After a third consecutive 3-9 season, many people will look back at the 2023 season and find quite a lot to be disappointed about with respect to the results. I have no problem with people voicing their disappointment, frustration, or embarrassment with the lack of success. Furthermore, I don’t have any issue with people being very concerned, if not angry, with how the season ended watching those final two games. As long as people express emotions, they still care. It’s when people stop expressing their disappointment that those leading the program need to fear. Apathy is hard to overcome!
Rather than pose a look back at a disappointing year, as a Tech alum, I would prefer to look forward. After over thirty years leading businesses, I understand disappointing years, financial concerns, and morale issues. Business and athletics are not that different. Both need a vision of a better tomorrow, a strategy that will provide an opportunity for success, people who believe in the organization and want to be a part of it, and an ability to execute at a high level to experience success in the face of stiff competition.
Perspective: Everyone involved with La Tech football needs to understand that we don’t and will not have the financial resources that many schools have available to them. Texas A&M is paying a former coach $76 million dollars to not work. Most Power 5 schools have athletic budgets 3-4 times that of La Tech, as well as large NIL collectives paying players significant amounts of money. We can’t compete with that funding. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t compete in a non-Power 5 conference even though our budgetary levels are still below many of those schools as well.
Strategy: I am a supporter of the current administration, coach, and staff at La Tech. I do suggest some strategy considerations though. It’s not a matter of trying harder. These people work very hard. It’s about strategy change.
Football focus: To compete with the inherent limitations and challenges noted above, La Tech cannot be a “me too” with how offensive and defensive strategies are developed and players are recruited. Tech will have to pursue an identity that is to an extreme.
Offensively, we can’t pursue a balanced attack. While everyone desires balance, it’s not going to happen at Tech in today’s college football landscape. We need to consider throwing the ball 50-60 times a game. We don’t have big NIL money to offer, but we can attract talented players that want to throw and catch to those levels. We may not have NIL money to attract lineman to fit every phase of a balanced attack, but we can find the right student-athletes to fit our system.
Defensively, we may have to pursue a different approach to stop rushing attacks from bigger, more athletic teams. We may need to move to an odd front with more of an attack focus than read and react. By attacking more with speed and quickness we may be able to force more turnovers and play to our strengths rather than allowing offenses to exploit our weaknesses. We are going to struggle finding the number of players needed to play a traditional front with a traditional focus.
Culture: Regardless of how other schools are dismissing the value of culture, team chemistry, and overall team building, we need to accentuate those elements of our program. While we can’t compete financially with many, we can seek to create environments that players, coaches, and support personnel want to engage. This culture can be one that challenges everyone beyond current expectations, but one that also values one another, sincerely cares for one another, and ultimately creates an atmosphere that people desire! Culture can be a defining strength!
Financial Focus: Get better with doing more with less. Embrace it. Make it part of the mantra and culture. Navy Seals have what would appear to be the most basic elements of training facilities, meeting rooms, and resources, but they are the best in the world at what they do. Tech football needs to embrace doing more with less in every aspect of the operation as a strategy for success. There are financial concerns throughout the university system right now, but let’s don’t be a victim and give up.
There’s plenty more of ideas, but I will stop there. I am pulling for everyone in the administrative office, the coaching staff, and every player on that team to get back to work this offseason, forget the past, and look forward to what lies ahead with great anticipation and determination. Clarify the vision, revise the strategy, find more people that want to engage, and execute the plan at the highest level possible!
