Sanford and my perspective

[bent20]

Seems to be a lot of talk about the new coach, how successful he can be and whether players are still on board, all of this and that.

Just to summarize a few things from my perspective as an outsider looking in.

1. By all accounts, Sanford is much easier to work with/for than Miles. Seems like the players enjoy playing for him more.
2. His offense is more exciting from a fans perspective, seems like more players would enjoy an open style that gets everyone involved.
3. He has a defensive coordinator (at least for now) who is as experienced as he is.
4. Injuries have obviously been a set back, but everyone healthy is getting on the field.
5. Just about everyone has had a chance to compete and earn playing time.

So, with all of that said, what is with the reported dissesnion from some players. The new coach is too nice? Really? That's the explanation? If so, I'd say some of the players are too big of shit heads.

Not trying to over simplify, but without knowledge of more details that's what I'm seeing as a fan and none of it makes sense. I'm willing to buy that injuries are the biggest issue, but lack of effort? Why? Where is that coming from?

 

[prairieclub]

There are probably some players who enjoyed Trent's style more than the new style. It's not always a good thing when players "enjoy" playing for a new coach. There always needs to be a healthy fear between players and the head coach. Without that fear, players can easily justify cutting corners or not doing the right thing. I'm certainly not saying Trent's style was right, or always fair to the kids in the system, but it is a big adjustment going from Trent's program to a program with more of a laid back country club style .

 

[Patriot_Sycamore]

Im gonna let him get his own recruits in here and see how it goes. Then we will have guys who have been promised what this coach said and have no excuses as to what they were promised while being recruited or what a previous coach did.

 

[Fridae00]

I can assure you that the program is not a " laid back country club style."
There are well defined team rules and expectations. If players choose to try to step over the lines that have been drawn, it is their choice, no one else's, period the end. Some of the players have tried to buck the system, and became negative influences. They were akin to cancers and needed to be removed so that the rest of the team could be healthy, period the end.
We need to support the players that define what ISU Football truly stands for, not mourn the loss of infectious disease...

 

[Bluethunder]

Whether there are a lot of rules, or whether there aren't, you have to have enough pride in what you do and self-discipline to do what is right. I don't need (or want) my boss hovering around me 24/7 because I know what I need to do and I get it done. I don't do it because of the rules, I do it because it is the job I have chosen, in the place I have chosen to work and that is what needs to be done.

I would also argue that you don't need to enforce rules with an iron fist. People will respond better to a measured approach where you coach them up on what they are not doing well then to just threaten and browbeat them into submission. If you give them enough rope, most bad employees/players will hang themselves with it. If Bell, or any other player, is a cancer to the team, and the staff says they need to go, then they need to go. Otherwise, the whole system breaks down.

We all have seen what happens to a program where players aren't held accountable,.....cough, cough Lou West cough

 

[Sycamore Proud]

Very well said.