Football between coaching friends

CEDAR RAPIDS - Consider it football among friends.

Despite the mutual respect and connections between the Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Cedar Rapids Washington coaching staffs, Cougars first-year head coach Brian White would like nothing more to notch his first win against the coach and the team that gave him a chance to roam the sidelines.

White was an assistant for Washington Coach Paul James for 11 seasons before joining Kennedy, and now faces them for the first time as a head coach Thursday night at Kingston Stadium. The contest between the Warriors (1-0) and Cougars (0-1) will be televised on KCRG 9.2, beginning at 7.

'When you have a chance to beat your mentor that's kind of fun,” said White, who took over for Tim Lewis who resigned after last season. 'This is a guy I helped out and now coaching against him.

'He brought me into the league and brought me into the game. Personally, I want to lead my team into the game and want our team to have a good showing against the guy that has helped me out quite a bit. Of course, I want to win the game.”

White, a former Linn-Mar prep who graduated from Coe in 1993, served as a Warrior assistant from 1995 through the 2005 season. He was the defensive coordinator under James when the Warriors earned a state runner-up finish in 2003.

It won't be the first time White's defense has faced an offense called by James. They battled during Washington scrimmages years ago, and last season Kennedy beat Washington, 14-10, which was James' first game at the helm after seven years away.

'It's friendly competition. It's good competition,” James said. 'There are a lot of connections there.”

James won't be the only familiar face to White. He and Washington defensive coordinator Maurice Blue coached together and were in each other's weddings. White and Warrior assistant Frank Scherrman shared track duties together.

'There were a couple times refs had to break us up to start the game, because we were just shooting the breeze,” White said about games when he was a Kennedy assistant. 'It's a neat situation. We're all pretty close friends.”

The camaraderie he experienced as a Warrior coach was one of the first things he wanted to replicate when he took over the Cougars. He witnessed the benefits of a supportive group that meshed well together.

'We had an extremely close staff,” White said. 'We just really clicked. We were friends on and off the field. It made it easier to coach and lead kids.”

White has shielded his players from his personal history with the Warriors. The goal is to approach it just like any other game and avoid any distractions.

'I don't think it has changed our preparation this week,” White said. 'It hasn't changed the way I looked at practice.”

James has crossed paths with former players and assistants in the past. The Kennedy staff includes former Washington assistant Kyle Knock and Tyrone Schwieger, a former Warrior player when James was an assistant for former Washington Coach Wally Sheets.

'I don't think too much about it,” James said. 'It's mainly going against what they're trying to do, defending it and trying to attack it offensively.”

James said he expects a challenge from White's squad. He said the Cougars played Iowa City West tough in a 12-9 Week 1 loss. The Warriors will need to play well.

'It will be a highly competitive game,” James said. 'It's a typical intracity game. They've got some very good athletes. If we're not ready to play, it's going to be a long night.”

White brings a new look to Kennedy's offense. A more run-oriented attack has become more balanced. Kennedy quarterback Sammy Lizarraga threw 28 times and the Cougars were credited with 39 rushes in the season opener.

'Their quarterback has a strong arm,” James said. 'They have some good skill kids. We're expecting to see both run and pass out of them.”

Don't expect them to be enemies when the whistle blows. They are competitors, so expect a little pleasure in success at the expense of their pals.

'On the outside, we're going to be intense and be doing our best to try to win a football game,” White said. 'On the inside, I'm sure deep down we'll have some smiles here and there. If I can bust a play on Mo's defense, I'm going to be smiling at him up in the (coach's) box. I'm sure there will be times he's going to get us and look down at me smiling.”

The question will be who is smiling at the end when they exchange handshakes and congratulatory pats on the back after the game. White said the Cougars will have to eliminate mistakes and protect the football. The key to be in position to win late will be fulfilling their assignments on defense and finishing drives with points on offense.

'We know what we're up against,” White said. 'We're excited about the challenge. Hopefully, we can get some breaks our way and compete.”

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