Tommy Atkinson

This 15 year old kid inspires me every single day to be a be better version of my 26 year old self. Just because we're older doesn't mean we're stronger. 11 years cancer free.

@Coach_BJustice @ColdWeatherBats Hey that's my linebacker! @CalPlarske can hit in the fall too!

Can’t express how thankful I am for all the work put in to the 2026 @ColdWeatherBats Player Draft. The ‘ole podcast has come a long way since 2020, but it wouldn’t be possible without the CWB village. Lastly, to the opponents facing Team Justice: Good luck! We’ve got a SQUAD.

@cwig8 @acaseofthegolf1 @B_Nostrant1 @Gilbert_Hoops @BankHoops @HankampScott Eric Puls who graduated in 2007 was a bench mob guy for Beilein for a few years at Michigan and was on scholarship towards the end of his career. He was a 6'8" wing who could shoot pretty well from the outside.

@acaseofthegolf1 @B_Nostrant1 @Gilbert_Hoops @BankHoops @HankampScott Alpena had a guy named, Butch Feher, when I was a kid that went on to play at Vanderbilt. Maybe Bryton will be the next from Alpena or had been at Alpena to play D-I basketball.

College coaches need to figure out where northern Michigan is. This is Bryton Nostrant, (@B_Nostrant1) a FRESHMAN for Alpena High, averaged over 20 points this year, had a game 42, almost always being guarded by kids 3-4 yrs older. But this isn't a tweet about his basketball skills. It's about the kind of kid he is. Our son Jackson was the waterboy for the High School team and Bryton was so good to Jack. (as all the kids were) Bryton’s Dad just got a new job and they are moving to a nearby town, I'm sure their lives are hectic right now and where was Bryton this morning? At Jacks rec league bball game, cheering him on. So to the college research recruiters, get in car and find the kid.

@acaseofthegolf1 @B_Nostrant1 @Gilbert_Hoops @BankHoops @HankampScott I always follow my wildcats and I was able to see them play once this year. He definitely did not play like a freshman.

@WingTCoachRyan @tpera75 @CoachCDSmith @CoachKrauseMHS Absolutely! Another line from the great Irv Sigler is "One step in the wrong direction puts you 2 steps from where you should be!"

@_TommyAtkinson @tpera75 @CoachCDSmith @CoachKrauseMHS veeery true. When starting every year, I would ask the players what happens to a house with a weak foundation. They answer "it falls down", "it crashes", etc. I would explain they are correct, and that the 1st step is the foundation to every assignment on every play.

What’s the best offensive coaching point you’ve ever received?

@WingTCoachRyan @tpera75 @CoachCDSmith @CoachKrauseMHS The only way you can have a perfect second step is if you had a perfect first step.

@tpera75 Focus on getting the 1st step correct (particularly with OL play). So many errors can be traced back to not getting the 1st step right. Received this advice from @CoachCDSmith, @CoachKrauseMHS and Coach Eric Hetzel of Muskego HS

@WingTCoachRyan Not all about what you do but how you do it and who you do it with!

Obviously Im a Wing-T guy. But a poorly-executed Wing-T offense will get blown away by a well-executed Air Raid, Run N Shoot, Flexbone, Pro-I, you name it. If there was one perfect system, everyone would run it. But there isn't. Most success boils down to execution.

@Coach_Pfiester Fortunately the Chippewas are playing tonight! 🔥☝🏼

I love me some #MACtion but how much split zone from 11 Off personnel does a man really need to watch? A little creativity in the run game would be outstanding!!

19 years cancer free and blessed beyond words.

@grossk4 @BShirley32 I believe the number was 139. Our advanced metrics had 140 as the highest we could go to ensure you were still able to throw 74 off 2 days rest.

@BShirley32 Amen to that 😀 @_TommyAtkinson can probably confirm, but I believe it was 143 pitches Saturday then wanting to go the following Tuesday😬

Reflecting on last night, why didn’t AJ put Skubal out there for another inning or two. The man is the best in the world and was dealing, you can’t tell me he didn’t have anything left in the tank. I know @grossk4 would have thrown 150+ pitches and still be available for today.

@CalPlarske @cjpenn33 @DennisSimpson_ Stud!!

Loving Friday nights under the lights! @cjpenn33 @DennisSimpson_

A one year old falls in love with baseball: a story in 4 pictures. @greatlakesloons

@_CoachBarfield You don't coach a sport, a position or a scheme. You coach people. Make relationships, learn as much as possible and be true to yourself not some caricature of every coach you've ever had before. Oh, and if coaching football learn both sides of the ball and special teams!

Coaches, share your biggest advice you’d give a first year coach.

After 16 years and hundreds of games it was pretty awesome coaching my own kid for the first time. #GirlDad

@bradley_boyk Hard work is undefeated!! Keep it up Bradley.

putting in work, i know gods got a plan for me and im gonna work for this everyday.

Thank you for everything! Looking forward to seeing you again soon!

@cpstalions @fbcoachsimpson I think it's a term that has evolved over time and has gone from the action of countering frontside backfield action to a scheme which is ubiquitous with the guard kick and T/H/Y wrap. Still usually requires a strong threat, flow or read as blocking develops slower than power.

Power = BSG pulls through the gap to take the PSLB Counter = BSG kicks out the EMOL. 2nd puller takes the PSLB. —————————————— Everything else is based on variations & alignment (both O & D). - GH/GY Counter = pullers obviously coming from a 3-man surface in 11/12p. Or the 2nd “puller” is the FB, for example in 21p. - GT Counter = pullers (usually) come from a 2-man surface. Guard kicking out EMOL (by definition of Counter). Tackle now (instead of TE/FB) takes PSLB. - Power to a 2-man surface = in 1-Back Power, PST kicks out EMOL. In 2-Back Power, FB kicks out EMOL. BSG takes PSLB by definition of Power. - Power to a 3-man surface = TE kicks out EMOL. Again, BSG takes PSLB by definition of Power. Obviously Center could pull for BSG depending on system & defensive front. RB track/QB footwork depends on if it’s a same side run, pistol/under center or not. Doesn’t really affect the play name “power” or “counter.” —————————————- Big issue in football communication is there are: - Universal terms (like 11, 21, 12p, Cover 1, Cover 2, Cover 3, etc.). Words that mean the same thing in any football building you walk into. - Common language (Trips, for example, doesn’t mean the same exact thing in every system but everyone knows it’s gotta be some sort of 3x1). - And then there’s specific dialect to a program (calling Power “Panther” in your program, for example). Code words, so to say. The problem is when coaches change the definition of “Power” or “Counter” for example — something that is universal at the college/NFL level — setting up the kids to eventually have to unlearn something they were taught using a universal term to mean a specific dialect to that program. It’d be like teaching a kid a Quarters coverage concept but calling it Cover 3. Sets the kid up for ultimate confusion at the next level. Coaches have to be clear, especially the younger the player, with educating the kids on if the term being taught is a universal term, common language, or specific dialect to that program.

Is it really "counter" if the play has no fake to one side? And what do you define as different in "Power" vs "Counter"? Seeing a lot of GT play being called "Counter" While we can call a play anything we want, I was curious what made you define a play as "Counter"?

@CMUBaseball He had a pretty good time the last time he played there too.

Cayden Smith with a 3-run homer cuts CMU's deficit to 4-3in the top of the 3rd. It's the third homer of the season for the freshman shortstop from Lake Isabella. #FireUpChips

@CoachChapin Thanks for having us!! Fortunate to witness a lot of great coaching and teaching this week!

Big thanks to all the Michigan high school football coaches that have visited Mt. Pleasant this spring. We’re proud to showcase who WE are and what WE do! 🧤🔥⬆️

@jake_riedel Cheers were always good and I'm pretty sure they have a wing night.

Recommendations for the best wings in Mt Pleasant? Welcoming all suggestions.

@lorida24 Appreciate you Lo!

@_TommyAtkinson yay Tommy! An inspo

18 years ago today, I became a cancer survivor. Today I'm still a survivor, but more importantly I'm a father, husband, teacher, coach, a friend to many and much more. I didn't know who I would grow into 18 years ago, but I wouldn't trade this journey for anything.