This is a photograph of last year's FSU club hockey team
This coming year, the FSU club hockey team is going to call a new arena "home". Their old home arena in Jacksonville, Florida is no longer. Their new arena is going to be in Columbus, Georgia. Hopefully some FSU fans will be able to make it a few times this season to cheer on the hockey players and bring in some victories!
Interview With Coach Smith
On August 1st, I received a phone call from Coach Smith, the FSU club hockey team's head coach. I had been trying to get a hold of him the entire weekend. I was unaware that he was out of town and finally, he was able to get in touch with me. When speaking to Coach Smith on the telephone, he seemed very interested in his team and this upcoming season. I chose to interview the hockey coach because within the past three years, I have become more and more interested in the sport and have been obsessively watching almost every game. I thought that if I interviewed the coach, it would open my eyes up to even more information about this new found love of mine. I was correct. I started out the interview with asking a more personal question about his past and how it came to be where he is today.
Q: Tell me about yourself and how you got to where you are, coaching here at FSU.
A: “Well, I grew up playing hockey since age six. I’m actually from Michigan and I used to coach high school there, then I came down to FSU for my masters and applied for an assistant coaching job and got it. Then not too long ago the head coach got moved somewhere else and I got bumped up.”
Q: What are some qualities you enjoy most about being a part of FSU’s athletic community?
A: “uhh, well good family, we all look out for one another, we all take care of each other and if anyone needs help, there’s always someone there to help you out. I’d have to say it’s just a great family and we work together.”
Q: What are some team building activities you do?
A: “We start off the season with a cook out or activity down at the reservation, we have our off ice activities that we do away from the rink, we work together during our practices and we often hold a cook out for labor day or memorial day, which ever one is in September, Labor day.”
Q: How do you communicate with your athletes?
A: “It depends on the situation but usually we talk at practices with everyone at once, if I need to speak to someone one on one I will by sending them an e-mail but usually it’s everyone at once, as a team.”
Q: When it comes time for season, how many times a week is practices?
A: “We get together three times a week.”
Q: Are the practices usually the same, or do you do different drills on certain days?
A: “Practices change up depending on the game we have that coming weekend or the teams we are going up against, uh they’re usually very similar but they do change.”
Q: What is your philosophy on winning and losing? I know some coaches are more about winning while others think a victory is just trying your best.
A: “Well yeah (with a laughing tone) I’d like to say that but winning is a big part especially once you get to college level sports. I think as long as we play to our best level and ability, I’m happy. Also, if I could see we played a better team I’m okay with that. But If I noticed we didn’t skate our hardest or weren’t on top of our game, there’s things I know we could have fixed and done better with. But I’d have to say winning is a big thing.”
Q: If you could explain the life on an FSU athlete in one word, what would it be?
A: “Commitment.”
I liked the way Coach Smith said this word. He didn't have to think and he said it boldly. He knew exactly what to say and that made me confident in his answers to the rest of my questions. I knew he was serious.
I liked the way Coach Smith said this word. He didn't have to think and he said it boldly. He knew exactly what to say and that made me confident in his answers to the rest of my questions. I knew he was serious.
Q: Is there a difference between regular sports and club sports here at FSU? If yes, what is it?
A: “Yes, the biggest difference in the funding. With other sports you have more opportunities because of what they get and the money and when it comes to clubs, the boys have to mainly pay for it all.”
Q: So, how do you feel about the new rink being moved to Columbus, Georgia?
A: “Well I am actually thrilled! Our old home rink was in Jacksonville, and it was nice but the new one is state of the art and they are treating us very well. I’m very excited about it.”
Q: Do you think with the new rink being in Georgia it will be hard to receive student body spirit at games? Do you think this will affect game play?
A: “As of student body, it will be harder to get them out there to cheer but as for alumni, it will be okay. They have a big alumni base in that area and I think they will come out and watch us play.”
After finishing up my questions with Coach Smith, I said, "Alright! Well thank you Coach Smith for this interview, that’s all the questions I have for you and I’m looking forward to the season! Hopefully I can make it out to a game." He replied swiftly with, “Thanks so much! I hope you do.” After this interview and finding out that Coach Smith had been around hockey his entire life, it helped me to understand even more of where he was coming from when answering his questions. I enjoyed talking to Coach Smith and I learned a lot about the difference in club sports and regular sports at FSU. I also learned that hard work, team work and becoming one as a family is a big part of the athletic community here at FSU. I have gained a higher respect for each sport at my school.
The FSU hockey team working together at their
Savannah tournament in 2011.
Savannah tournament in 2011.
The hockey team's new ice rink in Columbus, GA.
(Taken from noleshockey.com)
(Taken from noleshockey.com)
