Kutztown Cougar Football Coach's Corner
Twins
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Quarantine Workout
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Thank you to medical personnel
Coach Cam Willis Interview
Coach Scott Ducoin Introduction
Maurice Cuadrado-Chester Introduction
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Matt Lawhorne Introduction
Joseph Stoess Introduction
Michael Aboulhouda Introduction
2020 Kutztown Cougar Football Schedule
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Kutztown Cougar Football Letters
Letter #1
When our son was 8 years old he asked if he could play football. My answer, as an overprotective mother, “No. Not football.” Every fall, rest assured, he would ask, “Mom can I play football this year?” Every fall, my answer remained the same, “No. Not football.”
As I watched my son grow into an outstanding basketball player and baseball player, I also saw that his desire to play football remained.
And so begins our football journey. At the end of his freshman year in high school he came home with a letter from Coach LC. The letter asked for our son to consider playing for the Kutztown football team. It seems that there was interest for him to play coming from many sides. I asked my son to compose a persuasive letter outlining and detailing all of his reasons why he believed that we should allow him to play football in the upcoming season. His letter was quite an eye opener and he convinced us that he was truly committed to playing the game. He also convinced us to meet with Coach LC to discuss his opportunity to play, answer any questions we may have had as his parents, and address our parental concerns. We anticipated a 15 minute conversation with Coach, followed by a difficult conversation with our son that we would not be allowing him to play.
We agreed to meet with Coach at the Kutztown HIgh School one evening in late May and were very surprised that Coach spent almost 2 hours with our son, my husband and myself. Coach discussed player safety, goal setting, hard work, physical stamina, and personal training opportunities. Coach was very open and very honest throughout the discussion. It became apparent very early on in our conversation that Coach LC was committed to helping our son work hard, set personal goals, and support him every step of the way to meet his goals!
When our son was 15 years old, he asked me if he could play football. After listening to my son’s reasons paired with the genuine commitment and honesty from Coach LC, our answer became, “Yes. You can play football.”
Turns out football is way more than a fall sport that finds boys tackling one another. Football for my son is a way to work hard to challenge himself. Football is a brotherhood. Football taught him how to lose. Football taught him how to win. Football taught him that winning is not a score but a series of opportunities to set personal and team goals, meet those goals, and set new ones while always aspiring to learn and grow. Football taught him how to be a true teammate and how to always work together, alongside his teammates. Football taught him determination and drive. Football is motivation for him to become better and better...at life! Football for my son, has aided us in instilling strong core values. Because of his incredible coach, Coach LC, the entire Kutztown coaching staff, and all of his dedicated teammates, our son works hard every day to demonstrate integrity, accountability, and knowledge.
I am so proud of our son for being able to advocate for himself through his poignant persuasive skills which resulted in us allowing him to give this sport a try. We are more proud of our son for becoming a young man who works hard, perseveres, understands the true meaning of winning, encourages, motivates and protects his teammates, models true commitment and dedication as a result of lessons learned through his first year as a football player.
As parents of a dedicated, motivated, committed offensive/defensive Kutztown Cougar lineman, we look forward to the upcoming football season. We miss our football family and cannot wait to see this incredible group of young men continue to grow together both on and off the field!
As I watched my son grow into an outstanding basketball player and baseball player, I also saw that his desire to play football remained.
And so begins our football journey. At the end of his freshman year in high school he came home with a letter from Coach LC. The letter asked for our son to consider playing for the Kutztown football team. It seems that there was interest for him to play coming from many sides. I asked my son to compose a persuasive letter outlining and detailing all of his reasons why he believed that we should allow him to play football in the upcoming season. His letter was quite an eye opener and he convinced us that he was truly committed to playing the game. He also convinced us to meet with Coach LC to discuss his opportunity to play, answer any questions we may have had as his parents, and address our parental concerns. We anticipated a 15 minute conversation with Coach, followed by a difficult conversation with our son that we would not be allowing him to play.
We agreed to meet with Coach at the Kutztown HIgh School one evening in late May and were very surprised that Coach spent almost 2 hours with our son, my husband and myself. Coach discussed player safety, goal setting, hard work, physical stamina, and personal training opportunities. Coach was very open and very honest throughout the discussion. It became apparent very early on in our conversation that Coach LC was committed to helping our son work hard, set personal goals, and support him every step of the way to meet his goals!
When our son was 15 years old, he asked me if he could play football. After listening to my son’s reasons paired with the genuine commitment and honesty from Coach LC, our answer became, “Yes. You can play football.”
Turns out football is way more than a fall sport that finds boys tackling one another. Football for my son is a way to work hard to challenge himself. Football is a brotherhood. Football taught him how to lose. Football taught him how to win. Football taught him that winning is not a score but a series of opportunities to set personal and team goals, meet those goals, and set new ones while always aspiring to learn and grow. Football taught him how to be a true teammate and how to always work together, alongside his teammates. Football taught him determination and drive. Football is motivation for him to become better and better...at life! Football for my son, has aided us in instilling strong core values. Because of his incredible coach, Coach LC, the entire Kutztown coaching staff, and all of his dedicated teammates, our son works hard every day to demonstrate integrity, accountability, and knowledge.
I am so proud of our son for being able to advocate for himself through his poignant persuasive skills which resulted in us allowing him to give this sport a try. We are more proud of our son for becoming a young man who works hard, perseveres, understands the true meaning of winning, encourages, motivates and protects his teammates, models true commitment and dedication as a result of lessons learned through his first year as a football player.
As parents of a dedicated, motivated, committed offensive/defensive Kutztown Cougar lineman, we look forward to the upcoming football season. We miss our football family and cannot wait to see this incredible group of young men continue to grow together both on and off the field!
Letter #2
Playing football for Coach Chester and all of my other coaches for Kutztown Area High gave me a foundation I hold near and dear to my heart. Memories were made that I think about weekly, if not daily, and even more importantly I learned what a solid work ethic, motivation, and determination can do for an individual, and a team.
During the 4 years I played for varsity squad, we as a team and program were almost always out numbered and the underdogs. Coach Chester and his staff taught us how to work together through the toughest times, keep our heads held high and never give up.
For me personally, I may not have fully appreciated the many lessons they gave us day to day back then, but now some of those lessons got me where I'm at today. Playing for the team, going through tough losses, and even tougher workouts taught me how to keep going, to keep fighting, to never give up. Through all of our hard work, we had some of the best seasons Kutztown had in many years, and that's something I take a lot of pride in. We put in the work, and it showed on the field.
One key moment that sticks with me is when Coach Chester had us flip Bertha (400 pound tractor tire) around the parking lot and gave us a time that we as a team had to complete it in, a time that seemed impossible. We failed, time and time again, we argued, pointed fingers, and Coach Chester just laughed. At one point my teammate Tony Montagner swore up and down that coach wasn't hitting the stop button on the stop watch at the right time so coach let him take control of the clock, we failed again. After a brief talk and some encouragement from Coach Chester, we tried again and we did it, came together as a team and we overcame the task presented to us. That's a life lesson that can not be forgotten.
He always told us, "trying is doing something with the intention to fail." I use this phrase to this day all the time, on myself, on people I train at work, sometimes regrettably to my wife!
I mentioned earlier I may not have appreciated all the life lessons I was learning at the time. Several years ago I was losing momentum and drive in the gym, tired of doing the same old routine. I decided to try Crossfit, I instantly fell in love and the first thing I said was, this is what we used to do in high school with the football team, with our coaches. That drive and passion lead me to get my level 1 about 3 years ago and I have been coaching ever since.
All that said, I could go on for a while with stories. I will say I'm still great friends with many members of our team and keep in touch with many more. All of those friends I would not have if it wasn't for the Kutztown Cougar Football Program. I was very happy to hear Coach Chester was back coaching at Kutztown. Cougar Football… thank you for all the lessons, and memories made. Football is not like any other sport, and at a high school level it's a bonding and building experience that every player will take with them for the rest of their lives.
Thanks again,
Kenny Kramer
Class of 06
During the 4 years I played for varsity squad, we as a team and program were almost always out numbered and the underdogs. Coach Chester and his staff taught us how to work together through the toughest times, keep our heads held high and never give up.
For me personally, I may not have fully appreciated the many lessons they gave us day to day back then, but now some of those lessons got me where I'm at today. Playing for the team, going through tough losses, and even tougher workouts taught me how to keep going, to keep fighting, to never give up. Through all of our hard work, we had some of the best seasons Kutztown had in many years, and that's something I take a lot of pride in. We put in the work, and it showed on the field.
One key moment that sticks with me is when Coach Chester had us flip Bertha (400 pound tractor tire) around the parking lot and gave us a time that we as a team had to complete it in, a time that seemed impossible. We failed, time and time again, we argued, pointed fingers, and Coach Chester just laughed. At one point my teammate Tony Montagner swore up and down that coach wasn't hitting the stop button on the stop watch at the right time so coach let him take control of the clock, we failed again. After a brief talk and some encouragement from Coach Chester, we tried again and we did it, came together as a team and we overcame the task presented to us. That's a life lesson that can not be forgotten.
He always told us, "trying is doing something with the intention to fail." I use this phrase to this day all the time, on myself, on people I train at work, sometimes regrettably to my wife!
I mentioned earlier I may not have appreciated all the life lessons I was learning at the time. Several years ago I was losing momentum and drive in the gym, tired of doing the same old routine. I decided to try Crossfit, I instantly fell in love and the first thing I said was, this is what we used to do in high school with the football team, with our coaches. That drive and passion lead me to get my level 1 about 3 years ago and I have been coaching ever since.
All that said, I could go on for a while with stories. I will say I'm still great friends with many members of our team and keep in touch with many more. All of those friends I would not have if it wasn't for the Kutztown Cougar Football Program. I was very happy to hear Coach Chester was back coaching at Kutztown. Cougar Football… thank you for all the lessons, and memories made. Football is not like any other sport, and at a high school level it's a bonding and building experience that every player will take with them for the rest of their lives.
Thanks again,
Kenny Kramer
Class of 06
Letter #3
When our son found out Coach LC was coaching football last year, our son made his decision immediately. Even though he hadn’t played football in 8 years, our son wanted to play, but more importantly, he wanted to play for Coach. LC continuously worked with us as parents to get our agreement, hear our concerns and to make sure we were all on the same page. We felt we shouldn’t deny our son this opportunity and are incredibly thankful we didn’t.
LC is an exceptional coach. He has the ability to connect with players and motivate them to rise above their own expectations. He keeps things positive, always positive with fun and humor in between. And while things may not always go your way on the field or in life, as a player and as a team you can handle those moments when you know your coach supports and believes in you.
Our son had a great experience and learned a lot about himself. There were some struggles, but he came away with a sense of accomplishment and pride and many new found friends. We are very thankful our son chose to play football. We won’t soon forget our enjoyment of seeing him on the field playing for the Cougars.
LC is an exceptional coach. He has the ability to connect with players and motivate them to rise above their own expectations. He keeps things positive, always positive with fun and humor in between. And while things may not always go your way on the field or in life, as a player and as a team you can handle those moments when you know your coach supports and believes in you.
Our son had a great experience and learned a lot about himself. There were some struggles, but he came away with a sense of accomplishment and pride and many new found friends. We are very thankful our son chose to play football. We won’t soon forget our enjoyment of seeing him on the field playing for the Cougars.
Letter #4
Jarred Rutherford
Played 1996 – 2004 (Varsity 2001 -2004)
I was fortunate enough to play for the Kutztown Cougar football program from the mites up to varsity in High School. I had many different coaches, styles of coaching, trainers, teammates, teachers, etc… Regardless of all the changes throughout those years there was consistency when it came to football. Football to me was a life-style. Something that was supported by the community, brought different families together that may have never met otherwise, created lifelong friendships, and stories to tell for a lifetime.
Playing football at Kutztown taught me many life lessons. As a student-athlete these are things that I didn’t really understand at the time, but looking back and reflecting on my time as a football player I can see the importance of this sport.
Friendships – Football has created lifelong friendships in my life more than any other activities I have done. I played other sports, went to college, have had multiple jobs and throughout that time I have met many people. I can say that my true friendships have stemmed from football and these people are some of the most important in my life. Without Kutztown football, I can honestly say I would not have the same strong relationships I do today, which helped mold me into the person that I am. Just the other day I was walking through the town I current live in (not Kutztown) and heard a familiar voice yell “Yo, JR is that you?” If not for Kutztown football I would not have had that interaction and been able to catch up with an old friend.
Community – I remember how the football program would bring families together, grandparents/parents/siblings all coming out to support the team. Friday nights were something everyone looked forward to. Local business owners knowing who we were by name, people tailgating before the game and building relationships, Thursday night pasta dinners were all amazing activities that the community came together for. I have never seen another program in High School that brings this type of community atmosphere together.
Life Lessons - Winning and losing. There are many things in life that winning and losing is a big part of. Everyone wants to win whether it is a game, a job, a relationship, etc… Learning how to win gracefully or lose and keep your dignity is something that Kutztown football has also taught me. Winning or losing a game in a week didn’t define who we were. Regardless of wins or losses, we knew that we needed to be better and prepare for the next week. Being able to move on, prepare, and better ourselves by always giving it our all was something we learned week in and out and is something that we could use in all the challenges we face every day throughout life.
Leadership and teamwork - Leadership and teamwork cannot be taught in a classroom. Football is a huge part of where I learned leadership and teamwork. Each player had a responsibility to the team. Our failures and successes were shared with one another and being part of something larger than myself is something that has prepared me for the journey of life.
One quick story about how Kutztown football helped me land my first internship as an accountant. I was competing against other students for this internship opportunity. Some of the other students had better work experience, GPA’s, etc… Regardless of those other qualifications I received the internship and learned that one of the biggest reasons I was chosen was due to my football background. The manager that hired me reflected on their prior time as a former player and said that I was more qualified than others due to the life lessons, teamwork, and leadership skills I have learned through the great sport of football.
Kutztown football is an amazing program and I want to thank the community, coaches, trainers, fellow students, teammates for everything this program has done for me. I still get chills stepping onto that football field. No student should ever be deprived of being part of something like the Kutztown Football program and I hope that the community continues to support the program. I hope that parents give their kid a chance to thrive. And lastly I hope that years from now, when the current players reflex on their journey they keep in mind what this program did for them!
Played 1996 – 2004 (Varsity 2001 -2004)
I was fortunate enough to play for the Kutztown Cougar football program from the mites up to varsity in High School. I had many different coaches, styles of coaching, trainers, teammates, teachers, etc… Regardless of all the changes throughout those years there was consistency when it came to football. Football to me was a life-style. Something that was supported by the community, brought different families together that may have never met otherwise, created lifelong friendships, and stories to tell for a lifetime.
Playing football at Kutztown taught me many life lessons. As a student-athlete these are things that I didn’t really understand at the time, but looking back and reflecting on my time as a football player I can see the importance of this sport.
Friendships – Football has created lifelong friendships in my life more than any other activities I have done. I played other sports, went to college, have had multiple jobs and throughout that time I have met many people. I can say that my true friendships have stemmed from football and these people are some of the most important in my life. Without Kutztown football, I can honestly say I would not have the same strong relationships I do today, which helped mold me into the person that I am. Just the other day I was walking through the town I current live in (not Kutztown) and heard a familiar voice yell “Yo, JR is that you?” If not for Kutztown football I would not have had that interaction and been able to catch up with an old friend.
Community – I remember how the football program would bring families together, grandparents/parents/siblings all coming out to support the team. Friday nights were something everyone looked forward to. Local business owners knowing who we were by name, people tailgating before the game and building relationships, Thursday night pasta dinners were all amazing activities that the community came together for. I have never seen another program in High School that brings this type of community atmosphere together.
Life Lessons - Winning and losing. There are many things in life that winning and losing is a big part of. Everyone wants to win whether it is a game, a job, a relationship, etc… Learning how to win gracefully or lose and keep your dignity is something that Kutztown football has also taught me. Winning or losing a game in a week didn’t define who we were. Regardless of wins or losses, we knew that we needed to be better and prepare for the next week. Being able to move on, prepare, and better ourselves by always giving it our all was something we learned week in and out and is something that we could use in all the challenges we face every day throughout life.
Leadership and teamwork - Leadership and teamwork cannot be taught in a classroom. Football is a huge part of where I learned leadership and teamwork. Each player had a responsibility to the team. Our failures and successes were shared with one another and being part of something larger than myself is something that has prepared me for the journey of life.
One quick story about how Kutztown football helped me land my first internship as an accountant. I was competing against other students for this internship opportunity. Some of the other students had better work experience, GPA’s, etc… Regardless of those other qualifications I received the internship and learned that one of the biggest reasons I was chosen was due to my football background. The manager that hired me reflected on their prior time as a former player and said that I was more qualified than others due to the life lessons, teamwork, and leadership skills I have learned through the great sport of football.
Kutztown football is an amazing program and I want to thank the community, coaches, trainers, fellow students, teammates for everything this program has done for me. I still get chills stepping onto that football field. No student should ever be deprived of being part of something like the Kutztown Football program and I hope that the community continues to support the program. I hope that parents give their kid a chance to thrive. And lastly I hope that years from now, when the current players reflex on their journey they keep in mind what this program did for them!
Letter #5
CAN WE?
We are capable of so much…
Are we able to rid ourselves of the negative memories from the past?
Disregarding these weak experiences that are constantly trying to stick with us like scar tissue.
CAN WE?
Are we able to sense what’s right and wrong for us?
Taking away all excuses and moving forward with self confidence.
CAN WE?
Can we see our value, our true self worth?
Our ability to tackle problems and our keen eye to intercept opportunities.
CAN WE?
Kutztown Cougar Football
Permeates —- Integrity
Kutztown Cougar Football
SCREAMS —- Accountability
Kutztown Cougar Football
Embodies —- Knowledge
CAN WE FEEL IT? CAN WE HEAR IT? CAN WE SEE IT?
CHANGE IS COMING!!!
We are capable of so much…
Are we able to rid ourselves of the negative memories from the past?
Disregarding these weak experiences that are constantly trying to stick with us like scar tissue.
CAN WE?
Are we able to sense what’s right and wrong for us?
Taking away all excuses and moving forward with self confidence.
CAN WE?
Can we see our value, our true self worth?
Our ability to tackle problems and our keen eye to intercept opportunities.
CAN WE?
Kutztown Cougar Football
Permeates —- Integrity
Kutztown Cougar Football
SCREAMS —- Accountability
Kutztown Cougar Football
Embodies —- Knowledge
CAN WE FEEL IT? CAN WE HEAR IT? CAN WE SEE IT?
CHANGE IS COMING!!!