Article February 11, 2002 Issue

Preventing violence on the field

Marilyn C. Jones

During the season , rain or shine, you'll find football coach Isahn Shoemake on the field. Now living in Claremont, California, and the father of four kids—all aspiring athletes—Isahn uses what he learned as a high-school and college athlete to help him coach football today.

Isahn transferred from junior college into a four-year school in his sophomore year. When we asked if he had experienced intimidation on the field, he laughed. "Actually, I think I was considered the intimidator back then when I first arrived at college," he admitted. "Football is a mind game, and you try to create a mental edge. And that can be achieved by intimidating other players on the field, by verbally goading them, and also just by hitting hard.

It's part of the game. Hitting hard can be intimidating to your opponent. He's thinking, 'That guy is going to be after me all day'—and you think, 'If I keep going after him, I just might get him to drop the ball.' "

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