In the quiet north-east town of Washington, an unassuming Frenchman with a professorial manner pounds the streets deep in thought, with only his Alsatian dog Tampa for company.
On his mind is how he can get the maximum out of his students at this crucial time of year.
For most students, May is exam time, just like in football, the period when the major prizes are decided and a season's work is judged.
Prizes do not come much bigger than a place in the Premier League, which is what Sunderland and Sheffield United will aim for in the Championship play-off final on Saturday (15:01 BST).