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To the First-Team, All-Conference defensive end:

We loved watching you play this season.  The improvement you made from game 1 to game 11 was simply magnificent.  It really was.  You came off a successful sophomore campaign only to get better and better as the days grew shorter and shorter.  But there's still a lot of work to do.  The weight room, Bongo's speed and agility program, and your work at camps this upcoming summer are, quite frankly, givens.  But you've also got to remember to keep eating.  I want your stomach to look less like Jonah's and more like mine.  You've also got stop sleeping.  No, really.  You need to do whatever it takes to break that bad habit of leaving your feet.  You can't make a play if you're on the ground.  But the most important thing you've got to do is make sure you get every real man from the classes of 2013 and 2014 into the weight room and on Bongo's program with you.  Every day.  I'm actually serious about this one.  Leaders get their teammates into the weight room.  And, while they're there, leaders make sure everyone is working and not screwing around.  Leaders also recruit new teammates.  Leaders tell these men, would you rather look like this.  Or like THIS!  You've got to be a leader.  Who knows?  Maybe next year at this time you become the first Lincoln team in years to get to Level 3 and beyond.  So much can happen in just one 9 month period.  Oh yes, only 9 months.  Your homework is due August 6, 2012. 

Level 2 was more of the same - Hamilton made sure they doubled the Bear on passing downs.

I have 5 of these.  All from different plays, all the same thing.  Close.  But no cigar.

I'm glad that you could see what you were missing here.  STAY ON YOUR FEET!

There is no doubt that if this was a contest to see who could fire out the fastest and lowest, the Bear would win.  But that doesn't help you if your competition isn't ALSO firing out.  You end up on the ground this way and, well, check out the next shot...

If the Hammer gets held "blocked," as he did here, there is NO ONE to clean up the back.  Bear on the ground = Patterson in the end zone.

This was the 437th time the Bear was held this year without it being called.

"438th!"

Yeah, no question he keeps his pad level the lowest.  I still don't see how that helps the team when he's matched up against inferior competition.

Remember this moment for next year.  Remember it in April May June, when the weather starts to get nice and you're sick and tired of getting everyone to the gym and you just wanna go outside.  Remember it when some idiot wants you to "party."  Remember it when your dad says you only get two steaks tonight.  Just remember it, and act accordingly.

Go Ships!