I told the ladies we had to make something happen. It was now or never, don't wait for someone else to make it happen.

This year has been a lot tougher than last year. This is probably one of the toughest coaching jobs I've ever had. You're getting everybody's No. 1; there's no hiding. Trying to repeat is the toughest thing.

I think we responded well. The intensity level was up.

It was a big character win. We relied on some new people, and they came through. That's huge.

Not only was it enough to be a cover band, it was perhaps the highest calling. After all, if you could play music recorded by others, stay true to the original, and still add fire and flare, why not?

The rhetoric is the key to the character. It's the verbal music of the piece.