As the season wound down, attendance dropped, message boards grew in negativity, and overall support for the program continued to decline. Even though the team improved on the record from the last four years, there was still a losing record and no bowl game.
We can point to the lack of funding and inability to pay players and place the blame there. We can point to the overall athletic budget being one of the lowest in FBS football and place the blame there. We can point to the coaching staff and just blame them. If we aren’t careful, we can just become victims, lose hope, lose interest, and just walk away.
Ryan Ivey and his staff did a fantastic job improving the game day experience! The band and support groups do a terrific job at the games. The new video board was awesome. With that said, there was still just something missing. That something is identity! Not only is that the missing element, but it may also just be the key to winning too.
Here’s are some facts to consider:
- The top players will go where they can make the most money. Those teams will always be the best. We can’t compete with them.
- There are other talented players that want to play that aren’t getting that chance today. Regardless of the money, they want a chance to play.
- We can’t try to be like everyone else and experience sustainable success. We must be unique to attract the right players and execute at a consistent level.
Five key steps that will be a giant step forward:
- Go all in on offensive identity: Offense generates excitement. Forget about being balanced and doing what others do. Choose one:
o Air raid – Throw it 60 times a game. Quarterbacks and receivers will come to just get a chance at those stats! You can find linemen that fit that scheme only.
o Power Run – Run it 50 times a game. You can find talented running backs that want 20+ carries a game and linemen that fit that scheme. (ULM this year)
o Option Football – Do what the military academies do and find those undersized guys and play to their strengths (Army is 10-1 with that approach).
- Positive mindset: Positivity throughout the program makes a difference. Player confidence, team cohesion, fan excitement all gets better. I followed Sonny Cumbie’s coach’s show this year. My favorite show was the one with Coach Parr. He had numerous players show up to support him, and his passion for those players and excitement about coaching was contagious. You unleash more of that positive approach and people can’t help but catch it!
- Connect: We need to open things up and connect players and coaches to the fan base, to the campus, and to the community. While we don’t need random people at every practice, we need key folks there reporting daily to help everyone stay connected.
- Mutual Accountability: There is no room for transactional or conditional relationships in small market programs. Administrators and coaches can’t just ask for money and do nothing to connect. Fans, alumni, and supporters can’t just show up if the team wins. There must be a mutual commitment on both sides that precedes winning.
- Embrace It: The best players are going to get a chance to leave every year. Embrace it. Recruit to it. Don’t play the victim card. The more players we move forward to Power 4 programs the more talented players we should attract to keep the program moving forward. Build a team each year but maintain a program through the systems operated!
There is hope and an approach to deliver sustainable success. It doesn’t require millions of dollars, and it doesn’t require firing coaches! It does, however, require a unique identity, a positive mindset, and self-awareness to embrace who we are rather than who we are not. It will require change!
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