The 2009 Swarco Raiders.
Chervia, Italy
It's funny, or perhaps a tad ironic, that my first memories of football come not from a stadium, but rather a beach. The scene was Breakaway - a trademark of my grandfather, Hall of Fame football coach Frosty Westering - where he would begin every season by taking his entire Pacific Lutheran University team to the Oregon Coast for a weekend of team building activities. They didn't even bring a football - the entire time was devoted to getting to know each other as people and learning how tocompete as a team, whether the event was a pie-eating contest, a late-night skit, or softball on the sand. I loved it... and I was just 5 years old.
A Sports Illustrated Article discussing PLU going to Breakaway from 1994.
I absolutely ate up the experience of going to PLU Breakaways, and still remember playing ping-pong against the college guys, singing songs during the meals, and learning about having a winning attitude. Those trips were some of the most fun memories in my life, as we would go every year until I was in high school and playing on a team of my own.
The ironic part is that 25 years later I am standing on a beach 5,000 miles away in Italy, participating in a sort of breakaway of my own, as a member of the Swarco Raiders, beginning what may possibly be my last season as a player. The symbolism is clear to me, but even more important is the lessons this team is learning as we enjoyed our final morning at training camp together on the beach.
Andy goes airborn for a beach pass!
We began the morning with a group yoga session with team trainer Simone, then did a Rocky Balboa-esque run down the beach. At the end was a long rock pier leading to the ocean, where we all stopped and chatted about the upcoming season. It was an awesome moment!
Cruising in on our run.
McLOVIN
One of the best parts of being on a sports team is the inside jokes, or even better, the nicknames. Our team is full of them, but perhaps the latest and most fitting is that for 17 year old Wide Receiver "Jules." He has a great attitude, good speed, and has made a number of plays this pre-season that show his potential. However, he also bears a striking resemblance to a character from the movie SUPER BAD. In the movie, a similarly 17 year old high school senior named "Foagle" secures a fake ID as an attempt to fit in with his friends. The only problem, the name on the fake ID is just one word: McLovin! Comedy ensues, for who does he think he is, an R&B Singer? Are you SEAL?
The Infamous "McLovin" Fake ID
Our own McLovin!!! Chicky-chicky yeah!!!
The movie version of McLovin' rockin a killer vest. As a final note, our McLovin took a killer shot on a reverse from American safety Will Galusha, popped right back up, and kept playing... proving to me that like the movie version, our McLovin is SUPER BAD!
The competition picked up when we divided into our teams for some intense beach relays. Sprints and piggy-back races were a dead heat, so the championship must be decided in the World Famous Raiders Wheel-Barrow Race. Giddy Up!
Unfortunately Moses needed a little help on the wheelbarrow race.
McLovin and Jakob teamed up for victory.
Touchdown Steve comes down the homestretch. Check out the GUNS!
Rush Bowers pumps some iron on a 'vintage' weight machine. How come we are only an hour south of the real Venice, and our beach weight equipment doesn't compare to California's Venice Beach?
Duke takes it all in with his disposable.
It's always fun to bury a teammate!
Defensive Lineman Mario "The Cowboy" Rinner takes a little break.
Jakob delivers an elbow from the 'top ropes' to his trapped teammate, much to everyone's delight.
Breakaway was one of the major reasons PLU had the success it did, winning 4 national championships during my grandfather's tenure, as it taught the players how to be a team. I can only hope that our 4 days at the beach together did the same thing for our guys!
As we left the beach, many of the different position groups got together to chat & pose for pics. Here's a look at our team a little more "close-up."
The Defensive Backs coached by Rush Bowers (in the "Dingo" Australian Hat.) And no, that is not Garth Brooks on the right, its our kicker/corner Robert Blitzy.
The Offensive Line, coached by Nick Johansen. This is their serious pose...
... and their favorite, the "March of the Penguins." With blistery conditions for most of our Italian practices, the OLine successfully utilized this technique on the sidelines to stay warm.
The Defensive Line, led by Central Washington's finest, Brian Avery.
Finally, the Wide Receivers & QB, with coach Carl Iverson. From left to right (nicknames only) Dr. Evil, Jesus, J. Twice, Duke, McLovin, Pierre, B. Wade, and Touchdown Steve.
~ J. Twice
P.S. Here's where I took a quick nap before we left. Bellissima!
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