life – O Line Skills

Until the Last Whistle — And Beyond

November 20, 2025November 19, 2025 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

“Let the sun go down on you like King Harold at the battle of Hastings — fighting gloriously. Maybe a loser but what a loser.”

We set a goal to go 1–0 every week this season—and we did that in nine of our eleven contests. Each time we stepped onto the field, our players and staff fought the warrior’s fight, shoulder to shoulder, until the final whistle. The state championship trophy wasn’t ours to raise this year, but effort, unity, and heart were never in question.

As we’ve often said throughout these conversations, football mirrors life. Adversity will always find us. What matters is how we meet it—and how we rise the next morning. The ending wasn’t the one we imagined, but the opponent was worthy and the battle was real. Over four decades of playing and coaching this game, I’ve seen some seasons end with cheers and confetti and others end in quiet reflection—but in both cases, the sun still rises. And with each sunrise comes a new responsibility, a new chance to grow, lead, and serve.

This coming weekend, five of our seniors will wear the green helmet with the white STJ one final time as they represent St. Johnsbury Academy in the Vermont North vs. South All-Star Game at Norwich University. Kickoff is Sunday at 12:30. When the clock runs out, they’ll take that helmet off for the last time—but the lessons learned, the brotherhood formed, and the growth they’ve earned will travel with them wherever they go.

It may be the close of a chapter, but it is far from the end of the men this game helped shape. I hope the bonds and friendships formed this season last for decades like the ones I formed more than 40 years ago.

Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time!

Setting A Personal Example

November 6, 2025November 6, 2025 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

It was a great weekend for football in St Johnsbury, VT. The Hilltoppers advanced to the state semifinals, and our youth team captured a state championship for the second year in a row. The weekend was made even better when the head of our youth program shared the following letter she received:

My son plays QB & LB for BYSA. I just wanted to reach out to express my gratitude and ask if you could please pass along a message to the families of players 59 and 50. At a few different points during the game, both of these boys came up to my son, gave him a hug and told him he was a great athlete and to keep fighting. Their kindness and sportsmanship truly meant so much to him and to me as well. Please let them know how much we both appreciated their encouragement. Congratulations on your win and thank you again for raising such remarkable young men.

Football may at times be a violent sport, filled with hard hits and fierce competition, but being a good sport is still essential. Players must learn to compete intensely while keeping control and showing integrity. Good sportsmanship turns a rough game into a test of character as much as skill.

I am proud of all of our youth coaches, many of whom played for us, and all of the players, but especially these two young men who I watched grow up over the past dozen years as they are the sons of two of our coaches. We look forward to welcoming them and their teammates into our Hilltopper football family in 2026.

A Coach’s Voice; The Echo That Lasts A Lifetime

June 19, 2025June 19, 2025 Coach AlercioLeave a comment

While skiing the back bowls at Copper Mountain in Colorado a couple of years ago, I called out to one of my sons but heard another voice from the opposite direction respond, “Coach Alercio?” It was a former player from ten years prior who said he recognized my voice instantly.

That moment served as a powerful reminder that a coach’s voice truly leaves an imprint. A thoughtful coach uses his or her voice to lead, guide, and direct a student-athlete’s development. We must be careful to remember that a coach’s voice is a tool, not a weapon. As coaches, our voices can inspire or tear down. What you say in ten seconds can build a legacy or break a spirit. The power lies not just in what you say, but in how you say it.

I tell all my players, “If I hold you to a high standard, it’s because I believe in your potential.” I sincerely want to convey my confidence in their ability on the field and the character in their heart. I would encourage other coaches—or those in coaching, teaching, or mentoring roles—to let your voice become the inner voice they hear when facing fear, doubt, or adversity. I hope mine echoes in their minds now, and if I do it right, for the rest of their lives.

If I could truly wish for a legacy, I would hope that in some small way, the echoes of my voice and my words of encouragement find a way to become part of their inner compass going forward. I hear the voices of those who inspired me daily. Even on those occasions when a coach voiced his displeasure with my performance quite emphatically, I knew the sentiments expressed really meant, “I believe in you, and I know you can be better.”

This time of year, when our student-athletes are on the track, in the weight room, and on the field for OTAs instead of at the beach, the lake, or the river, your voice needs to be welcoming and encouraging while still maintaining high standards. If you want them to come and keep coming throughout the dog days of summer, those two hours need to be the best two hours of their day. Your voice sets that tone.

Let it echo beyond the field.