By Malcolm Butler
New Louisiana Tech defensive coordinator Luke Olson is sold.
And it didn’t take him long.
Olson, who spent the past season as the DC at CUSA champion Jacksonville State, spoke to local media Monday following the Bulldogs’ fourth fall practice.
He talked about this year’s team culture, and why he believes it will lead to success on the field.
“When I first got here (back in January), I just sat back and observed and watched these guys work out,” said Olson. “I was just trying to get a lay for the land. As I watched I noticed how connected these guys were and how much they care about each other, which is huge.
“If you want to go out and win a championship, your team needs to be connected. I noticed that they had that.”
Olson inherits a Tech defensive unit that ranked No. 12 in total defense in the nation in 2024, allowing just 308.4 yards per game. The ranking was a 98-place improvement over where Tech finished in 2023.
Tech also showed a vast improvement in scoring defense (going from No. 117 to No. 26) and rushing defense (going from 132 to No. 44).
However, as senior defensive back Cedric Woods told the media Monday, those numbers mean nothing heading into this year.
“You want to just build off of last year, but quite frankly nobody cares about what we did last year,” said Woods. “That’s in the past. We can build off it, but we are focused on the future. Each day we are just trying to move that notch a little bit more, a little bit more.
“We have guys who are paving the way to keep pushing and to keep leading that way so we can build off of last year and hopefully be even better.”
Sophomore defensive lineman Judd Rouyea agreed.
“This is a new year,” said Rouyea. “Last year we had a lot of success, but there isn’t anything that says we can’t do it again or even be better. Right now, we are worried about winning games. If we are the best defense in the country, great. But it’s just about winning games.”
Olson reiterated that he believes the entire Tech locker room is pulling in the same direction. He said there is a closeness that goes beyond the football field.
“We do a lot of exercises where we try to get to know each other and learn more about one another,” said Olson. “It’s okay to be vulnerable and share some things that you have been through in your life. I think that is how you get connected and really get to know somebody.
“I will sit in the back of the room while someone else is speaking, and think to myself, ‘I don’t know how I would have ever asked to know about that, and he just shared that with us.’ And now I know what he has been through because he shared that with us. I think this team as a whole is connected.”
Monday’s spirited session on the practice fields at the Jim Mize Track and Field Complex saw the Tech defense record six takeaways. Bulldog defensive players were running around making play after play, celebrating with their teammates each time.
Woods said football is fun.
“I’ve laughed more this year than any other year,” said Woods. “It’s fun being in this building. It’s a fun atmosphere. We have a great coaching staff. We have great players. It’s fun to be up here every day. We are just having fun learning ball and playing ball.”
As Woods and Rouyea answered question after question from the local media gaggle, Olson sat and listened, nodding his head time after time during his players’ responses.
“Listening to (these guys) talk to you guys, a lot of the stuff said are points that I’ve been trying to push home and emphasize,” said Olson. “It’s great to see leaders on our defense reemphasize (those points) and regurgitate what I have said to them.
“Yes. I say it over and over again and I say it every day, but to have them talk about it speaks volumes about what we are trying to accomplish.”
The Bulldogs are just over three weeks away from their season opener against Southeastern Louisiana set for August 31 at Joe Aillet Stadium.
There is still plenty of work to be done in preparation for the Southland Conference foe that begins the 12-game slate.
But Woods and Rouyea believe the culture is in place that will give the Bulldogs a realistic chance of competing for a conference title.
And both players are sold on their new DC.
“What is great about the group of guys we have is the culture,” said Rouyea. “It’s great and that’s because of guys like Kolbe (Fields), (Sifa Leota), and guys on the backend.
“Coach Olson is great, but honestly, I think you could bring anybody in and us as defensive players are going to say, ‘This is our team. This is our defense. And this is how we are going to attack it.’
“We just happen to have a great coach (and coaches) that are going to lead us.”
On and off the field.
“I have a great relationship with Coach Olson,” said Woods. “Football aside. If anything arises, I feel he is a guy I can go to about anything in my life.
