Austin Hunsinger

@AuthorityAthle1 These are all true, without a doubt. Until you get into the more elite high school athletic arenas where the age, being 19 playing with 17 years olds who have no choice, a definitive measure of fairness.

@CoachHunsinger Playing football's a choice, and age is just one factor. Age doesn't equal advantage – work ethic and skill does. Kids'll compete hard regardless of age gaps. Let's focus on skill and effort. That’s my take on it.

My bad y’all. The player in question is 19 and will be 20 by the end of his senior year. My statement still remains. It’s nonsense, his stats and ability as 2 years the senior of those he will be playing against should be seen as tainted and absolutely and totally contain an asterisk next to them. That goes for anybody else in his situation. Don’t want to risk eligibility due to age? Dont hold your player back and don’t fail a grade. 4 years. 14-17 I’ll concede the possibility to need a guideline to allow for 18. But 19, absolutely not and shame on whoever allows it.

I’m all for competing with athletes older than you. But only when it’s a choice, as in a Freshman or Sophomore who’s skilled enough and he and his parents make that choice. What I take issue with is when it’s no longer a choice, and they’re put on the field up against someone/athletes who are 2 years older. Then, coupling that with being someone who has access to immense amount of third party athletic training AND being 2 years older… Of course as a coach, you teach anyone lining up across from them to adapt and overcome, and never make excuses for why he’s beating you, but prior to being legal adults, the excuse of “he’s 2 years older than me and well into being a legal adult” shouldn’t even exist as an option.

@CoachHunsinger If he reclassed and he’s 19 currently that would mean he was 16 as a freshman, that’s what I’m talking about. But I see your point is a 19 year old beating on 17 year olds. At what point is it ok to compete with athletes older than you?

What are you even on about? Why is he a 16 yo freshman? Why is he a 17 yo sophomore? At the Varsity level, 16 and 17 is when you start to stand out. Like what even is the question here? This is about the fact that of course a 19 yo is going to dominate 17 yo kids. Shouldn’t be eligible at that age. If you’re 19 by first game, you’re out. Not a terrible take, it’s a take that’s rooted in the reality of how much more mature a 19 yo body is vs a 17 yo body. And when you consider that, it absolutely is “Unfair Advantage.” It’s the same as these 24, 25, 26 and even 27 year old players who have been at the College level every season since 18… it’s absolute madness.

@CoachHunsinger Terrible take. Let’s say said kid dominates at the varsity level as a freshman 16 or sophomore 17 does it matter what he does as a senior. Also word everybody wants to talk about these days are colleges are recruiting mature kids and taking transfer portal because there are more

@CoachFBInsights What are your criteria to define and/or identify “sudden change”?

This is my list of offensive situations we rep every week: 1st & 15/20 3rd & 4th down, all distances Goal line/short yardage 2-minute 4-minute Backed up Red zone Sudden change Last play What else do you build into your weekly plan?

Then from what I’m hearing from fellow ward members of this particular individual, something ain’t adding up…. Even still, 19-year-olds playing in the same season as 17-year-olds or younger is something that should absolutely change, no questions asked. That rule should read “if they turn 19 prior to the first day of the school year, they are ineligible to play any sports for the remainder of that school year.” Grill me if you must, but I stand by this.

@CoachHF85 @CoachHunsinger

There’s a lot of things that are so very right with Utah football. A 20-year-old football player who is seen as something special is not one of them. Of course a 20-year-old is going to absolutely dominate 17 year olds. Do you understand the anatomical difference there just in strength and speed development alone? I am at an absolute loss for how coaches in that entire division aren’t raising cane over it. Absolutely and totally absurd.

Hope is not a strategy. Fail forward.

@CoachHunsinger @Eagles @BYUfootball Who do you know, knows who you want to know? Don’t be shy about asking for an introduction. People generally want to help.

@CoachHF85 I left names out of it intentionally. Last thing I want is to be run out of Utah coaching because I tried to make some sense out of a situation that doesn’t and ended up being the odd one out.

@CoachHunsinger Where is there a 20 year old?

A lot of people procrastinate their responsibilities and/or hard things… I’m guilty of it far more than I’d like to admit. But what if we thought about quitting with the same mindset? “I’m not going to quit today. I’ll just quit tomorrow”

Chuck Norris apparently “passed away” today. Likely story. We all know that he just heard a rumor that there was alternate universes where people were claiming to be Chuck Norris, and he had to go take care of business. RIP to a legend.

Yesterday, I got to speak one on one, albeit briefly, with Doug Pederson, the first Head Coach to win a Super Bowl with the @Eagles, at the annual @BYUfootball coach’s clinic. I asked him “I’m 35 years old. When most people were going to college to get their starts in coaching, I enlisted in the Military. So, I’ve only been coaching football for a few years now. I know most people who make it into and find success at the Division 1 and NFL levels typically start really young as GAs, etc. What is your advice based on your knowledge and experience for someone getting a late start like me and has aspirations of moving far beyond the High School level?” His advice in a nutshell: Develop relationships and put yourself around as many people in the space as possible. Submit your resume every last place you can in forums, bulletins, jobs postings, etc. Send emails, reach out to people. As a Bills fan, I instantly thought of Josh Allen and how he got himself into Wyoming. As for you other coaches who have been able to make it to higher-level positions, perhaps with late starts in the game, What is YOUR best advice? More specifically, how do you balance this and raising a family simultaneously?

It takes a Village to raise a child. It also takes a Village to corrupt a child.

When my child is exhibiting behavior I don’t approve of in front of you because I find it to be ill-mannered, don’t you dare say “oh they’re fine.” NO, THEY’RE NOT FINE, THATS WHY I MADE A CORRECTION YOU DOLT. When you say “it’s fine,” you completely undermine my authority as that child’s parent. While our opinions and rules may differ, that doesn’t mean you get to discredit me in front of my child. What that does is make my child think that I don’t have the authority to correct them and transfers into other things where they think they can do what they want, they don’t have to listen to me, and/or some stranger will swoop in to save the day. I understand you meant no harm by it, but there is, in fact, total harm in reacting that way. How about you have my back and help me reinforce behavior I don’t approve of instead of giving my kid an out? Thank you for coming to my notTED talk.

Today was a good reminder

Dear Parents, Nearly every coach leading your kids has been benched before at one point or another in their lives. We know how that feels. That feeling combined with our parents not allowing us to quit, built us. It can build your athletes too, you just have to change your relationship with your child from “Unconditional Yes Friend” BACK to “Parent.”