CRF President Aaron Webber: Interview of the Week, Part III

(hi5.com photo)

BYU Rugby Forever: As far as looking a little more long term, just in terms of the goals that you have for the program and this vision that you've mentioned, do you have any specific dates or time ranges that you're shooting for accomplishing these specific goals?

Aaron Webber: One of the other challenges that we have is coming in basically at the beginning of a season: It doesn't give you much time to get traction before the season's now halfway through and then over. You know, we've only got another two months, slight less than two months, and then the season's done. And a lot of those things we want to do have a long tail, so you've got to work your way into them and those sort of things. So, we'll be able to add some value this year.

I'd like to think that there would be some demonstrable steps forward for next season, 'cause we get the whole off-season and preseason to get things in place. And I'd like to think that in the sort of three to five year plan, we get to the point where we're funded; the money's in the bank before the season starts; and we've got programs in place that communicate effectively. I mean, we're not going to keep everybody happy, but there are routines and structure in place to move ourselves forward and manage the business. I'd like to be involved in that for as long as Davy and the other guys want me to be. You know if they perceive I'm not pulling my weight, then they kick me out and get someone else in.

But you know, I just want to add value where I can, and I think the two to four year time frame is an appropriate one to get everything in place that needs to be in place, and there's always the tweaking and the fine-tuning that needs to take place from there. But yeah, years two and three, I think, will be the ones where as the giant leads forward in terms of structure and systems to support the team.

BYU Rugby Forever: As far as BYU Rugby alumni and fans, just off the top of your head, what specific activities or responsibilities or things could they do to help in this effort and help support the Cougar Rugby Foundation and the whole rugby program at BYU?

Aaron Webber: I think there's a number of things. First is just talk about the game. Talk about the team; talk about the game. I think there's a growing awareness of rugby in the United States. You know, it's one of the fast growing sports at the high school level. I mean, case in point in Utah here, when I first started coaching at the high school level there were seven teams I think in Utah and this year there's something like twenty-nine ... and that's just in four years. So it's some significant growth going on; see, the chatter is out there about the sport. So just talking the sport up.

If you're anywhere near a game that takes place, be at the game. Drag friends and family and kids and neighbors along. Spread the word in that regard, both from a BYU perspective as well as a rugby perspective; ideally, a BYU Rugby perspective. You know, general chatter, going to games, home or away.

Write a check, send us some money. I'm that blunt about it. If you don't have the time, then you know send us your ten dollars, a hundred dollars, a thousand dollars, or ten thousand dollars. Or, chat with your employer, and say, "Hey look, as part of our community engagement spending, can you sponsor the BYU Rugby team?" and those sorts of things.

There's all sorts of ways people can be engaged in it: go to the websites, go to the blogs, just keep yourself in sync with what's going on and sooner or later something will spark an interest or there'll be the area where you can say, "Well, I could help there," and so you can step in and add some value.

BYU Rugby Forever: Well, thanks for your time. Any final thoughts or anything else you would share with the BYU Rugby Community out there?

Aaron Webber: Yes, thank you for your support thus far. And I don't want to seem ungrateful, but we've got to notch it up, myself included, in terms of our level of support for the team. So, don't yell at me or chase me away if I come to you and ask you to do something or contribute. Just continue to love the game, continue to be involved where you can.

I think we're at the cusp of some outstanding things for BYU. Will we forever be at the level where we're at? No, we'll have some good years and some bad years. But I think we're operating at a level now where the expectations are realistic enough to assume we're going to be in the Final Four and compete at the Final Game and win it more often than not. And so I think that's a successful program, that's a program that you can feel proud to be a part of.

For you and I, it was back in the old days; we helped lay the foundation. And that alone should be a sense of pride. But then to be able to come back, you know, circle back around, and provide some degree of value, add to that. Once you've learned at BYU, gone out, and earned something in the marketplace, come back and return that to the team.

You see some players out there you think would be great for BYU, let's hear about them. You think there's some things we could do better and faster and stronger, let's hear about it. And more often than not, we'll come back to you and say, "Great idea; help us do it!" So, just being involved, being aware. We have the beginnings of a great family here, and I just want to build on that where I can and augment that where possible.

BYU Rugby Forever: Thanks for all your support; we look forward to doing what we can to help you out!

Aaron Webber: You're welcome.

Editor's note: This piece is the third part of a three-part, extended interview originally audio-recorded by BYU Rugby Forever on 3 March, 2010, in Provo, Utah.

Due to the seventeen-and-a-half-minute length of the recording, it has been transcribed and separated into three sections for readability and presentation purposes.
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CRF President Aaron Webber: Interview of the Week, Part II

(hi5.com photo)

BYU Rugby Forever: Along those lines, since you already mentioned what you need to do with the Cougar Rugby Foundation, kind of 'taking that load off the coaches' backs', what are your duties going to be, or what have you already been doing, to fill that role and get the ball rolling to take care of those responsibilities?

Aaron Webber: I see the role basically in three facets. Number one is and will always be fundraising. It's an unfortunate reality, but it takes money to do what needs to be done. And if the team's going to make an annual event of going to the National Championship game, we're going to have to find some way to pay for that and get themselves there and not have to sleep on the floor and all those sorts of things. You know, back in our day it was minivans driving for a day and a half, and then sleep with members, and blah blah blah. So, we have notched it up in terms of our sophistication, and that's appropriate. The team has notched up in terms of its playing level, too, which means you've got to notch up in terms of the funds required to do that. So number one's fundraising.

Number two would be alumni relations: keeping the alumni informed; having the appropriate forum such as this and others. And that doesn't mean that I do it or the Cougar Rugby Foundation does it. We can do some but we can also be facilitators; have these sort of conversations; just get the message out there; maintain contact ... which also feeds fundraising, obviously, but also helps build that team spirit.

I mean, rugby is a great team sport. You know, I love American football; it's an outstanding sport. It is a team sport, but you don't necessarily play as a team. I mean, it's a collection of teams. You've got offense; you've got defense; you've got special teams. And very rarely do those teams intersect or be on the field at the same time. You've got specialist positions where you play quarterback and you do certain things; and that's what you do, and you get very good at them. In rugby, you have to be more of a generalist: you're offense, you're defense, you're special teams, you're tackling, you're running, you're scoring ...

So, to me, that's the approach I want to take in terms of some of these back-office support mechanisms is this Cougar Rugby Foundation can facilitate that team play on the alumni. We have significant expertise in our alumni base. We have guys that are great marketers, great bloggers, great communicators, great fundraisers, guys with plenty of money that can write checks, people that can bring crowds to games ... you name the skill sets that we need; they're in the alumni base. And so, worst case scenario, all we've got to do is just have that alumni base informed as to how they can help, how they can be involved, 'cause I think most want to be, and then the benefits will flow from that.

So, fundraising, alumni liaison, and then whatever we can in terms of off-field support. You know, negotiating with airlines, hotels, just making the process of running the team more efficient in terms of sponsorships, gear supply, field preparation, gameday dramas, etc., etc.; just again, take the burden off the coaches so that those guys can focus on what they're very, very good at ... which is coaching a great team, recruiting great talent, building a great program.

BYU Rugby Forever: As far as that whole undertaking is concerned, what are some of the roadblocks or potential obstacles you see to making that all happen? As you said, the resources are there ... what obstacles are in the way as you try to facilitate that whole process?

Aaron Webber: I don't think there are obstacles; obstacles are just opportunities, right? I mean, it's just a question of how you approach them. I think the biggest obstacle we have is just some inertia ... you know, there are good people out there that have lost contact. And in their water, they want to help; they just don't know how, and so they haven't done anything. And so just getting them off the dial there, you know, doing something, being involved ... that, I think, is the biggest issue.

But, that's not a big issue, but that's the biggest one we've got, I think. Writing a check, spreading the word, getting bums in seats at games home and away. It doesn't have to be a hard or time-intensive thing, but just if everyone makes that contribution just like the team, you know ... with all due respect to wingers, I mean, they're not involved in the game all the time, but good wingers go looking for work, right? They don't just hang out on the wing and say, "Well, the ball's on that side; I'll just hang out here and do nothing." They go looking for it, they get engaged, they scrounge the ball.

Same sort of thing: we don't want a bunch of alumni that are just wingers waiting for the ball to come to them and then they go to work. Some guys that can put their hand up and say, "I'll go looking for work." And, you know, the game, the institution ... to me, and I'm off track here, but the institution is outstanding. BYU is ... you know, I'm a diehard BYU fan, so ... check that box. The game is outstanding, I'm a diehard rugby fan. Our rugby team is outstanding, I'm a diehard BYU Rugby fan; so you bring those three together, and I think that there is an attraction in all three of those or one of those three, whatever the case may be, for people to want to be involved and add some value and do some stuff.

You know, BYU is a world-class institution, and we have now got the beginnings of a world-class team and a world-class program, and I just want to do what I can to help move that along. And I think others do too; but they just need to know where to 'stand where you lift' type thing ... "Ok, I'm standing, so what am I lifting, and what am I going to do?"

Editor's note: This piece is the second part of a three-part, extended interview originally audio-recorded by BYU Rugby Forever on 3 March, 2010, in Provo, Utah.

Due to the seventeen-and-a-half-minute length of the recording, it has been transcribed and separated into three sections for readability and presentation purposes.
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CRF President Aaron Webber: Interview of the Week, Part I

Yes folks, it's time for another BYU Rugby Forever 'Interview of the Week' ... however, this go 'round presents a special treat: an extended look into the future of the BYU Rugby Program as dictated by Cougar Rugby Foundation President Aaron Webber. (hi5.com photo)

Enjoy!

BYU Rugby Forever: If you could, tell us BYU Rugby fans about your history and involvement, your connection to the team in the past and how that figures into your current role as the Cougar Rugby Foundation President.

Aaron Webber: My history as relates to BYU Rugby, I mean, it's history and it's history that's relevant ... I played for BYU in '89-'90 ... I think those were the years, back in the days when Vern Heperi was coach. Very different program from what it is now but just as fun, just as good a sport, just as engaging in terms of the nature of the sport ... and then lose track as you get into life and move away and do other things. But I was from New Zealand and was living in New Zealand for the last portion of the intervening period, and so rugby's a passion down there; it's a religion. So you always keep track of the sport, always try to keep track of BYU and BYU Rugby during that same time period.

Then we moved back here to the US about thirteen years ago, just began to get more involved from a spectator perspective in the sport, watched its progress. Then probably about four or five years ago, began to get a lot more involved on an alumni basis, on a 'writing-a-check' basis ... going to the games. My boys were getting older, and they wanted to start to look at playing rugby. They were junior-high/high-school age, and so we got involved at that level. And then obviously you want to introduce them to the next level along which was BYU.

And so we went to the games and became passionate supporters as a family of BYU Rugby. And then I was just asked two months ago or so to take the role as president; I must confess I didn't immediately jump at it ... not that I wasn't prepared to do it or didn't want to help. But I just wanted to make sure that I was qualified to do what needed to be done and that I had the time and energy to do what was required of me in doing that role. They twisted my arm and so here I am.

BYU Rugby Forever: Great, great; glad to hear it. As far as your professional background, how has that all factored in? I mean, obviously that was a factor in having them ask you to help out the team; could you describe a little bit of your professional background and what that means for the Cougar Rugby Foundation?

Aaron Webber: By way of professional background, most of it's been in business. My undergraduate degree from BYU was in finance and economics. I've just completed, actually, a graduate master's level degree from the University of Chicago in business, in behavioral economics. Most of my life has been in sort of a corporate world, working my way up through the food chain there, culminating in the corporate side in doing a management buyout. We bought the company I was working for from its European parent, sought to turn it around, get it going, did so, and then managed to reduce my investment in that. And now I basically run my own private equity fund looking to invest in companies doing startups, turnarounds, growth-stage investments, those sorts of things.

So, you know, it's been an interesting marketplace the last couple of years ... but ambiguity and interestingness speaks to opportunity in my opinion. And same thing for BYU Rugby, I mean, we have a great opportunity ahead of us. We've made that national-championship leap; we've achieved it. Now we've got to turn the team and a national-championship team into a national-championship-caliber program; and that isn't a coaching thing, that isn't a player thing ... that's a behind-the-scenes, Cougar-Rugby-Foundation thing. We've got to give the coaches the time and the attention, or allow them to have the time and the attention, they need to have to do what they need to do.

I look at what Justin, and David, and Kimball, and Wayne, and these guys have been doing ... I mean, they're husbands, fathers, church members, running a business, and coaching a team, all of which are full-time jobs. And as well as coaching, doing all the off-the-field stuff: the fundraising, the logistics, the marketing ... it boggles my mind how much workload they've had, even as relates just to BYU Rugby, let alone business and family and personal and church.

So I see our role in helping build that national-championship-level program as taking a lot of that off-the-field drama and distraction away from them. And that's where I think my background can be helpful. There is bringing some systems, some process, some money to bear where the coaches have to worry about, "Okay, if we make the playoffs, how do we afford to get there?" ... you just have to worry about making the playoffs and then doing the best possible job at the playoffs, knowing that other people who are semi-qualified or qualified are working on the challenge of the logistics, the funding, and those sorts of things.


Editor's note: This piece is the first part of a three-part, extended interview originally audio-recorded by BYU Rugby Forever on 3 March, 2010, in Provo, Utah.

Due to the seventeen-and-a-half-minute length of the recording, it has been transcribed and separated into three sections for readability and presentation purposes.
Read more...

BYU Rugby Lock TJ Allred: Interview of the Week

The BYU Rugby Forever 'Interview of the Week' series continues with BYU Rugby Lock TJ Allred. With several changes occurring in the 2010 starting lineup due to injury, graduating seniors, and LDS missions, the return of the former U-19 Canadian National Team player has proven critical to the Cougars' success thus far. One of the fittest players on the team, Allred often arrives first at the breakdown while also exploiting opportunities to insert in the back-line.

In the BYU Rugby team's most recent win against highly-ranked San Diego State, Allred also stepped up and took a leadership role in line-out situations, an area of struggle for the BYU forwards this season. As a result, BYU produced more creative and deceptive line-outs than in any previous test, and not surprisingly, more control of the set piece. (Photos by Paul Meyers)


BYU Rugby Forever: What is it like coming back to the BYU Rugby team after serving a 2-year mission for the LDS Church? Where did you serve? How has that experience impacted your capacity to contribute to the BYU Rugby team?

TJ Allred: Being back on the team from my mission in Montreal, Quebec, wasn't too hard of a transition. I needed to get back into shape quickly and had a solid couple of months on my own before pre-season, so I ran like crazy. My mission helped me realize the importance of team work and brotherhood between players in order to help perform. I'm very grateful for that. It's been really fun playing with Ryan Roundy who returned from his mission at the same time. He played for USA while I was playing with Canada before attending BYU. I had heard his name tossed around, and now we're on the same team.

BYU Rugby Forever: As a starter at the unique position of lock, what kind of challenges and responsibilities do you face in your efforts to contribute to the team? Any specific areas in which you perceive a need for improvement, personally or as a team?

TJ Allred: I love the lock position. But I'd play winger if they let me. As long as I'm on the field I'm fine. Its always a challenge to give 100% at all times. Every game I play I analyze only what I did wrong. I'm a bit of a perfectionist. There is definitely a bit of rust in the line-outs this year. But our team is really getting the right attitude to fix it, and we've already improved immensely as shown in our game against Colorado.

Our coaches say that there is no other team in the nation with as much natural talent as ours. I believe it too. It's just a matter of working together to unleash that talent. We need to stay calm and just have more fun. We play better that way and it shows. It's up to us as a team collectively to not get down on each other and stay positive where it is needed.

BYU Rugby Forever: The 2010 season has many people talking about the BYU Rugby team's strength in the forwards. Do you feel that this talk is justified? Thoughts? Are you ready to meet the challenge of another National Championship playoff run?

TJ Allred: We definitely have an advantage in our scrumming. We have fitness and power in our front row, and our back 5 are fit enough to get around the field. I love playing with our forward pack. When we are united and positive with each other, I believe that we play well enough to justify the so called "talk" going around. Pressure is on this year though; we need to really commit ourselves on and, more specifically at this point, off the field if we want to keep our title.

BYU Rugby Forever: Coming from the Canadian rugby system, what adjustments have you made to integrate yourself into the American system and especially the BYU Rugby team? Any aspirations of pursuing higher-level rugby in the future?

TJ Allred: I definitely enjoyed the time I had on team Canada. But I was still in the process of developing as a rugby player. Coming to BYU has helped me become that, I believe. The coaches give their all into the program and it shows. More or less the only real adjustments I've had to make are the jokes made against Canada and coaches calling me "Canucky." My freshman year was a bit difficult. I came in half way through the season and didn't know anyone, and it was hard to develop chemistry with some of the players and the coaches at first. But coming off my mission has been much better. I guess everyone goes through that weird 'new kid' phase though.

I'd absolutely love to play at a higher level. If you have never thought or dreamed about it at least once, you probably shouldn't be playing rugby. If the cards are ever to fall right, I'd consider for sure.

BYU Rugby Forever: Thanks TJ; good luck and go Cougars!
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