On any Given Day: Anybody can lose in the CBSMF

[Reginald Rutledge]

One of the greatest things about what shows up in the CBSMF is that "On any given day, anybody can lose". Now, the mentality of how a person wins has to change. The culture has to change. The thought that "I am stronger than you so I should win". Some people use to say "the Shootout style was 2-hand touch". Be that as it may, it is a style of play that does not running backs average 25 yards on 5 carries.

It is a style that the great runners average 7,8, and 9 yards per run. That's still too high of an average for my blood. With that being said, some teams get in 50 plays alone and leave a ball game with more than 90 plays ran. It just depends on the officiating. But the thing is, everybody has a chance to win and everybody has a chance to lose in this style of play.

The culture changes from "If we were playing such 'n such way, you would never beat me. That is not the case. Teams that may not be as strong physically as others but may be more skilled or cerebral in their approach and that can be the winning edge.

If you lose one week means nothing in the Shootout. Some guys think they have a patent on winning and you wonder, "How will they accept losing when they lose?" It is inevitable. Will that coach then blame it on "The Box" or use every trick in the book to try to win? Sometimes it just happens - you lose!

But on any given day, you should know that you can lose. The greatness of playing this way is that you never know how "The Box" will roll that day. Sometimes it's your best friend and other times, it's your worst enemy!

It can change the flow of a game in a matter of seconds. I call it momentum. It will be interesting as the season grinds to a close which teams will play well in Canton. We can do all the analysis, predictions, and postulations we want but at the end of the day, really, nobody knows. So many teams are so close from a skill position and knowledge and physicality that a game can be won with a strip of the ball, a devastating injury, or a crucial penalty that turns the tide.

The culture has changed. "The Box" is becoming integrated into the thinking of the CBSMF Leaguemates. Everyone tense up when it is shaken but most still rely on it to help them win. The opportunities will be many for most coaches but remember, on any given day, anybody can lose in the CBSMF.

Catch the Action in Canton - August 5th thru August 8th