Georgia is currently the number one team in the nation. With recent national championship wins, they continue to assert themselves as one of the best college football teams in the nation.
However, when you dig deeper into the program, you learn more. Georgia’s football team graduation rate is the lowest in the nation at 41%. They routinely have arrest incidents involving their “student” athletes. Like other large power four schools, they spend as much on football NIL deals as La Tech’s entire athletic budget. Their quarterback drives a $250,000 Lamborghini.
I assume Georgia fans could care less about graduation rates, arrest issues, or the ridiculous money being paid as long as they win. Is that really success? I guess it depends on how one defines success for a program.
As we look at our local college football teams, what is a realistic view of success?
Being a La Tech graduate and faithful follower of the team, I will share some thoughts.
- Competing for conference championships in a conference of similarly funded teams. Similarly funded meaning athletic budgets of similar amounts to allow for a competitive landscape.
- True student athletes. Students attend class, earn degrees, and leave La Tech equipped to have success in whatever they pursue.
- Coaching impact beyond the scoreboard. Coaches invest in players to develop them as people and prepare them to navigate challenges of life.
- Team is involved in the community. Coaches and players are actively involved in the community because they see the value of impact (not because they were given a goal to meet).
- School and community support. The team is a unifying attribute within the school and community. Support is noted through attendance, engagement, and financial support.
- Character in every aspect: The team conducts themselves on the field and off the field with a high degree of character and provides an exemplary picture for others to follow.
- Connection. The team connects with each other, the coaching staff, students, and the community in such a way that former players and alumni desire to come back, to engage, and to provide financial support.
Those are seven thoughts on success. I know many will just point to wins and losses, but we must remember there are people on the other sideline trying to win too. They pay coaches, recruit players, provide scholarships, and practice too. Even if none of that were true, I still want more than just a win on the scoreboard. I want an impact that lasts longer than it takes to sing the fight song after the game.
Winning is still a lot more fun than losing. Let’s just do it the “right” way!
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