Word: yovicsin
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Coach John Yovicsin devotes his total year to the organizing of Harvard football. He spends the off-season reviewing films, compiling statistics on each player's performance, planning the three weeks of intensive preseason practice, digesting scouting reports, and analyzing opponents' tendencies...
During the season he continues to examine loopholes and uncertainty with an almost obsessive zeal for thoroughness. On Sunday Yovicsin spends over 10 hours reviewing films of the previous day's game to find weak spots that must be ironed out at the next day's practice. On Monday and Tuesday he examines opponents' films with the same care. His policy is to squeeze the most teaching possible into the short practice sessions. He demands most from his assistants, and his players agree that it easier to play under him than to coach under...
There is a certain remoteness between Yovicsin and his players. A mild-mannered man with a subdued sense of humor, he sometimes cracks a grin which might widen into a smile. At games he more often scowls up and down the sidelines. Yovicsin does not have any pretensions of being an inspirational coach. Pre-game speeches are brief and unemotional, and if anybody attempts to arouse the team, it is either a player or an assistant coach...
...believe in psychological pressure such as pep talks," says Yovicsin. "That is a thing of the past. Our players generally have enough incentive, and so we don't build up opponents. Anyway, our boys are too intelligent to fall for that. We simply inform them of the opponent's formations and plays, and then try to prepare in technical matters. The best approach to a game is one of technical confidence in all aspects of play -- defense, kicking, and offense." To make his point, Yovicsin stated that Harvard played a better technical game this year against Cornell, when the team...
...Yovicsin is extremely protective of players who might have blundered during a game. The only individuals he will single out are those who have not received due attention by the press, such as a blocking back or a punter. In post-game press conferences, Yovicsin avoids showing gloatful glee to the extent that it usually looks as though there are two losing coaches sitting next to each other...