By By BRIAN HAINES
Brian@wdnweb.com
Sports Writer
PLYMOUTH — During Robert Cody’s 31-year tenure coaching football at Plymouth High School, the veteran leader has learned a lot about football and life. However, one key lesson learned along the way has stuck with the coach and become a crucial part of his coaching success.
This year, the Vikings’ coach led his team to a 13-2 record, a share of the Four Rivers Conference championship and a trip to the NCHSAA 1-A East Regional round of the playoffs.
Over the course of Cody’s career, he has won six conference championships and one state title, and after his fantastic 2010 season, he has been named the Washington Daily News Football Coach of the Year for the sixth time.
While it is clear that Cody has mastered ways to win games on Friday nights, it was his change in change in approach leading up to Friday that has allowed his teams to become consistent winners.
“When I started here, I used to do a lot of yelling, but you can’t teach anybody when you are getting on them real hard because their self-esteem has been knocked down,” Cody said. “I think of all the things I have learned in 31 years, it’s to teach them, don’t yell at them. I think that’s helped me more than anything.
“Once you demean anybody, it’s tough to come back and say ‘Hey, let’s get this thing right’ because in the back of their mind they are always going to remember you yelling at them.”
The Vikings’ coach said a change in his personal life led to him changing his coaching style.
“I think it helped a whole lot when I started going to church. It helped a whole lot,” Cody said. “The Bible will tell you everything. I don’t think Jesus ever jumped down anyone’s throat. There’s no kid that’s going to make a mistake on purpose. We want to correct the mistake, not belittle the kid.”
While Cody’s approach may have soften throughout the years, his strict dedication to his team and winning have never wavered.
“Coach Cody is a man who sticks to the plan,” said Plymouth running back Ronnell Blount, who was the Washington Daily News Offensive Player of the Year. “He never gives up when things go wrong; he doesn’t care what people say.”
A staple of Cody-coached teams has been his dedication to the running game. During his time at the helm, he has run the wing-T or some form of a double tight-end based offense for just about all of his 31 years.
Cody’s reputation as a “man who sticks with the plan” is never more evident than when his team faces third-and-long situations. Even the most ardent run-first coach generally draws up some kind of play-action pass or bootleg to try and get a first down, but Cody doesn’t flinch at the thought of running a counter on third-and-20.
It’s not crazy if it works, and for Cody it works a lot.
In an era of Air Raid football and wild spread offenses, Cody’s teams may lack style points, but they never lack wins. As far as real points are concerned, Plymouth’s old-school, wing-T offense averaged 39 points per game this season.
“I understand the T and the wing-T a whole lot better than I understand the spread,” Cody said. “And anytime I got away from what I do, I would get in trouble because you can’t fix it. As a coach if you can’t fix the problem on the field on a Friday night, then you’re gonna lose.”
After finishing 13-2, it looks like Cody has a pretty good fix on his Vikings.