| Sirens
Team Input, Compiled by Joyce “Taz” Brown and
A.J. Miyata
The "D" View - Defensive Game Recap (March 15,
2003)
Volume 1, Issue 3
March 18, 2003
"Football
as Seen Through the Eyes of the Defense."
INTRODUCTION
Welcome once again to “The ‘D’ View,”
and thanks for taking a moment or two every week to check
it out.
Special
Note: Thanks so much for the input from those who have
contributed thus far. While not all of your comments were
used in the last issue, many of them may very well be used
in the future. Please remember, this is your newsletter,
and it can only survive with your valued input. Please submit
comments, thoughts and or suggestions to Joyce
Brown. If E-mail, for whatever reason, is not accessible,
please phone in your input (team members, staff and coaches
have her cell phone #).
Due to publication deadlines, whenever possible,
please submit input for the following areas no later than
6 P.M. on the day following a game: Game Views, Inspirations,
Teammate Thanks To, Big Hits, Big Plays, MDP, Special Events
and Coaches Comments. Please state what the suggested team
member/members or staff did, in your opinion, to be recognized.
Editorial information will be solicited throughout the week.
Another
week of practice and preparation has come and gone, and
we seem to have made significant and continued progress
from day to day. For various reasons, we have lost some
newcomers, and after all of the effort put forth by the
remaining new defenders over the last few week’s,
this might be a good time to take a moment to recognize
those defenders who are new to the team as a whole and those
defenders who converted from the Offense to the “Dark
Side.”
GAME VIEWS
Sacramento
@ San Francisco - "The War at Kezar"
Scratching, holding, kicking, throat strikes, late-hits,
un-sportswoman-like-conduct, no, not “Ultimate”
or “Extreme” cage fighting, just the IWFL (Independent
Women’s Football League) and the “War at Kezar.”
After the Sirens’ hard-fought pre-season home victory
over the San Francisco StingRayzs back in February, there
should have been little doubt that the first regular season
collision between these two determined teams could prove
to be one of the best match-ups of the 2003 IWFL season.
The “War at Kezar” didn’t start with players
fighting for yardage or footballs, it started with coaches
and referees debating the use of radios and NFL rules; the
StingRayzs coaches either didn’t bring radios or didn’t
know how to use the booth-to-sideline radio equipment; maybe
they just forgot. The Sirens coaches had other radios and
offered them to the StingRayzs, but the “all-pro”
StingRayzs coaches refused the offer.
Whether correctly or incorrectly, once the referees stripped
Sacramento’s coaches of their radios, the game was
able to get under way, and the StingRayzs wasted no time;
they scored first when Pashen Bagsby, #4, ran in for a touchdown,
but the Sac defense stopped the 2 point conversion. The
first two quarters had the strange back and forth flow of
a ping-pong match—each team scoring and being scored
upon often.
The Sirens defense had a few problems plugging some early
holes that Bagsby found to run through; she scored again,
but that developing trend was quickly stopped by changing
defensive schemes. The changes made some Siren’s defenders
looked like they were trying out for the StingRayzs’
wide receiver corps. (NOT!) making more frequent late game
catches than the intended San Francisco flankers.
Veteran DB, Robyn Sanchez, # 35, who was positioned in the
right place at the right time, soon picked off a StingRayzs’
pass, and the defense was there with the wall. The 2nd interception
came as a result of 2nd year LB, Joyce Brown’s jumping
take-away from the hands of #80,La Tanya Bradford. The 3rd
interception in the series of turnovers came at the hands
of veteran DB, Denise Grandison, #33; the ball was overthrown
by the Rayzs’ starting QB, and Denise wrapped her
long arms and body around it and ran for a few yards before
being tackled.
Like last week, the Sirens’ DB’s were being
challenged in the air traffic, but they produced when they
had to. Some players were beaten deep for touchdowns; perhaps
that explains the frustration of Robyn Sanchez who was quoted
as saying, “The Defense performed poorly, we gave
up 26 points. I don’t think we should have given up
any.”
The Sac Linebackers, who had veterans A.J. Miyata and Lill
Jarrell overcoming bronchitis and Joyce Brown and Tina Rogers
fighting through multiple nicks and sprains, had their problems
stopping Bagsby’s running game in the beginning; she
had a good eye for seeing the holes, but eventually she
too was shutdown.
“The Hit Squad,” D-Line personnel, did their
thing as expected. Stephanie Cors, #73, stepped up in this
game and was there for us at the right times. The front
line with Traci Miller, Pam Heemstra, #77, Kim Bradshaw,
#91, Gina McCann, #71, Jeny Gardner,#55 aided in the eventual
neutralization of the SF running game.
Some defenders, like Denise Grandison, felt that this victory
was another “well played” team effort while
others stressed that the Defense could have played better.
What ever the case, counting the interceptions and fourth
down stops of the Rayzs, Sac’s Defense gave its Offense
roughly 10 additional possessions and opportunities to add
to the large numbers they have become accustomed to posting.
After the first three weird quarters ended, the Sirens’
Defense shutout the StingRayzs’ Offense in the fourth
quarter. As frustrated as some Sirens’ defenders might
have been, they can’t feel nearly as bad as SF’s
equally proud Defense who had to watch 62 points go up on
their own scoreboard in the (62—26) Sirens’
win. Next week brings the Santa Rosa Scorchers to Sacramento.
Let’s try to avoid getting “scorched.”
THE
FAMILY ROOM
INSPIRATIONS
According to Nikki Kopacz, injured defender, Nadine
Vela, inspired and kept her pumped up whenever Nikki felt
like she wasn’t doing her job. Kimberly Bradshaw,
Nadine Vela ,and Tameka Hutcherson said that Lill got it
going in the 2nd half and despite all the weird vibes that
were going on, Lill pulled it together. Denise was quoted
as saying, “Kimberly Bradshaw kept her composure and
didn’t get caught up in the mess.” According
to Lorraine Grandison AJ was her inspiration.
TEAMMATE
THANKS TO
Tina
Rogers would like to thank injured defender, Nadine Vela
for her confidence and support of the D-Line and O-Line.
Special thanks to A.J. Miyata for her help with gathering
input for “The ‘D’ View.” Kimberly
Bradshaw, Denise Grandison, and Nadine Vela extend a thank
you to the coaches for stepping forward and apologizing
to the team for the coaches outbursts. Denise Grandison
would like to thank Tameka Hutcherson for defending all
the passes that were thrown her way.
BIG
HITS
According to Nikki Kopacz, one of the “biggest”
and unfortunately most embarrassing hits of the game was
a collision between herself and fellow Siren’s defender,
A.J. Miyata. Is that what the coaches meant by “everybody
hit somebody”? Boy, talk about family and sticking
together! Joyce Brown felt that Stephanie Cors contributed
greatly with her tackles. She made some hits that were behind
the line of scrimmage and after she did the hitting she
was still ready to go for more. According to Kimberly Bradshaw
and Nadine Vela, “Lill Jarrell looked like a big black
blur when going through the gaps after the quarterback and
Robyn made some great hits.”
BIG PLAYS
Nicole Kopacz said, “Lill
Jarrell and some other defenders stopped Heather Bruno,
#8 at the one yard line with time running out going in the
half. Lorraine Grandison said, “It was great to see
Robyn Sanchez and Denise get their first interceptions of
the season.” Tameka Hutcherson said, “All three
interceptions were great.”
MDP
(Most Defensive Player)
This was a defensive game; we stepped up as a whole. Many
players were either injured or sick as was observed by Tina
Rogers; Gina McCann was in tears while playing with pain.
Nicole Kopacz said, “Robin Sanchez made several hits;
she was everywhere.”
COACHES' COMMENTS
Linebackers’ coach Jordan Gray said, “The
whole defense played together, Robin Sanchez’s interception
was great; Tina Rogers deserves to be the MDP because she
showed the most heart on the team.”
SIRENS
DEFENSE - Terminology
The
D Line - "The Hit Squad"
The
Linebackers - "The Sack Pack"
The
D Backs - "Air Traffic Control"
PLAYER
FOCUS
Rookie Defenders:
Natasha
Apiag #1 (injured)
Tameka Hutcherson #4
Christy Medinger #5
Carolee Parker #51
Tamara Bell #54
Dion Longoria #56
Tracy Miller
Christine Patterson
Erica Shinn
Offensive
to Defensive Converts:
Kym
Crowder #74 (injured)
Pam Heemstra #77
Carol Thomas #53 (on occasion)
Trish Heffner #78 (on occasion)
SPECIAL FEATURE -
NICKNAMES
“NASTY, VIOLENT, INTIMIDATING, ROTTWEILER With
CLAWS”
Nasty,
Violent, Intimidating, Rottweiler, Claws, you get these
qualities and a whole lot more when you look into the nicknames
and attitudes of some of the Sacramento Sirens’ defenders.
You might even get breakfast cereal, Mexican cuisine, stone-aged
cartoon characters and small furry devils. Nicknames are
often applied by those around us and are usually abbreviations
of full names or reflections of a person’s actions
and or personality/personalities, right Robyn/Vickie/Cybil,
whoever. Like multiple personalities, some players have
multiple nicknames. Below, in their own words, are just
a few explanations of the nicknames attached to some Sirens’
defenders:
(Nicole
Kopacz, #42) “Nasty” - “Let your
imagination figure out where I got it from peace...love...sports...nasty
nikki.”
(Robyn Sanchez, #35) “Violent Vickie”
- “Vickie for short. I got this name before joining
the Sirens from my friends including our very own Dana McIntyre
and Coach Ron Brown. Basically, it implies I have multiple
personalities. Robin is fun-loving and easy-going; a live
and let live person. However, without warning this other
person comes out that is angry, unreasonable and violent.
She is an evil bitch. Vickie first showed herself after
a night of drinking tequila and has been seen at various
sporting and social events since. Though her behavior is
inappropriate in most settings, particularly while playing
non-contact sports, she has found a place where she can
express herself and not get thrown in jail. That place is
on the defensive side of the Sirens team. Appropriately
called the darkside”!!
(Nadine Vela, #99) “The Intimidator”
- “I recently wrote in a player quiz that I didn't
have a nickname but always wanted ‘the intimidator’,
but it was a little late now that I was in a wheelchair.
Ha Ha! Then the girls said that I could still be "intimidating"
even in a wheelchair. Isn't that sweet! Now I’ am,
‘THE INTIMIDATOR’. It's funny how things work
out.”
(Gina McCann, # 71) “G-Girl”
– “1st head coach, Chic Bist, gave me that nickname
one road trip to an away game, and it ‘kinda’
stuck. ‘Rottweiler’.... When Coach Andre wants
to ‘unleash the dogs’ I am his Rott on the line.
‘Squirrel Technique’ - Geeez, do I want to divulge
this stuff???? I think when I get the QB in the back field
and I fly through the air for the Sack, they tease me regarding
my martial arts training because they think I look like
a squirrel attacking through the air.... I dont' know if
there are really any other nicknames worth mentioning....”
(Kimberly Bradshaw, #91) “Kitten”
- “The name came from Cynthia Mills and the D-Line,
because I always wears a very small purple t-shirt every
time we have a game that says; ‘Kitten: Soft And Cuddly
With Claws’."
(Ayako Miyaka, #43) “A.J.”
- “I don't have any cool stories for ‘A.J.’
It's just my first and middle initial...usually easier than
‘Ayako.’ It was shortened down from ‘Apple
Jacks’ in college.”
(Tina Rogers, #6) “Taco” -
“As a child, all I ate was tacos.”
(Tamara Bell, #54) “Bam Bam”
- “Bam Bam Bells is the nickname. Thanks for using
it. I've had this name following me for about 10 years now.
It's made it through softball and hockey. There's no reason
it shouldn't be used for football as well. My only hope
is that I can live up to the possible significance of the
name.”
(Joyce Brown, #39) “Taz” (Tasmanian
Devil) - “I’ve always liked Taz; he
is short like me, he ‘kinda’ goes everywhere
whenever he starts to spin around, and when he doesn’t
get the things he wants, he responds with inaudible snarls,
garbles, grunts and growls—in other words (#@!$&*!!!!)
(Denise Grandison, #33) “Laundry” -
“Recently Coach McCann said my nickname should be
‘laundry’, because when they throw the ball
to my area, I usually get called for pass interference—the
flag being the laundry. It's not really a nickname, but
it’s something SINCE everyone else has one.”
(Jeny Gardner, #55) “Itty Bitty”
- “Coach John referred to me as "this itty bitty"
thing. It just stuck.”
(Carolee Parker, # 51) “Lee”
- “Carolee is too long of a name to say when you’re
tired.”
(Angela Ainley, #10) “M&M” (Miss
Mess) - “Trish Heffner gave me this name
because when we have team carwashes, I would volunteer to
be the one standing ‘on the corner getting customers.’”
Whether it’s because they are a little too anxious
during pass coverage, their name is too long, their body
is ‘kinda’ short, or they like to stand “on
the corners getting customers,” you can see that nicknames
can tell us a great deal about the person to whom they are
attached if we know the inside story; that cannot be any
more true than in football.
SPECIAL FEATURE -
INSIDE THE GAME
"Mind Over Missed Tackles: The Psychology of Hitting"
In
the previous issue of The ‘D’ View, defenders
were asked to submit statements detailing “what they
think about when they are making a tackle.” As you
will read, the responses varied greatly, but most shared
a common sentiment; they have an overwhelming desire to
do their jobs well. The defense is not the place for everybody;
it requires a certain aggressive, well prepared mindset,
and those defenders who responded to this question may to
be on the right track; some clinicians agree.
(Nadine “The Intimidator” Vela, #99)
“When I was hitting, (prior to injury) what went through
my mind was "No Pain", and one thing that I would
always tell myself on the way to the locker room, the field,
and even when I went to sleep the night before and when
I woke up in the morning is, "Winning isn't everything,
It Is the Only thing." I absolutely BELIEVED what I
said, every time I said it.”
(“Nasty Nikki” Kopacz, #42)
“What goes through my head when I am making a tackle
is that I want the ball and will do anything to get it.
I really want to make a hard hit, and take down that ‘hoochie.’
Sometimes I forget all the basics; I hope that will soon
come naturally for me in making a perfect "hit.”
When I am about to make an interception, or a dropped ball,
I'm thinking, "please let me catch this, oh snap is
it coming to me?" Also, after I have the ball, I think
about running into the end zone, then I get cracked—HARD!
Oh well, I will run it back one day.”
(Robyn “Violent Vickie” Sanchez #35)
“What goes through my mind when I hit someone...nothing.
Why? Well my first season was played on offense and we never
learned how to hit someone. Last year, I come off an injury
mid-season and moved to defense. It was terrifying cause
I didn't know how to hit these big girls running at me full
speed and had no idea what it would feel like. My mantra
is from Dune, "Fear is the mind killer." So I
clear the mechanism (my head) and do my job—stop the
ball. Guess what, it's not bad at all, in fact it's fun.
Pass coverage is a whole other story. I think way to much
about not getting beat deep and not letting the ball land
in my receiver's hands that I don't think about catching
the ball. Let's just drop it...this discussion that is.”
(Gina “G-Girl” McCann, #71)
“What goes through my head when I am about ready to
make the tackle... "Get her before she gets rid of
that ball!" What goes through my head when I am making
the tackle.... "YESSSS! I AM GONNA GET IT TAKEN DOWN
HERE!"
(Denise “Laundry” Grandison, #33)
“When I do make a tackle, I never remember it until
I watch film. It’s almost like an outer body experience.
I know I made the tackle, but I don't know how I got there.
I know it sounds weird, but I believe the reason I made
the tackle was because I was reacting and not thinking.
I love when that happens. Because my "family"
is right there to congratulate!!!”
(Joyce “Taz” Brown, #39) “All I recall
thinking is ‘get low and wrap up.’ I know as
soon as I don’t, I will get whipped around liked a
Frisbee. The best part of tackling is getting to the quarterback.”
According to Gary A. Beale PhD, a sports psychologist, the
human mind has the capacity to compensate for and overcome
fear, pain and anxiety during sports competitions. In essence,
Dr. Beale suggests that the mind should be trained like
the body, and that reaction is the rapid mental processing
of information and muscle stimulation. Thus, even when athletics
feel as though they are not thinking while they perform
in their assigned roles, they may actually be thinking so
rapidly they don’t even realize it. For more information
on the topic, Dr. Beale can be contacted at drrelax.com.
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