Keith Barefield Jr. admits he gets emotional when it comes to the game of football, but the Southeastern University (Lakeland, Florida) offensive coordinator says those emotions must be under control.

In Barefield’s early days of calling plays, he saw firsthand how being over-emotional could impact those around him, especially the players.

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“I was too emotional in the moment of the game to realize how my attitude, my demeanor affected the offense around me,” he said.

It took Barefield about a game and-a-half to realize when he unraveled and let his emotions get the best of him, his players would mirror the response.

“The quarterback would start getting nervous and timid, which makes the whole offense take on that attitude at the same time,” Barefield said.

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A guest on USA Football's Coach and Coordinator Podcast, Barefield said coaches must learn how to control those emotions in the heat of battle, whatever it takes.

“I need to appear and stay even-keeled,” Barefield said, “so the offense doesn’t get out of their groove and they stay within their heads.”

This is an updated version of a blog that originally published April 11, 2017.