The AFCA Convention returns to the City That Tim Duncan Built (commonly known as San Antonio) once again, and FootballScoop is back with our official guide to the four-day event.
Saturday night:If you're in town, take advantage of the opportunity the schedule has afforded you and head out with your friends in the profession. The Riverwalk affords a number of places to eat and drink, but if you're looking for something a bit nicer, we recommend heading to the Alamo Heights area of town.
Sunday afternoon: When you arrive at the convention center, familiarize yourself with the official convention schedule. Head over early to get your credentials and spend some time with some of the vendors in the exhibit hall. There are always some unique and impressive new products and services to see (hey, let us know @FootballScoop if you see anything we need to hear about). This is truly the best time to hit the exhibit hall, and we recommend you stop by and see 2015 Product of the Year Sky Coach, what is certain to be 2016 Product of the Year Go Rout, and as always, the only former multi-year product / service of the year winner TeamWorks, lead by the always dapper Zach Maurides.
There are a number of speakers planned as part of the High School Coaches Academy Sunday afternoon including at 4 p.m. the “First timers’ meeting” for first time attendees (whether high school or college coaches), and opportunities to hear Larry Fedora, Fred Farrier and others share advice.
Sunday evening:Buzz sessions kick off fast and furious, with 2015 FootballScoop Quarterbacks Coach of the Year Mike Sanford (Notre Dame), Curtis Luper (TCU), Sean Spencer (Penn State), Ben Albert (Boston College), Mike Bloomgren (Stanford) and others speaking at 6 p.m. Garrick McGee (Louisville), Conor Riley (North Dakota State), Barry Lunney, Jr. (Arkansas), Daronte' Jones (Wisconsin), Terry Joseph (Texas A&M), Phil Parker (Iowa) and others following at 7 p.m.
Sunday night:When exiting the convention center we recommend making Bar Rojo your first stop, located in the Grand Hyatt just outside convention hall. Outside of that, we recommend taking in some of America's finest people watching at the Riverwalk. Weather.com has predicted a forecast of mid-to-high 50's by day and high 30's by night, a welcome respite from Indianapolis and Louisville.
Monday morning:High school, international and JuCo coaches -- this is your time. General sessions dot the schedule for each group from 8 a.m. through 11:15. For any young coaches looking to climb the ladder, the annual GA/career forum runs from 9 to 11.... but get there at 8:30. Trust us. Dan Mullen, former Temple athletics director Bill Bradshaw, Hardin-Simmons head coach Jesse Burleson, Akron offensive coordinator A.J. Milwee and former Iowa State defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist are this year's panelists.
Monday afternoon:Make time to sit with 4,000 of your closest friends as general sessions kick off with one final talk from Steve Spurrier at 2:10. (Once again, get there early). Former Georgia Tech, Alabama, Kentucky and Georgia State head coach Bill Curry interviews outgoing AFCA executive director Grant Teaff in the final Master Coach session follows at 3:10. (Don't be surprised if Teaff uses this opportunity to name his successor.) Some interesting sessions follow with, among others, David Shaw speaking on how to build a consistent program at 4:30.
Monday night:We recommend you cut your buzz sessions early as the annual FootballScoop party roars from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bar Rojo. There won't be a better spot in South Texas to watch Alabama vs. Clemson at 7:30. The beverages will be frosty (and on us & our good friends and sponsors), some good food and plenty of camaraderie. Come join us as we celebrate this year’s Coaches of the Year sponsored by ProGrass. Many thanks to our friends at Sky Coach, JumpForward, ProGrass Turf and Go Rout for sponsoring this year’s party with us.
Tuesday morning:Jacksonville State head coach John Grass (fresh off dethroning four-time FCS national champion North Dakota State?) and Southern Oregon head coach Craig Howard headline breakout sessions at 8 a.m. A few unique breakouts follow at 9: "Family, Football & Finances" with St. Thomas head coach Glenn Caruso and Doug Davis of Davis Investments, "A Call to Coaches: Developing Healthy Manhood" with Tony Porter and an NCAA recruiting seminar. At 10, anyone with aspirations of leading a sub-FBS program should make time to attend "Football Operations without an FBS Sized Budget" with Jeff McMartin (Central College), Victor Santa Cruz (Asuza Pacific) and Jim Collins (Saginaw Valley State) dishing on how they run their programs. Once again, you'll want to arrive early.
Tuesday afternoon:Day two of the main hall sessions starts with Pat Fitzgerald, Ken Niumatalolo and, in an interesting change of pace, William McRaven. McRaven is currently the chancellor of the University of Texas system, but prior to that served as Admiral of the U.S. Navy, the executive in charge when Seal Team 6 smoked Osama bin Laden.
Tuesday night:Unless you're headed to the Coach of the Year dinner, the schedule clears up just in time for you to get in a dinner with your staff and/or colleagues before everyone hits the road for the rest of the month.
Wednesday morning:Another solid line-up of chalk talks (Hal Mumme, Texas A&M's Terry Price, Utah's Morgan Scalley, Auburn's Scott Fountain, Temple's Chris Wiesehan and San Diego State's Osia Lewis) gets you out of bed at 8 and 9 a.m. Beyond that, it's time to hit the road and say goodbye to folks you won't see again until this time next year.
If anyone has any restaurant recommendations (closer to the Riverwalk the better, obviously), please let us know and we'll share.
Some more recommendations: The Station Cafe, Trilogy, Pearl Brewery area, Acenar, Ruth's Chris, Morton's, Bella On the River, Boudro's, Paesanos.
And one final order of business: make sure you're following
@FootballScoop best burger ever at Zinc. Best Mexican food at Rosario's. The area around Pearl Brewery is a hotbed of great food/drink
— Ben Brendel (@benbrendel) January 5, 2016
" target="_blank">@FootballScoop, @zach_barnett and @CoachSamz for the latest from the convention and beyond.
See you in San Antonio.