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Written by Dylan Purcell
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Saturday, May 09 2009, 11:47 PM |
Welcome to ’Horns Nation, boys. Hope you survive the madness.
Yes, madness is what new Pronghorns head coach Dave Adams is all about. There’s even a rumour circulating that there’s a method, hidden deep within that madness.
Adams and the Pronghorns held their ID camp Saturday at the 1st Choice Savings Centre gym and, although it’s just a preliminary look at the ’Horns and their prospects, early returns were encouraging.
There were current Pronghorns — Foremost’s Quinn Van Gaalen — and eventual Pronghorns — Julian Spear Chief-Morris. Van Gaalen was obviously happy to be on the floor after sitting out last season with a knee injury while Spear Chief-Morris will be redshirting after a couple of years at the University of Victoria.
Both graduated from LCI in 2007, with Van Gaalen opting to stay home and attend the U of L. The six-foot-four Spear Chief-Morris said he went out west for the experience but found out it wasn’t for him and was happy to be back home.
“I’m happy to be back and I’m looking forward to working with Coach Adams,” he said, while resting a mild injury during the camp. “My mom’s happy. She’s glad I’m going to be home. My sister’s not too happy. She thinks I’m taking up her space.”
Little sister aside, Adams said the whole community should celebrate the return of Spear Chief-Morris. The frenetic coach said he’s looking forward to having a year of redshirt eligibility to watch Spear Chief-Morris’s game improve.
“Wow, you look at how good that kid was when I had him at CP (Basketball Canada’s Centre for Performance) and how he’s really growing up into a great young man and it’s encouraging that he’s decided the coast was nice but it wasn’t him.
“He’s got that experience, playing out there and seeing how the CIS operates and I’m just licking my lips, waiting for him to become a very important part of this team. For now, we’re happy to have him in ’Horns Nation.”
Adams needed to bring out the hammer at one point during scrimmage at the camp, explaining his philosophy regarding the establishment of “’Horns Nation.”
He enlisted Red Deer College Kings men’s basketball coach Craig Behan, a Lethbridge grad, to explain that creating a winning culture began in practice and involved a lot more effort than the players present were exhibiting.
“Sometimes, it helps these kids to hear it from someone other than the guy who might be their coach,” Adams said. “And when it’s a multiple ACAC coach of the year like Craig, it should sink in that they’ve got to be better at this level.”
The message got though, and practice pace picked up.
“He’s crazy,” said Spear Chief-Morris with a smile. “But I heard there’s a method to his madness.”
Adams said he’ll run an up-tempo offence, one that should appeal to fans of high-possession teams like Raymond and Cardston.
“It’s southern Alberta basketball, baby,” said Adams. “This is how we are going to win. This is how we are going to become relevant. This is how we build a nation.”
Adams said he was likely to sign two players out of the ID camp and he had a few candidates. The camp all-star selections included six-foot-seven Wes Chapman and one of Behan’s players from Red Deer, Randy Davis.
“I had no idea who (Chapman) was before just a little while ago and I told him what I’ve told everyone else: You’re welcome to join us, you’re welcome to be a part of ’Horns Nation but it’s going to take a lot of work and a lot of commitment from players.”
“He’s the reason I’m back,” said Spear Chief-Morris. “I think he’s the guy to get us where we’re going.”
Adams disagrees.
“It’s not me. It’s never me. It’s the fans, the players and the nation.
“You know that. You’re part of it, right?”
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