Pose Like a Champion

Today we went to the Berkeley Buccaneers football photo shoot.  This event was quite entertaining as I got to see the real Coach Ciao in his element and it was fun! Did you know that it takes almost all day to get football photos?  Yes.  It does.  First you have the coaches photos, then you have the team photos, then the group photos, then the individual photos.  And the seniors get photos with their parents.  It is all very regimented too: seniors first, etc.

Coach is sitting by Fred outside of the Straz Family Field House.  Coach is wearing his Big Boy Coat.

 The day started out with a big change: Coach was wearing his Big Boy Coat.  Yes, our 5-month old baby is into the big boy coat.  Fred got tired of him showing so much booty in the baby coat and doctored up the big boy coat for the photo shoot.  It just hung over his tail a tiny half inch.  But Coach didn’t seem to mind.  After all, he was with the Varsity Team.  He couldn’t let on he wasn’t worthy!

Coach is lying down next to a Berkeley football helmet. 

First there was the a problem though.  There was lightning.  Evidently when there is lightning within 8 miles of the school, all children must come inside.  That meant that all the photos that were planned for outside on the field had to be broken down and moved inside.  This move created another unforeseen problem.  Seems that Coach Ciao had a bad experience with taking team photos in the gym and he doesn't ever want to repeat it.  Therefore, we had to find an alternative. 

Coach is lying down next to a Berkeley football helmet with the Berkeley Buccaneer in the background.

 Fortunately, when Coach Ciao wants something, everyone puts their thinking caps on and eventually someone comes up with a solution to a seemingly impossible situation.  What they came up with was brilliant.

Here is a photo of the Berkeley Buccaneer coaching staff.  Coach Ciao is holding the football in the middle of the front row.

Here is the football coaching staff.  I don’t have a shot of Coach with them.  It is coming soon.  Alan, the photographer, got him to perk his ears and look super cute though!!!

In the entrance of the Straz Family Field House, the benches have been laid out and the seal is down in front.

Here is the solution that they came up with: the entrance to the Straz Family Field House which is gorgeous and also features an amazing Berkeley seal in the foreground. Perfect.  All they needed were benches, which they found and trucked in from the football field and some boxes to stand on.  Teamwork.  It is amazing.

Here Alan is positioning the boys and Coach Ciao. 

Soon the benches were filling up and the final people were being placed.  All that remained was the placement of the coaches and the front row.  The front row had a tough job as it was a really awkward and uncomfortable position for the boys to stay in.  Most of them have very tight hamstrings and did not like sitting like that, which is why number 55 is resting before sitting up tall for the official shot.  They took several team shots before calling for Coach (the dog) and when Alan called for him, a cheer went up with the team.  It was quite cool.

Coach is lying down in front with the rest of the Berkeley Buccaneer 2012/2013 Football Team and Coaching Staff behind him.

I walked Coach out to Chris (#7). And Coach sat next to him.  Alan told the team that he was going to be making barking noises and not to laugh.  Then the barking started. Coach put up with it for the first shot, but then he gave Alan a startled look and got up and ran in my general direction.

There were smiles, but  no laughter. Although, I think there might have been a snicker or two.