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Coach's Corner with Chris Simpson: Week 1

February 12, 2010 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Baltimore Mariners News Release


BALTIMORE, MD (February 10, 2010) - The 2010 season is at our door step. Success breeds confidence and allows for individuals and organizations to build on the foundation of that success. 2009 was a mixture of challenges and blessings. The Mariners finished with their first winning record (9-5) and first playoff appearance in the franchise's brief history. Baltimore swept the regular season series versus our rivals to the North, the Reading Express. A first round playoff loss to the Express (eventual AIFA champions) in Reading left us with a sense of unfinished business.

Prior to the start of 2009, our GM Greg Justice and I sat down to design a path to change the culture of the Mariners' organization; a culture of winning attitudes, character, discipline and hard work. That cultural change is appropriately called "The Mariner Way". It is a continual process that we carried over into this past off season. Former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Tom Landry made this statement, "Setting a goal is not the main thing. It's deciding how you will go about it and staying with that plan".

I think most coaches will agree that winning games, and achieving the ultimate goal of a championship, begins in the shadows of the meeting rooms where we lay out the plans we will follow to achieve our goals. It happens in the recruiting of talent and at open tryouts, it's in the off season workouts, training camp and the weekly practices. You can't just show up to games, step on the field and play. Championships are won in the preparation, in the practice and in the culture of an organization.

2010 looks to be very competitive and exciting season. The talent the Eastern Conference in the AIFA has improved across the board for each team. The Mariners will face challenges in every game scheduled this season. To be the best you have to beat the best. We look forward to those challenges.

Each week, from now until the end of the season, I will bring you a weekly update on the team and its progress. Join me, and the rest of the Baltimore Mariners, as we "Set Sail for the Ring" in 2010!

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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