Football University starts tomorow!
Comes now before the assembled body of scholars of Mile High Report greetings, presents, and communication from the right equitable Dean of Football University's College of Coaching Theory and Practice - Hoosierteacher.

Football University is, as you know, a secret and fraternal university open only to the most elite minds in the football world. As of the present, the only minds found to be worthy of entrance have been the entire membership of Mile High Report.
While the knowledge of members of that site vary from coaches (hoosierteacher), lawyers (Trinidad Jack), engineers (Styg50), and even sports broadcasters (SportsGuru's Mile High Report Radio), the site has fans who know more than "media experts" about every facet of the game, ranging from salary caps, drafts, football history, etc. Not one MHR member has been found to be anything less than worthy of entrance to Football University. Every member has demonstrated either knowledge, a desire for knowledge, an affinity for reasoned debate, or a joy of football fellowship that transcends the culture and semantics of all other sports sites.
Therefore, as a member of MHR with a current registration in hand, you are invited to take course with our Dean of Coaching Theory and Practice - Hoosierteacher. First, an introduction to the faculty that can be made public at this time to all members of MHR:
President of the University
TheSportsGuru
Editor of MileHighReport.com; President of Football University; holds the John Elway Chair of Football Journalism and Broadcasting, Director of the MHR Fellowship Program; Host - MHR Radio.
Dean of The College of Coaching Theory and Practice
Hoosierteacher
Front Page Contributor - MHR; Dean and Professor (The Steve Atwater Chair of Defense Studies), Chairman of Committee to Develop MHR Intern Program '09. '08 offseason lecturer for Football University.
Dean of The College of Football Analysis
Styg50
Front Page Contributor - MHR; Dean and Professor (The Shannon Sharpe Chair of Football Wit and Wisdom), Chairman of the No Points Left Behind Post Graduate Studies curriculum. Frequent guest lecturer for the '08 course series.
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What does all of this mean? It means that you dear reader are automaticaly enrolled in a free course of study presented at MHR. The series will focus on a deeper appreciation for football systems, positions, plays, formations, playcalling, and anything else found under the heading of game time strategy. History and development of those concepts will be explored, as will potential future trends.
The point is not only to share this information with members, and not only to have a series for your enjoyment during the offseason, but to have a place where you can come to ask questions about facets of the game you want to learn more about.
No such thing as a dumb question!
All questions are encouraged. Whether a scholar wants to know something as simple as "How many points for a field goal?", or someone wants to know the difference in roles for a FB under the 1951 Single Wing Offense versus the role of the defunct Flanker position, it's all fair game!
What's in store for this offseason
The heart of the series is football education with an emphasis on the Xs and Os of the on field game. However, there will be some enjoyable distractions. Contests, mock subjects, and running jokes will lighten the atmosphere amongst articles of deep football thinking.
If you have an idea for subject matter, you can always mention it in the comments section. Some of the things that will be covered include:
- Will the FB position die out in a few decades?
- Will the TE position become more prominant in the game of football?
- What are the mechanics of the "Bootleg Plays" as employed by the Broncos?
- What defensive system will Denver run in '08?
- Would Batman be the answer at OLB, and is there any position on the team that could be played by Chris Hanson (of Dateline NBC's "To Catch a Predator")?
- What is the "Zone Block" system? How do different teams run it, and what are the strengths and weaknesses of the scheme?
- What is the "staggered retirement" approach to building a team?
- What is the theory of "Salary Cap Hell", and how does it destroy a team for years? How is it cured?
- What is the next major revolution in football strategy in terms of formation/system approach?
- A pre-season special - A look at the '08 schedule and the systems run by the Denver opponents.
- Are the raiders "evil" because they choose to be evil, or because in a non-Euclidean universe they are destined to be evil because the Broncos are the force of "good" and must be opposed to prevent a vacuum matter collapse event? (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_vacuum#Vacuum_metastability_event)
So don't despair after the big SB game. Good times are on the way. I'll have the University series up and running, Styg has the in depth player/position series going, and many members are writing excellent diaries and contributing great comments. And Guru...
Guru has something on the way so profound and wonderful that we're not even allowed to discuss it. Stay tuned.
A very special thank you to Dr. Styg50 from the College of Football Analysis for sending one of his grad students over to show me how to post pictures. I gave the odd little fellow kippers and a cookie as instructed, but have not yet been able to coax it out from under my staircase. Very odd indeed. It appears somewhat human. My five year old says I shouldn't turn on the lights, feed it further, or get it wet. I don't think this is a Gremlin though. At any rate the cat is scared as heck, and anyone able to get in touch with Dr. Styg would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, by the way, these wonderful ladies have signed up for the class and are looking for a study group. I dropped your names and thought maybe you could help them out. Take care!

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My good friend Mdierk,
Let me ruffle through my desk a moment...
Ah! Here it is....
Dr. Mdierk
Currently enrolled at Football University as a post doctoral student. Dr. Mdierk specializes in breaking NFL and Broncos news, and making comments on same. Dr. Mdierk teaches several courses in news gathering and analysis at the University.
Dr. Mdierk was once the Director of Intelligence in Broncoland, gathering information and passing it onto the guardians of truth, goodness, and rightousness (known as the Denver Broncos). His directorship of the B.I.A. (Broncos intelligence agency) was a major factor in his selection to become a professor at the University. Dr. Mdierk received several awards while at B.I.A. that are classified. He holds the Broncoland Medal of Elway for some sort of a secret mission. It's public notation says only "For services rendered in defense of Broncoland" and is personaly signed by President John Elway (one of only 7 BMEs awarded to a living person and not posthumously).
He currently holds the Mark Schlereth Chair of Football Journalism at the University, and like most other faculty is enrolled in Hoosierteacher's class for the '08 offseason.
To Mdierk's continued embarassment he is often listed as most eligable bachelor in Seventeen magazine, and was recently portrayed by Vin Diesel in the action movie "Bronco Force".
Not bad my friend, not bad at all.
Looking forward to seeing you in class!
by Steve Nichols on Feb 3, 2008 11:19 AM MST up reply actions
That's why it must be awkward!
: )
by Steve Nichols on Feb 3, 2008 4:44 PM MST up reply actions
Vin Diesel eh?
(mdierk scrambles for his ball cap)
I am genuinely excited for this!
by Make It Rain @ Mile High Report on Feb 3, 2008 12:28 PM MST reply actions
This is all for you!
I look forward to hearing from you!
by Steve Nichols on Feb 3, 2008 1:18 PM MST up reply actions
RE: NPLB analysts
From Herring to Eternity
Bonfire of the Manatees
Good deal!
Thanks for the advice on the, er, student. But please pick it up the next time you drop by. My cat has already threatened to call some kind of feline union rep; something about working conditions.
by Steve Nichols on Feb 3, 2008 1:58 PM MST up reply actions
So I never found out,
The contest is not forgotten.
by Steve Nichols on Feb 3, 2008 2:01 PM MST up reply actions
Ah well
Now, the day I finally bring it up, the announcement is going to be made on the front page... Had I just waited a couple of more hours, there would have been no need to ask...
That's the story of my life... always off by a bit. One step too fast or too slow--always the wrong way.
Well, except for school and exams, but that hardly counts... it's no fun.
Kewl!
I am particularly interested in the strategic development of NFL programs, which at this stage of the season is largely determined by the coaching accessions. The types of coaches acquired and the schemes they will use provide significant tactical reads for the most probable team-specific acquisitions of specific Free Agents and draft choices.
You might check with your academic advisor
As to the coaching and system impacts, you are dead on. A perfect example is to look at a draft board that has Denver taking an OL in the first round other than Clady. While I don't like Clady as a high first round pick, he is clearly a match for the Denver scheme, whereas I don't see that in any other high first round OL prospects. I think a lot of general draft boards don't look too closely at systems (though the better ones do).
It's certainly a topic worth bringing up when we get going.
By the way, as a fomer (current?) military officer you may be aware that under the ACE program you are eligible for credits for military experience. Football U holds veterans in the highest regard, and rewards military experience with credits. Thanks again for the time you have served.
by Steve Nichols on Feb 3, 2008 3:05 PM MST up reply actions
Things I want to know more about
I want to know more about gap assignments and different ways defensive linemen are instructed to play by their defensive coordinators.
I would love a brief west coast offense 101 session so I can know more of the basics about the offense that I don't already know.
I would also like to hear your thoughts on what you look for when seriously evaluating players.
Those are just a few things for now.
by Make It Rain @ Mile High Report on Feb 3, 2008 3:56 PM MST reply actions
Excellent!
Those are the types of questions I look forward to! Stay tuned!
by Steve Nichols on Feb 3, 2008 4:48 PM MST up reply actions

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