The Field Turf at Hotting West. Yes, that is an outdoor hockey rink in front of the field.
With the arrival of Matt & Alex, this weeks attention turned strictly to football as we put in three solid practices. Tuesday we practiced on the field turf at Hotting West field, and were able to throw the ball deep for the first time all year. On Wednesday, we were back inside focusing on our running game and blitz pick-ups. Thursday, we were back at Hotting West, although the weather made a turn for the worse and forced us to deal with the elements. At 7:30pm it was about 34 degrees F (1 Celcius) with a driving rain, but that didn't stop us from having great effort and intensity. I am very excited about the way our team is coming together, and appreciate all my new teammates taking me in as a new member of the Raiders family.
A new shipment of gear arrived this week from our "sister" team in Oakland. Offensive Line Coach Nick Johansen and Running Backs Coach Manyada Watson were the first to bust out the cold weather gear - a pair of drape-sized pullovers that look flattering on any athletic build.
Meanwhile, Coach Brian Avery wanted to show that real men - or those who spend the rest of the year in balmy Ellensburg, WA coaching at Central Washington - don't need no stinkin' jackets. "BA" went with the straight t-shirt and shorts approach. No word yet on hypothermia. Duke, not to be outdone, went with the traditional "towel around the neck" approach while Coach Hannah - who works with Santos - opted for a lime-green jacket, prompting internet speculation over a possible new "3rd color" jersey.
A new Thursday night tradition is for the coaches & friends to get together after the last practice of the week to have some fun. Here's a quick table tour (in order of appearance): Christie, Lili, Duke, Rush, Brian Avery, Santos, Nick, Manyada, and Coach Hannah.
Tomorrow (Saturday) night is the official "Team Welcome Party" at Baggersee. It promises to be a fun evening and a great time to share with all of our new teammates, coaches, family, friends, and fans!
The evening also doubles as the WORLD PREMIERE of the 2008 Raiders Highlight Film. It is the debut project for "M and N Productions," a local production company headed up by Raiders coaches Manyada Watson and Nick Johansen. RPP got an early sneak-peak at the 'editors cut' and it promises to be full of energy & big plays... and even a possible surprise guest appearance. Stay tuned for a full report on Sunday.
~ J. Twice
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