FirstDown PlayBook Fast 15: James Lott Johnson C Smith University
First, please allow me to introduce you to a new feature that I guarantee you will enjoy. We are calling it the FirstDown PlayBook Fast 15. This is where we will feature football coaches who are using FirstDown PlayBook in a way that is resulting in success for their coaches, players and football program. Along the way we will introduce you to some important stories. Our inaugural Fast 15 coach is James Lott from Johnson C Smith University who has been an important part of the resurgence of the Golden Bulls football program.
The “15” in the FirstDown PlayBook Fast 15 is measured in minutes. Our goal is to recognize accomplishment in approximately 15 minutes. Let’s get right to the point. We are all busy. As you will see in the video below we pose five or so questions and try to cut the fluff and get to the substance. So having said that here are the questions you will hear answered…
5 Questions For Johnson C. Smith Coach James Lott
How do you change 50 years of culture in 3-4 years?
Coach Lott explains how the culture change occurred due to several factors. Some of it from the coaches and some from important people who believed in what head football coach, Maurice Flowers and his staff were doing.
Explain the value of special teams as it pertains your success at Johnson C. Smith
Explosive plays are something that you normally hear about when talking about offense. James Lott explains that he treats every special teams play as an explosive when teaching the Golden Bulls.
Can we look at an example of how you use FDPB to teach better?
What better way to show how you use something to teach better than video of a house call kickoff return? Coach Lott doesn’t just talk about how he teaches. He shows us the process and the result in a kickoff return for 6.
Tell us about your path and how you decided to be a coach.
There are not many of us out there who are good enough to say that were one of the best football players to ever play at Clemson. In fact, good enough to go on and play for the Chicago Bears. As you will see and hear, James Lott knew he could coach and made his path quickly after his playing days were over.
What advice would you have for a young coach wanting to follow your path?
This will be our staple question as we talk with coaches on the FirstDown PlayBook Fast 15. Why? Because that is why we do this. We want to always pay it forward to any young football coach wondering “Could that be me?” Last thing on the way out. If you have never heard of the term “Followship” you need to watch this video. You will learn something. I did.