Post by fwp on Jun 27, 2009 7:49:12 GMT -5
www.elpasotimes.com/sports/ci_12701720
EL PASO -- Every athletic season has its distinct periods, and right now, the El Paso Generals are in the cliché portion of their 2009 campaign.
The first carrots -- a playoff berth, a home field playoff game, a Lone Star Division title -- already are neatly tucked away. The last remaining regular-season goal for the final three games -- home field throughout the playoffs -- is a little too far out to be more than a vague talking point.
The opponent for this week's home game, Colorado, is a team that El Paso already beat at the end of a long road trip two weeks ago.
This, then, is the stage when motivation has to come from within, from a general quest for excellence that a 9-2 record indicates has been there all along.
"We just have to focus on this week," quarterback Tommy Jones said on the eve of tonight's home game with Colorado. "This is a point in the season in the season we have to take care of the mental aspect, making sure our minds are into it."
"We need to finish up the season strong," coach Brian Brents said. "We've talked about from Day 1 to finish -- finish every practice, finish every game, now finish the season."
The other goal Brents talked about was staying healthy, and to that end, the team has shortened its practices from 2å hours this year to maybe 90 minutes. The team, though, seems to be getting stronger.
The Generals have won four consecutive games, including two at the end of long road trips to improve their road record to 4-2. Fixing that aspect of their game was big, though they are glad to have those tests behind them.
"I can't even say how nice it is to be home," Jones said after back-to-back weeks that included a 24-hour round-trip bus ride followed by a 48-hour round trip. "It feels great. We'll be cheered instead of booed, we can stay the night in our own bed, sleep in.......article continues in link.
EL PASO -- Every athletic season has its distinct periods, and right now, the El Paso Generals are in the cliché portion of their 2009 campaign.
The first carrots -- a playoff berth, a home field playoff game, a Lone Star Division title -- already are neatly tucked away. The last remaining regular-season goal for the final three games -- home field throughout the playoffs -- is a little too far out to be more than a vague talking point.
The opponent for this week's home game, Colorado, is a team that El Paso already beat at the end of a long road trip two weeks ago.
This, then, is the stage when motivation has to come from within, from a general quest for excellence that a 9-2 record indicates has been there all along.
"We just have to focus on this week," quarterback Tommy Jones said on the eve of tonight's home game with Colorado. "This is a point in the season in the season we have to take care of the mental aspect, making sure our minds are into it."
"We need to finish up the season strong," coach Brian Brents said. "We've talked about from Day 1 to finish -- finish every practice, finish every game, now finish the season."
The other goal Brents talked about was staying healthy, and to that end, the team has shortened its practices from 2å hours this year to maybe 90 minutes. The team, though, seems to be getting stronger.
The Generals have won four consecutive games, including two at the end of long road trips to improve their road record to 4-2. Fixing that aspect of their game was big, though they are glad to have those tests behind them.
"I can't even say how nice it is to be home," Jones said after back-to-back weeks that included a 24-hour round-trip bus ride followed by a 48-hour round trip. "It feels great. We'll be cheered instead of booed, we can stay the night in our own bed, sleep in.......article continues in link.