Soccer Blog From Peru - No. 8 - Creighton University Athletics

Well, some of the team asked me (head coach Bob Warming) to do the final Peru Blog as a wrap-up... The previous Blogs have shown that we have some talented writers and fun young men on the team. This final Blog is being written in the Tulsa, Oklahoma airport. We made an emergency landing here this morning after our Houston to Omaha flight momentarily lost cabin pressure and the pilot had to rapidly descend to a lower altitude. We were greeted on the runway with lots of fire trucks, ambulances and emergency personnel.

All the Creighton guys are fine, but a couple of folks on the flight were affected by the loss of pressure and were taken away on a stretcher. They are flying in a new plane for us and the plan is that we will get back late this afternoon.

It's an interesting way to end an exciting year of Creighton soccer. Since August of 2008, we have played 34 matches in total counting exhibition matches and 4 matches against professional teams. The record ends at 26-3-5. A remarkable year for the boys, finished with a remarkable trip.

The experience of being with them in training prior to the trip and in Peru was a wonderful one. I would have to rate it one of my top coaching experiences over the past 35 years. The experience was so good simply because this is such a fun group to coach, to talk with, and to listen to every day. They are great young men and will achieve great things in soccer and in life.

The NCAA allows for practice prior to departure for a foreign tour. Prior to Peru, the team was able to train twice a day, when needed, for 10 days. In the history of Creighton University soccer, we have never had a team with this amount of time to train without school going on. We recognized that this was an incredible opportunity for, what was already a very good team, to move toward being even better.

For me, it was important to establish some training session objectives for every day we trained leading up to Peru. The day before our pre-trip training began; I listed 20 objectives I had for our team. I emailed it to them to let them know where I thought they stood. I wanted them to know where we needed to improve individually, collectively, and as a team between May 11 and June 1. I wanted them to be able to come back from Peru and say... “That they were better, that our team was better, in measurable areas”.

I felt that each of the twenty objectives I outlined were all important. However, the one I told the team was most the important objective was a psychological one. I wanted the environment we were going to be in to make this team tighter, more together, better friends, more excited about themselves and their progress, to return from Peru with huge belief in themselves, to enhance our identity as a team, and have a remarkable experience in every way. Without question, this objective was accomplished.

I credit a lot of this accomplishment to the guys on the team and how everyone buys in to the culture of we want in our team. As talented and fun as the team is, the folks who accompanied them to Peru were equally talented and enjoyable to be with in their own way. I want to say a special thank you to each of them and their unique role in this team's success in Peru.

It's been a while since the staff guys have spent 10 nights in bunk beds in a dorm and we all learn a great deal about each other while there.

Johnny Torres ? how important was he?...we were in South America and exactly one person on the staff is fluent in Spanish...enough said. His insights into the language, culture, and (of course) soccer ideas were spot on.

Jason Mims ? never stops thinking about ways to improve our team and was social director for the “young” staff members each evening...those guys had a lot of fun and made it fun for the players every day.

Zach Duval ? our strength guru. Our guys contact with Zach prior to the trip was basically the intense experience they have every time they go into the weight room...and then they never see him again during the day. This trip let Zach get to know our team and experience International soccer on a whole different level. I had never seen a 275 pound man in a soccer uniform before this trip...thanks Zach...photos to follow.

Jay and Johnny together? this is like adding another person to the staff. Both of them are high energy on their own 24-7. When they are together the energy level rises exponentially. Put them together for 24-7 for 11 days and look out. They did everything we while we were there: Recruited, trained players, scouted, washed uniforms by hand, took care of the old guy when he was a little under the weather and so much more. These guys need zero sleep, are a great team, and great for the Creighton team....thanks guys...no photos to follow

Sean Mohatt ? our athletic trainer. Sean took care of more than a couple guys with the “tourista” ailment on the trip, jumped in to play in the 5 v 5 matches, did all his regular duties and made us laugh every day. He is the official king of massage on the staff. His relationship with the team and staff is outstanding and as a former player, understands what the guys are going through.

Tim Walters ? Tim is staying on this fall as a student assistant coach. He is bright and thoughtful. Two things I was not at his age. I enjoy giving him a 5 minute quiz on the strengths and weaknesses of our team. Having just finished playing with the team last fall, he has a unique perspective. Tim will be a good coach. I hope he stays with it.

David McCauley ? Creighton's invaluable main man in International Admissions. David knew Lima, knew the language and was great with parents and students from Regatas who had lots of questions about coming to America to school. He was so dedicated and working with a parent and his son that he missed his flight home!

Dorothy and Pat Nipp ? The Jaybacker's of the Year decided to make the trip at the last minute. What can you say about a couple that found out about the trip 10 days before we left, made all their own arrangements and followed us every step of the way in Peru. Our team is now huge fans of them! To a man, almost everyone on the team said..."that's what I want to do years from now. Be like the Nipps and be able to take off and follow Creighton soccer whenever I want.” First and foremost, they are great people and a lot of fun to be around. Thank you Pat and Dorothy for making our team feel special by you traveling to watch them play.

The Sinovic and the Dacys! ? Seth and Byron are our two old men on the team and will be fifth year seniors this fall. Their parents made the trip. Their parents had a smile on their face every time we saw them. Thanks for the over 1800 digital pictures you took! (PICTURES TO FOLLOW!)

The people of Regatas ? from Juan Carlos, our tour organizer, to Eduardo who treated our team to an incredible meal at his house in the mountains, to the president and Antonio and the restaurant workers, Old Luiz and Luiz, to the massage therapists who gave our guys massages after a match and every single person we met at Regatas...thank you! Your facility and you are simply amazing.

The referees ? yep seriously, the first three matches we had were the best three consecutive officiated matches I have ever seen. The players and staff all agreed. Referees that are stress reducers...what a concept. I know you gotta see the video to believe it...but trust me, it's true.

The Team ? Of course, when you put on a Creighton University uniform you represent more than yourself. You represent your family, your coaches and your school and others. In the case of an international trip, you represented much more. You represented Omaha, the State of Nebraska, the United States of America, and college soccer in America. As the very first NCAA Division One soccer program to go to Peru, you represented college soccer at a very high level and surprised the South Americans with your skill, teamwork and character. You came from behind twice and did not lose a match. As young men representing our country, you were exceptional both on the field and off. I never heard anything but praise about you at any portion of the trip from start to finish. I know that you are you are proud of what you did and what you accomplished and you should be proud.

Looking to the future, the team is excited about the fall season. They are perhaps more excited than any team I can remember in a long time at Creighton. They feel they can be great. As I have said many times, the margin of victory in our sport is so small that the important thing is how you play the game. This Creighton team played the game the right way in Peru and made me very proud to be their coach.

Win, lose or draw, they are the type of people and team that I want to have represent Creighton University this fall and in the future.

Thanks for keeping up with the team and to all of you who are such great supporters of Creighton soccer.

Have a great summer everyone and, of course....

GO JAYS

Soccer Blog From Peru - No. 8

Players Mentioned

Tim Walters

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