Chronicles of a Coach's Wife: The Power

The Power. "On the power play, the backside guard is pulling for the playside linebacker.  Because the pulling guard is vacating a gap, then the center must block back to protect the A Gap.  On the play side, the RG and RT will combo block the B Gap Defensive Tackle.  If the Mike Linebacker appears inside then the guard will come off the combo and block the Mike.  If the Mike appears outside or over the top of the combo block then the playside tackle will come off the combo to block the Mike."- Brett Hickman

The Power is one of the few plays that I can "see" about 50% of the time.  Brett has sat me down multiple times trying to explain coverages and plays to me.  He'll draw them out on paper or show me in slow motion on his NCAA Football 2013 XBox game.  He will even pause NFL and college games to try to explain coverages to me or to tell me what's going on and who's doing what wrong or right.

There is no relaxing or just watching football for the enjoyment of it for him.  He is constantly thinking, looking at how a defense stopped a drive or where there was busted coverage. On Sundays, while I watch my fantasy points go up (hopefully), he's either "calling" plays on NCAA Football 2013 or is yelling at someone on the TV for being in the wrong place.

Now don't get me wrong, he loves watching football.  The difference between him and me is that he HAS to watch it analytically.  He can't help it.  His mind sees X's and O's; mine sees guys running around trying to tackle.  But sometimes, just sometimes, I do see the backside guard pull to the playside linebacker. 

A Little Blog Love

I am a devoted follower to a couple of blogs.  Every morning before I start working, I check my reader and catch up on people posts.  I love reading about other people's lives and seeing pictures.  Some may call it being nosey but I call it being informed. 

Here are a couple of my favorite blogs.  I've included a brief description under each link.  You should check them out when you get the chance.

I Think, Therefore I (S)am

Sam is Brett's brother; amazing, funny writer.

A penny for your thoughts 

Maggie is my Sam's girlfriend. Sweet as she can be.

Hickman Huddle
Will and Laura, Brett's brother and sister-in-law, started a blog to document their growing family.

Barb Haller

Barb is my brother's best friend's (from Ohio) mom.  Love reading about the transitions in her life.

Grin and "Barrett"

Kim is a soon-to-be mommy.  I have loved her posts about her pregnancy and house-flipping.

Hangin' with the Hollidays

Kyle and Amy are college friends and have a precious little girl, Grace Ann (aka GA).

The Chadwells 

Solmaz is the wife of NGU's head coach last year. Nice to read the perspective of another football wife.

Happy Birthday Oba!

Happy 83rd birthday to my sweet little Oba. After a brief stay in the hospital, she is enjoying her birthday back at home.  I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing day.  I love you very much Oba and can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks!

 

Wedding Update: Final Wedding Vendors

I know it's been 3 months and 7 days since our wedding, but I wanted to give a final shout out to my wonderfully amazing wedding vendors.  I honestly can say that I think I had the perfect set of vendors.  They worked so well together.  Word of advice to brides or future brides: it helps tremendously for vendors to have worked previous weddings together.  They understand one another's tendencies and style.  I had such an enjoyable experience with my "wedding family."

Here is the final list of vendors.  Click on their names to see their website.  I would recommend any of them to future brides.  Let me know if you need any more information about any of the vendors below.

• Ceremony Venue: First Baptist of Cary
• Reception Venue: The Oaks at Salem
• Photographer: Lauren Mann Photography.  Check out her blog post about our wedding here.
• Planner/Coordinator: Orangerie Events
• Flowers: Brides and Bouquets
• Catering: Cook Shack Catering
• Cake/cupcakes: Cinda's Creative Cakes
• DJ: McSound Productions
• Custom paper suite (i.e., invitations, save-the-date, programs, thank you notes): Corie Designs
• Calligraphy: Sparrow Crafting & Press
• Dress: Maggie Sottero
• Hair: Dana Rasch at Astra Studio
• Makeup: Perfection by Patricia
• Nails: 55 Nails
• Alterations, Jewelry, Veil: Just Sew by Renée
• Suits: Men's Wearhouse
• Bridesmaids dresses: WTOO
• Monogrammed bridesmaids' shirts: Shirts- JCPenneys, Monogram: Monograms, Inc.
• Rentals: Party Reflections
• Honeymoon: Lago Mar Resort & Club

Necessities

A couple days ago before going to sleep, I found out we were under a tornado watch. Now, one of the sins I struggle with is worry/anxiety.  Given that I had no way of figuring out if the watch would turn into a warning while sleeping, I was dozed off and on until 3 a.m., at which point I checked my weather app and saw that we were no longer under a tornado watch.

While I was struggling to fall asleep, I thought about which room we be most safe in if a tornado were to come; it would probably be the master bath or the guest bath, although the master bath is more in the middle of the building.  That spurred the thought process of what I would bring with me so that I could "save" it.  What were my most valuable possessions?  Here was the list I came up with:

• My Bible.  I know it's easy to get another one but my primary Bible was from my parents on my 21st birthday and has my full maiden name engraved on it.
• My laptop and external hard drive.  I have to save all the thousands of pictures I've taken over the years.
• My phone and charger.  We probably wouldn't have electricity if a tornado actually came through but it would come in use later.  The phone is to make sure everyone knows we're ok.  Funny that I don't have anyone's phone number memorized now that they are stored on the phone and not in an actual address book.
• Water and munchies. I think food and water are pretty obvious necessities.
• Glow sticks/matches/candles.  My dad gave me a whole bunch of glow stick which may be better in this situation.

This is the list I came up with.  I think it sort of shows where my priorities lie.  I am wayyyyy too technology dependent.  I also realize that most of what I have isn't a necessity when it really comes down to it. What are your necessities?  What does your list say about you?

Chronicles of a Coach's Wife: Sleep Deprivation

So while I was waiting for sweet sleep to find me last night, I was thinking it might be interesting to write a series for those out there who want to know what it's like to be married to a college football coach.  It will be a series that stretches over time so keep on checking back :)

I thought I knew what I was getting into during Brett's and my dating relationship, but I really had NO idea.  I know every coach's wife has a different experience, but I'm sure we share many of the same struggles, joys, and routines.  One of those struggles for me is sleep deprivation. If you know me, you know I LOVE LOVE LOVE sleep.  I'm the girl in college who if she had a 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. class, she'd go back up to her dorm room and squeeze in a 15 minute nap.  I also love sleeping in.  It's one reason I love my job so much: I wouldn't get into the office until 9:15 (I'd stay later to make up for it). Sleep deprivation is one thing I didn't really think about when I married Brett.

Not only do I now have to share the bed with my husband and get used to that, I also have to deal with his early more meetings.  Three days a week, Brett has to get be at the office at 6 a.m.  I'm a very light sleeper so I hear his phone vibrate with his alarm (which goes off at 5:00 or 5:15 a.m.) and make sure he doesn't sleep through it.  He tries really hard to be quiet, which I very much appreciate.  Normally, it takes me between 30 minutes and an hour to fall back to sleep.  Then, I sleep off and on for another two hours, when I have to wake up for real.

On these early morning days, I feel extra tired.  It's hard to get my brain going for work, and I feel like taking a nap around 3.  Good thing I don't go to bed at 1 a.m. like I used to pre-marriage.  I apologize in advance if you ever talk to me and I'm a little moody.  That's what sleep deprivation will do to you.

To Albany and Back

This past weekend was the opening weekend for college football.  Unfortunately, the Crusaders start the season with three away games.  The first game was at Albany State University in Albany, GA (about 5 hours from Greeville).  Originally, I had planned on driving by myself to Macon on Friday to stay with the team, stay Saturday evening with Gail and Yogi and driving back Sunday.  Brett talked some sense into me though.  I ended up leaving Saturday afternoon and riding with Elise, the other Brett's wife, and coming home after the game.

Now to be honest, I had some slight anxiety going into the drive.  It's weird because I used to thrive in social situations in high school and college.  Now, they cause some anxiety.  I ended up having nothing to worry about.  Elise and I talked almost the whole way there and quite a bit of the way back.  It was really nice getting to know more about her.  I have a feeling we'll be spending a lot of time in the car together this season.  I'm very grateful we came back that night, even though I got home at 5:30 a.m.

Anyway, this was Brett's first time calling the game for the defense (he's co defensive coordinator this year).  I thought he did a really good job.  He and Rocco saw where Albany State was beating them and made the correct adjustments.  The thing that Brett took the most pride in was that the defense didn't allow Albany State to get a single first down in the fourth quarter, even with being down 5-24.  NGU ended up losing 12-24.

There were quite a few injuries during the game to some of the starters.  If you get a chance, please pray for the players' safety as they continue their season.  Here's a few pictures I snapped at the game.

Pregame warm-ups

Kickoff of the 2012 season

Brett's in the middle of all those defensive players

Talking about special teams

After Taylor's interception on the goal line

Brett was jacked

Sacked.  Issac is very animated  on the sideline.