kkinder94
Redshirt Freshman
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2014
- Messages
- 388
It seems after every loss the board argues about why we are a substandard program: the o-line, inexperienced defensive backfield, erratic QB play, kicking, and poor coaching/player development. Those are certainly issues, but that doesn't really explain losing to inferior teams like FIU, Duke and GTech. Watching tonight, it is clear we don't have the fire. Duke played with more intensity and desire. We went through the motions. The kids hustled, but they didn't play with fire. Our players are entitled and mentally weak. They assume they should be great because of the glory days of yesteryear.
Having graduated from a service academy, I know the military makes you earn everything. When you enter boot camp, you ain't sh*t. You have to earn everything. Everyone with a chestful of ribbons and medals earned them. That is why those military members are respected. Newbies may have one or two ribbons. We need that in the program. I would start by having the players take the U off the helmets. They haven't earned the right to represent the U. Until they play with the U edge, they have nothing on their helmet. Nothing is given. Working to get the U on the helmet should drive the players. Just like you aren't called a Marine until you finish boot camp. You have to earn it.
The training in the military breaks you down physically AND mentally, especially elite units like the SEALs. We need the training to be so tough that the players think of quitting. If they survive, they know they can do anything. The confidence and attitude grow. They will look to dominate inferior opponents cause they know what they went through to make the field. Many will say today's kids aren't tough enough to take that kind of training. That is crap. The military still pushes today's kids to their limits. And, there have always been old school coaches like Bo Schembechler, Bear Bryant, and even Nick Saban that don't care about players feelings or social norms. They push you to the limit. I would also go further to incentivise players not to quit. The SEALs have the bell that recruits ring to quit. You could even have a wall with photos of those players who quit and leave the team. Players will fight not to be on that wall. And those who do quit; well, you weeded out the weak.
We need player accountability. I saw how Manny said that this week the players would self punish the team by doing five up and downs if someone jumped offsides. Really, five up and downs. You are happy with that kind of accountability. For offsides or other mental errors in practice, we need to be like the military. Make the person who messed up stand there as his teammates do flutter kicks till their stomachs cramp or sprint until exhaustion. This pushes kids to not make mistakes, and if they do, the team will ride them to perform better.
Granted, you should recruit players who are naturally competitive and driven, but the training should resemble the military. The military takes kids who aren't competitors or driven, and they force them to reach a new level. By putting the kids through ****, they come out confident, ****y and tough. They come out fighters. The silly gimmicks Diaz has done to date are crap. They are flash. The kids need a boot camp. They need to go through ****. Only then will they come out fighters.
It is that edge that made Miami great. If we don't have the players like the past, then we need to make them. The military does it. We can too.
Having graduated from a service academy, I know the military makes you earn everything. When you enter boot camp, you ain't sh*t. You have to earn everything. Everyone with a chestful of ribbons and medals earned them. That is why those military members are respected. Newbies may have one or two ribbons. We need that in the program. I would start by having the players take the U off the helmets. They haven't earned the right to represent the U. Until they play with the U edge, they have nothing on their helmet. Nothing is given. Working to get the U on the helmet should drive the players. Just like you aren't called a Marine until you finish boot camp. You have to earn it.
The training in the military breaks you down physically AND mentally, especially elite units like the SEALs. We need the training to be so tough that the players think of quitting. If they survive, they know they can do anything. The confidence and attitude grow. They will look to dominate inferior opponents cause they know what they went through to make the field. Many will say today's kids aren't tough enough to take that kind of training. That is crap. The military still pushes today's kids to their limits. And, there have always been old school coaches like Bo Schembechler, Bear Bryant, and even Nick Saban that don't care about players feelings or social norms. They push you to the limit. I would also go further to incentivise players not to quit. The SEALs have the bell that recruits ring to quit. You could even have a wall with photos of those players who quit and leave the team. Players will fight not to be on that wall. And those who do quit; well, you weeded out the weak.
We need player accountability. I saw how Manny said that this week the players would self punish the team by doing five up and downs if someone jumped offsides. Really, five up and downs. You are happy with that kind of accountability. For offsides or other mental errors in practice, we need to be like the military. Make the person who messed up stand there as his teammates do flutter kicks till their stomachs cramp or sprint until exhaustion. This pushes kids to not make mistakes, and if they do, the team will ride them to perform better.
Granted, you should recruit players who are naturally competitive and driven, but the training should resemble the military. The military takes kids who aren't competitors or driven, and they force them to reach a new level. By putting the kids through ****, they come out confident, ****y and tough. They come out fighters. The silly gimmicks Diaz has done to date are crap. They are flash. The kids need a boot camp. They need to go through ****. Only then will they come out fighters.
It is that edge that made Miami great. If we don't have the players like the past, then we need to make them. The military does it. We can too.
