ford and
are ready to rumble.
Last Wednesday some of the leaders of the team
and I got together and looked each other in the eye, committed
to the remainder of the season. Thursday we elected Tyson Meek
to captain with Phillip Hobbs and Danny Dunlop as selectors. This
focus and execution is what is needed to succeed at this level.
We showed when we do this we can play some pretty good rugby.
Most importantly, I saw this group of men become a team, play
for each other and not accept mediocrity. We also have room to
improve. We will need to do so when OSU comes to town Saturday.
We need two solid practices from everyone who wants to play rugby
on this team. No excuses. Friends, alums and old boys come on
out. We will have the new scoreboard dedication and as always
some good raves.
With more magic than Harry Potter.
Coach Jon Velie
Bring Out The Brooms
Oct. 11, 2002
Hey there happy Okies. The eyes of Texas are
a crying. OU rugby sweeps the Horns, regains the skull, rolls
in football and the golf team of Hoss, Kelly Meek, Naifeh and
I won the Beat Texas Golf Tournament on Friday. In baseball its
called hitting for the cycle. I don't think I have ever had more
fun in Dallas. And I have had a lot of fun in Dallas. On to things
we care about.
OU Rugby is for real. In a season that was
supposed to have a lot of returning starters then didn't, the
team is on a roll. I am having my favorite year in coaching rugby.
The reasons are numerous. One is the huge influx of new athletes
and how game they are. OU fielded its first ever collegiate B
team it won 32-0 and it was full of big tough tackling maniacs.
Kyle Lubbers, younger brother of Tex, had a blinder. Big Meeks
280 pound O lineman that played briefly for LSU crumpled a 125
pound scrum-half, fielded a kick ran through a tackle and dished
to a screaming fast Adam Barnhard for his first tryskie. Chief
Kicking Prop showed again why he earned his nickname and although
5:00 shaved he played like a grizzled vet. California Paul, a
tornado chaser, brought a lot of experience and poise to assist
Casey in his first gig at scrum-half.
The A game. We won 20-17, but we almost didn't.
Texas last minute try was called back as a forward pass. We had
three tries called back. One by a streaking T.J., one by Luke
from a ref 30 meters behind with the call that he was held up
and another held up try called on Phillip Hobbs. Roger Gassett
was knocked out of bounds in the try zone resulting in a 22. Tyson
cut back once instead of springing Ryoichi on the wing. We didn't
score and Tyson was knocked out of the game. What this means is
that we had the ball all day. We won every aspect of the game.
Sled Dogs Line-outs to Chris Boeding were on. The front row owned
Texas, so much that they were penalized 3 times for boring. JT
has become a very solid tight head and Dub ran hard all day and
scored a great try. The push was solid from Chris and Mike Cook.
We really dominated in the back row, Phillip Hobbs and Travis
Gatewood are everywhere and really compliment each other. Travis
showed why he is an Under 19 Eagle. He disrupted the Texas backline
all day. He got dinged for about 40 Minutes and Texas' backs were
able to do something, then he worked through it by slamming a
ball carrier and taking the ball from him. We rucked and mauled
well, and utilized it correctly. Tyson was on until his injury
and the team deflated for about 10 minutes after his exit. Ryoichi
took over and ran a number of text book Hollieway moves that consistently
broke the gain line. He really executed them perfectly, slowing
the tempo down to a stop then launching the attack and speeding
it back up. We have been working on controlling games by changing
tempos. Ryoichi, did this just that. I think it made a big difference
in the match. The Roger, Jack and Luke played well offensively,
but had a few struggles defensively. Give the Texas inside backs
there due though. The Fly-half and Inside Center were solid players
and ran through a lot of tackles all day. Merriot and TJ both
showed real speed and Danny's rucking and ability to win ball
kept many plays alive. So its all smiles on this gorgeous fall
day, Texas has been put back in their place and the season chugs
on. Next week Tulsa. I think I'll wait on inspirational words
until later. But the last two games didn't make it to the final
whistle.
Coach Jon Velie
Good Times in
the Land of Toto
October 5-6, 2002
Different faces—same places is the nearly
deja vu experience I find in my 19th year of playing rugby. It's
been a while since we took an OU side to Lawrence, but it was
the same thing all over again. A silly blast. On the pitch I could
not be more proud as a coach. We traveled with 23 university players.
Beat a big hard hitting Nebraska team 42-5, lost a lead and the
game to a well-drilled Truman team, and rebounded for a dramatic,
excellently-played third place game against Rice University, winning
22-10. For added excitement we thought it was closer. Rice scored
a try at the end and converted for what we all thought was a two
point lead with about a minute left. For the first time since
I have been coaching, our boys focused, drove the ball down the
field with numerous phases, and Ryoishi Uten, the hardest working,
hardest rucking 135 pound winger in the game, scored a diving
try. It was great.
The best thing was that we really had some
great play by our new guys. We had to replace a prop, hooker,
second row, two flankers, an inside center, and a full-back from
last years side. Some pessimists thought we would lose all the
respect we gained from last year, i.e. No. 7 Ranking in the West.
Instead we have been working hard, running hard, focusing on defense
and adding new dimensions to our squad such as driving mauls.
What transpired is that we outplayed our opposition in each game
and we came together as a team.
I also have to say I really like the new guys
that have joined us, they are hard workers and have the right
kind of gleam in their eye that will really turn them into great
players in the very near future. Kyle, younger brother of Tex,
had a great weekend and was asked to play hooker, having never
done so. He faced some very good teams and played like a wild
man all day. J.T. Grant just keeps getting better, and has finally
noticed he is a big dude and can be a force. The tandem of Meeks,
the 280 pound terror, and Chief Kickingprop are both former college
football players and have the dedication needed. CPT can also
kick 60 meters. Mike played a very solid second row — it
is hard to believe this is his first semester of rugby —
and loves to tackle.
Captain Chris has put on 20 pounds by hitting
the iron and has evolved his game. A great line-out jumper last
year has now added a very dynamic offensive attack to his toolbox.
Brian Griffith has now become a regular player and his game is
solid. Travis Gatewood showed why he is an Under 19 Eagle. His
knack of breaking from the scrum caused fits for every back line
we faced — added with Phillip Hobbs it really was the difference.
Although Richard Knowles is gone, his influence on Phillip is
apparent.
We were missing Joel Smith this weekend, and
it will be good to have him back. Rumors are Richard may show
for the Texas game also.
In the backs we are really playing well. Not
just offensively, but the Kitchen Sink is working great with a
very dangerous multiple attack. We also rucked very well in the
backs, winning a lot of possession before our forwards got to
the breakdown. This coolest thing is our defense, we brought the
hammer every minute of each game last week. This is a great improvement
from our first match.
Tyson has improved significantly in his direction
of the forwards, both offensively and defensively. He has the
ability to score almost anytime he touches the ball. However,
he is finding he can't score every time he touches the ball. It
is great to watch him figure this out and become a better all-around
player. Roger is really using his option well. Jack Meek played
very well at IC and ran the backline well from fly-half to get
the Rice victory. Luke has become a real leader in the centers
and rallies the troops very well by leading by example and with
his voice. Merriot nearly missed the weekend but came anyway.
His play provided a very dangerous spark and is a great addition.
Danny is the glue, he can play anywhere and always plays well.
He rucked and kept the ball alive well and tackled flawlessly.
Ryoishi was the MVP of the weekend and works very hard to find
a way to make plays. The last try was icing on the cake and a
very suitable capper to the weekend and indicative of this season's
squad. Hard work pays off.
John, Trevor, David and Devon played well for
us against Nebraska and played with a motley Iowa State/Truman/OU
team against Kansas City. The game was a bit of a miss-match,
but all played solid rugby. I really look forward to seeing these
guys play more.
Johnny's Up and Under is the same place. It's
still, in my opinion, one of the world's best rugby bars. With
the KU rugby clubhouse, the Up and Under upstairs and Johnny's
downstairs allows for hours of wandering into rooms of rugby players.
We started off watching OU pull out a very exciting win over Mizzou
and annoyed the KU folks with many loud Boomer Sooner chants.
There were a few other Okies in the house. The Kansans coming
off a loss to Baylor weren't really into our jubilation. To sum
it up it was a classic road trip.
Coach Jon Velie
OU Old Boys Invade
Aspen
September 20-22, 2002
On frigid days in a driving rain storm on a
pasture in Kansas getting kicked, left without an afterparty,
one has been left to ponder why do I play rugby. Then there is
Aspen, reunions with 20 years of the silliest humans you have
ever met, beautiful weather, beautiful town, the best pitches
and teams in the country and always new adventures.
We played well, leading the Bald Eagles with
very impressive back movements, Jenks is really still amazing,
Wh
itey, Frank Kump, Kelly and Millington were really on too, However,
a ridiculous intentional knock-on call 10 meters in front of the
posts kept us from another miraculous first round victory. Our
defeat of Aspen a few years ago is in the annals of rugby lore.
We then ran out of steam and bodies, with just 16 guys versus
33 in the next rounds battle of goofiness against the Speed Freak
Clowns on Acid when we just couldn't muster enough energy to keep
going.
In Aspen you go 0-2 then Bar-be-que. So we
hung out on the grassy knoll told lies and drank a few beers watching
some excellent rugby the rest of the weekend. A few of US picked
up games. OU joined the Barbos with Kelly Meek, Pete Palermo,
Kenny Mathews, Kenny Keever, Chad Mullins and I joining the Green
People for a tasty revenge match victory over the Bald Eagles.
Somebody, I let you guess who, even kicked a sleezy drop kick
through the 60 foot Aspen Tree posts.
Coach Jon Velie
See Photos.
OU
Blanks Dallas Athletic Rugby Club 76-0
What a weekend for the Sooners. We beat the
Dallas Athletic Rugby Club (DARC) 76-0 in the A game and 45-0
in the B game. Great rugby even greater comeback on every level
from two weeks ago loss to NSU. As a coach certain things stay
with you, a game or a play gets etched. I have those memories
from last year's Big Twelve Final. The new notch on the headboard
of my coaching experience is how this team responded. We grew
up, no more whining and expecting things just to happen for us,
no more inherent sense of deserving victory but a uniformed we
must earn our way mentality. Two weeks ago we were bad tacklers
and unfit. This weekend, we tackled, took ball and gave up no
points in either game. We attacked all day long and it felt good.
It was fun. Why did this happen? Because we made it happen. It
started with a 7:00 am run on a Wednesday morning. It happened
because we emphasized tackling in practice and we ran the Eagles,
those miserable long runs. As a coach, I loved it. I joined in.
Took tackles from the biggest dudes and ran with the team. For
this team to become great we must all earn our way. No prima donnas.
This week we take to the road, young and old. To the capital of
rugby in our country. It is good to be an OU Rugger.
Coach Jon Velie
OU loses to NEO
by 50-43
One of the things I like most about rugby seasons
is that they are a journey and an adventure. The beginning tingles
with excitement about what lays ahead. Then come the problems
that you have to hurdle on your way to your destination. The view
from the end is clear. The lessons learned along the way are what
it's all about. After 18 years of rugby I still learn things.
Actually, I seem to forget things then learn them again. Overconfidence
is one of the worst things a team can have. We were victims of
that Saturday. In a weird way I am glad it happened.
We pasted Northeastern Oklahoma last Spring
by over 70 points. Saturday we lost 50-43. A 120 point swing in
the wrong direction. In any loss, we scramble to make sense of
what happened. In hindsight, it was a number of things: poor tackling,
poor fitness, poor leadership, excessive substitution of inexperienced
players. All can be corrected. First I must commend the NSU team.
They were gamers. We held a 24 point lead in the second half and
they never gave up. They are bigger and more athletic then us.
They are in their second season of rugby.
Dan Dayringer and his troops played sevens
all summer long and relied on some pretty savvy players from the
Tulsa high school ranks. However, we outplayed them at the basic
rugby elements. Our first try had in excess of 14 phases. We outrucked
them, befuddled them in our backline and won almost all of our
set pieces. They scored a whole lot of athletic tries though,
with numerous long breaks.
The lesson we must learn is how to deal with
a loss like this. There are two options. Consider yourself a loser
and stay the unfit untackling team of last week or use it as a
wake up call and a slap in the face. Tuesday's practice showed
that it looks like the latter, with still more than 40 guys coming
out to practice. We were focused and worked on a lot of defense.
To inspire the troops I jumped in tackling drills as well, I picked
one of the big new guys to take tackles from and am definitely
sorry for it today. The intensity was great. The boys really brought
it. Also, the players had a 7:00 a.m. run this morning. It is
this sort of reaction to a loss that inspires me as a coach and
is why I do this.
The real answer will come Saturday when we
face Alabama. The Crimson Tide will meet us at the Clubhouse Friday
night and we are hosting them. The first game Saturday is 10:30
am.
Coach Jon Velie
Fall
2002 News
