Daily Dialogue — October 10, 2016

“Now, let’s analyze what’s been working for us. Not a goddamned thing’s been working for us! Like this suit! And this stinking tie! lt doesn’t work for me! You know how to play winning football? You play like Ed Gennero played! He gave his life for this team! He was a 140-pound halfback and played like a wild man! No! Like a goddamned rampaging beast! So you go out and tear their fucking heads off and shit down their necks! (a beat) Let us pray.”

— Necessary Roughness (1991), written by Rick Natkin, David Fuller

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Coaching. Today’s suggestion by RealThndrMonkey

Trivia: The predicament of the fictional Texas State football team is based on the scandal surrounding another Texas college, Southern Methodist University. SMU had been placed on probation three times in the 1980s for repeated recruitment violations, such as giving monetary enticements to players and their families. In 1987, SMU was punished under the Repeat Violator Rule, better known as the “death penalty.” All football was canceled and scholarships were revoked for 1987, and only away games were allowed in 1988, although the school canceled the 1988 season anyway. The team was refielded in 1989 with an all-tryout squad. The Mustangs did not have a winning season until 2009.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by RealThndrMonkey: “Takeaway for coaching: I have covered high school sports for nearly 20 years. I have seen many coaches try to duplicate the coaching style of others without regard to their own style or even the composition of their teams. This has met with varying degrees of success.

Takeaway for writers: It’s okay to look at the writing styles of others, but to truly stand out and to make your name known… seek your own style.