I feel certain that this post by David Hale is going to get a lot of attention from the Dawgnation, and with good reason. Anyone that follows the program closely would have to admit that last season was disappointing and when things don’t go as planned, everybody wants an autopsy of the body.
That being said, it’s easy to read all sorts of hidden agendas and meanings into these players’ comments about what went wrong in the locker room last year. And I’m sure we’ll see all manner of speculation about that (it’ll be interesting to see if this is a topic that Jeff Owens explores on his blog). What I do think we have to be careful about here is reading more into the criticism about what was lacking than is merited. Any way you want to look at the leadership issue, there’s still an underlying factor that involves every member of the program peering into a mirror for at least some of the answers.
My two cents on this whole thing hasn’t changed. I think this team – players and coaches – fell in love with the level of talent in the program and that was reflected in the approach that was taken in preparing mentally and emotionally for the season. There was an abiding faith that this team was truly special at the offensive skill positions and good enough everywhere else to succeed. The failure to develop a mental edge and the injuries combined to prove that attitude wrong.
I’ve never been in the locker room, so I don’t want to go off the deep end here, but it’s apparent that chemistry counts. So does focus. If this team learns nothing else from last year than the realization that nothing good in life comes easily, that’ll be a great head start on being relevant in the SEC East this season.
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I agree Senator. There was some complacency last year with the talent from the players and coaches. So it’s refreshing to hear the comments that have been coming out about the workouts. As in life, sometimes failure can be as good as or better than success (not suggesting last season was a failure, at least not completely). A lot of times you’ll learn more from your failures than you will from your triumphs (take it from someone who’s failed ah-plenty).Whether or not any of this means the dawgs will have a “special” season, who knows. But it’s definitely positive and sure as heck can’t hurt the teams chances to do something special.
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Groo had a great post the other day with quotes from last year. Richt and Stafford were both raving about the quality of leadership going into the summer of 2008.
As far as the discipline issues, if players are saying Moreno and Stafford partied pretty hard, that’s not unbelievable. But I was watching the 1980 NCG yesterday and I’m pretty sure those “leaders” didn’t stop drinking after the stolen pig barbeque thingy.
And I’m quite sure that the Gators NC this year had a lot of guy who bent elbows illegally.
I realize no one is calling Moreno and Stafford out, or Asher for that matter, but “hint, hint”. But at the end of the day someone is lying here. Moreno and Stafford busted their butts on gameday. Moreno was held out of practices cause he went at it non stop. Stafford was praised for how much time he spent in the film room and working with receivers last summer doing involuntary workouts.
Now either all of that stuff is bunk or the team itself had a problem standing around to see what Moreno and Stafford were gonna do. But that’s not Moreno or Stafford’s fault.
I remember reading Phil Jackson’s autobiography after the Bulls won their fourth NBA championship. He talked about the year Jordan returned midseason and why they didn’t play very well. He admitted getting Rodman in the offseason was huge and having Jordan less rusty also was a big reason for the improvement.
But he said the biggest thing was that when Jordan returned, the Bulls had many different players than when he left to play baseball two years earlier. Instead of playing team defense and offense like they used to, the newer players were so in awe of Jordan, they just stood around and watched and weren’t playing team basketball anymore.
I almost wonder if that was part of the problem. But then again, our main problem was defense and Staff nor KM were even on the field at that time.
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I don’t think anybody doubts they busted their butts and left it all on the field. But there is a difference between giving it your all and being a vocal leader. Now I am not saying they needed to be rah rah like Tebow but at least get on the tail of some certain individuals who committed idiotic personal fouls at the least opportune time. I also think some of the blame should go to the coaches. Hopefully all have learned a lesson. I wish the best for Stafford and Moreno, I loved watching them play for UGA.
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