Chris Spielman gets it right about CS

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by ProdigalHorn, Oct 8, 2015.

  1. ProdigalHorn

    ProdigalHorn 10,000+ Posts

    On the way in I was listening to Sirius, and Spielman was talking about the Texas situation and specifically about the whole texting thing. And his point was essentially something like this.

    All year, CS has said he wants leaders. He wants players to step up. And so you've got freshmen and sophomores tweeting at each other, holding team meetings and talking about being "on the same page". But the problem is, to be a team leader you have to know HOW TO WIN IN COLLEGE. So if you don't have seniors and juniors that are truly stepping up, then you as a coach have to be the adult in the room, step up and say "look, I'm the voice of this program, you're going to pay attention to me, and I'm going to be the coach, and all of you need to stop talking about fixing things and start listening to what we're telling you to do on the field. (That's a paraphrase.)

    I've noticed that CS likes to "outsource" leadership to the team members, and in some cases I think that's good. But for example, the thing with the paper on the wall last year where he kept hoping someone would yank it down... that to me says that someone has a specific idea of what "team leadership" looks like, and if people don't magically figure it out on their own, they're not "being leaders". It assumes that players know what they should be doing, how they should be leading.

    At some point you have to take responsibility and say "I'm the coach, so I am the leader." Stop waiting for 19-year-olds to figure it out and show them the way. That means putting your foot down on more than just your core values. If you think that texting and social is becoming a distraction, then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. No more cell phones in the locker. Problem solved. Playing time goes to people who are putting in the extra time in the film room and doing the prep that they need to do. No more of this "well they don't know where they're going, but they're good athletes" stuff. Do. The. Work.
     
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  2. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    +1.

    Other issues may be more complicated but this one just seems pretty straightforward.
     
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  3. Statalyzer

    Statalyzer 10,000+ Posts

    That's a pretty good summary of that ... whatever it was .... motivational trick?
     
  4. StructureDude

    StructureDude 100+ Posts

    This is a great point. If "the guy" isn't there in the locker room then Coach needs to get his face in there and be the leader. They also need some leaders on the field and hopefully if Coach is leading off the field then someone will take his example and run with it.

    "LEAD...follow...or get out of the way".
     
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  5. Brad Austin

    Brad Austin 2,500+ Posts

    That's what I thought about the paper posting last year. As a player you have no clue if a relatively unfamiliar coach will jump your *ss for removing something he put up for an unknown reason. Maybe he wanted it to remain there at all times to remind players constantly. These are kids, uncertainty is often racing through their heads.

    Strong approached this job as "I'm the boss, my strict rules are non-negotiable". And then player's were sacrificed to prove the point. But then the mixed messages begin. He quickly wanted players to assume his leadership role, when his leadership ways were still unfamiliar.

    If a coach wants a two years pass to build his own team and identity, then take full control of the team and it's identity for those two years as all the transition is happening. Then in Year 3 he has 2 experienced classes of his kids that understand his methods. Then they are certain what they need to do to become a leader in his place.

    Anything short of that is leaving it all to speculation and uncertainty of kids. I think his 'hands on, but takes hands off' approach has a lot to do with the identity crisis.

    It's no coincidence there has been public in-fighting in both seasons. Kids are frustrated and uncertain, which is the coach's job to take control and eliminate that with clear vision and unity.
     
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  6. LtSwtCrude

    LtSwtCrude Guest

    I put this on the Pat Narduzzi thread... it also goes here (with a few tight edits):

    Strong's time here thus far has presented me an open book study of the question(s) "So just what do you want in a head coach? What makes a head coach? Anywhere, but in particular at Texas. Right here, right now."

    I did not really know or fully address that until now. What I look for is someone in complete command.

    I've been told lately, just listening to some ex-players from Royal's earliest years here, that he was extremely tough. It was no foolishness, no funny business. It was extremely competitive. You had to have your 'stuff' together, and you had to be a very tough football player.

    What Royal had that I would look for today is that 'whatever' it takes to gain the respect that when you talked, people listened. And they damn well did what they knew they must do. They did it because of something about you that they simply cannot deny. They know you mean business, and they know you know what you are talking about. They believe you completely. They dare not cross you or disappoint you.

    They're all in. And it's not even a question.

    For reasons I cannot explain, it feels that Charlie Strong has not a lot of that going for him right now. But I think it's what a coach has to have. I think to a man, Saban, Meyer and Belichick have it. No one on their team is going to ever question a damn thing, a player position change, a scheme change, a practice issue, a player acquisition. Nothing. Not a thing. Because they don't dare. In part because they really believe to the core the coach knows damn good and well what is best and how it's going to be. And if there's a question about it, you still don't dare.

    So for me, what I look for is simply being in command. Demonstrating it by never ever tolerating anything less that what has to be done, from assistant coaches, to player personnel, to every detail about the program and season. No compromise. None.

    That's what I would look for.

    I believe when Royal came here he was 34 years old. But he does not look like an unseasoned coach in these pictures taken from his early years here. He looks like a man who is deadly serious and focused and knows exactly what he is doing.

    And the players know it, too.

    This first pic is David McWilliams and Scott Appleton

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    :bevo: :hookem:
     
  7. ProdigalHorn

    ProdigalHorn 10,000+ Posts

    So maybe CS would get more respect if he'd take a knee more and look pensive? :D (I'm kidding, I know what you mean...)
     

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