2008 Woodie Awards
MIAA is not the reason for losing
Ben Nielsen
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
There are many reasons to be upset about the Southwest Baptist Bearcats 86-13 loss to the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats last Saturday. It is difficult to find positive things when stats like -74 yards rushing jump out at you. I completely understand where everyone is coming from in that regard.
What I don't understand is the idea that because SBU lost to Northwest is only further proof they cannot compete in the MIAA, and the school is correct in going independent next season. It is this reasoning that annoys me to no end. Where were those same people when SBU played Missouri Southern (17-16, loss) and Emporia State (35-28, loss)? Furthermore, to expect a team that made a coaching change in late June to compete with a team like NWMS is insane and is only further proof of the mismanagement of this program. We could win in this conference if took on the attitude of a school who wants to win.
I truly believe SBU is going to regret going independent if they decide to retain interim head coach Keith Allen. This guy gets it. He is moving the program in the right direction and bringing an attitude that did not exist in this program previously. Consider how he handled the loss to Northwest. Here is his statement to the Bolivar Herald-Free Press after the game:
"I apologize to every SBU football fan who watched, heard or reads the stats about this game. It was the worst display of football I've ever seen. The Northwest coaches were better than our coaches. The Northwest players were better than our players. The Northwest managers were better than our managers. The Northwest video people were better than our video people. The Northwest water boys were better than our water boys."
With everything he said, consider what he didn't say. First, he did not give excuses. He did not point to Northwest's athletic budget, their stadium or cost of tuition. He first noted his performance, then his players and then his support group.
The second thing Allen did was note that they have to get better in all phases, both on and off the field. As much as he was probably over exaggerating when he made the water boy and video people comments, I do think he was making a point. SBU needs to get better at how they prepare for games. What SBU does not have is depth and a game-changing player. There is not a Reggie Bush or Vince Young type player on this roster that can just put the team on his back and win a game. So, to win games, SBU must be the most prepared, most efficient team on the field. They cannot make mistakes like turnovers and penalties. This is not a personnel, money or recruiting issue - it is a mindset issue.
Finally, Allen is bringing some expectation to a program that has not had expectations since the early 1990's. By simply apologizing, Allen is stating SBU fans should be embarrassed and saddened by this loss. The lopsided loss should hurt and cut to the core of the SBU faithful like Michigan's loss to Appalachian State.
If SBU truly wants to be a school with a competitive football program, there needs to be an attitude of winning. Football is not a game where things are handed to you; one has to go get what they want. If SBU wants a successful program, they need to go out and get it. Otherwise, we will drown in the same sorrow of 86-13 losses in the independent league instead of the MIAA.
What I don't understand is the idea that because SBU lost to Northwest is only further proof they cannot compete in the MIAA, and the school is correct in going independent next season. It is this reasoning that annoys me to no end. Where were those same people when SBU played Missouri Southern (17-16, loss) and Emporia State (35-28, loss)? Furthermore, to expect a team that made a coaching change in late June to compete with a team like NWMS is insane and is only further proof of the mismanagement of this program. We could win in this conference if took on the attitude of a school who wants to win.
I truly believe SBU is going to regret going independent if they decide to retain interim head coach Keith Allen. This guy gets it. He is moving the program in the right direction and bringing an attitude that did not exist in this program previously. Consider how he handled the loss to Northwest. Here is his statement to the Bolivar Herald-Free Press after the game:
"I apologize to every SBU football fan who watched, heard or reads the stats about this game. It was the worst display of football I've ever seen. The Northwest coaches were better than our coaches. The Northwest players were better than our players. The Northwest managers were better than our managers. The Northwest video people were better than our video people. The Northwest water boys were better than our water boys."
With everything he said, consider what he didn't say. First, he did not give excuses. He did not point to Northwest's athletic budget, their stadium or cost of tuition. He first noted his performance, then his players and then his support group.
The second thing Allen did was note that they have to get better in all phases, both on and off the field. As much as he was probably over exaggerating when he made the water boy and video people comments, I do think he was making a point. SBU needs to get better at how they prepare for games. What SBU does not have is depth and a game-changing player. There is not a Reggie Bush or Vince Young type player on this roster that can just put the team on his back and win a game. So, to win games, SBU must be the most prepared, most efficient team on the field. They cannot make mistakes like turnovers and penalties. This is not a personnel, money or recruiting issue - it is a mindset issue.
Finally, Allen is bringing some expectation to a program that has not had expectations since the early 1990's. By simply apologizing, Allen is stating SBU fans should be embarrassed and saddened by this loss. The lopsided loss should hurt and cut to the core of the SBU faithful like Michigan's loss to Appalachian State.
If SBU truly wants to be a school with a competitive football program, there needs to be an attitude of winning. Football is not a game where things are handed to you; one has to go get what they want. If SBU wants a successful program, they need to go out and get it. Otherwise, we will drown in the same sorrow of 86-13 losses in the independent league instead of the MIAA.
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