Last Game of the Year and EXAM STUDY GUIDE

North Texas enters its last game of the year today. We hope to win game number two. There is rumbling amongst the fan base, about the record this year. I have rumbled once or twice as well. It's natural. Everyone wants UNT to be successful and no one wants to root for a loser.

That is why the next few months are vital.

Think of next season as a test. An actual school-assignment-test. Think of the off-season as study time. Now is the time to hit the books, as it were. We have a eight months to prepare. I suggest we not waste it. So here is a study guide:

Mental portion 80%:

Players: Yes, football is physical, yes you need to be a good athlete, but you really need to be smart players to succeed. Too many times, we were out of position on defense this year. We gave up record big plays, that were because we were arm tackling, in bad position, or didn't stay with our assignment. Smart football is winning football. Don't put it all on the coaches either. Take time to learn your position. Learn your teammates position, so if called upon, you can step in and perform. Learn the scheme. Know the entire offense. You have nothing but time now. Someone once said that a 4.2 receiver that is unsure about the offense will run 4.8. and a 4.6 receiver that knows the offense will run 4.6.

Coaches: This is mostly for you guys. The players can know a crappy system inside and out. But it will still be a crappy system. One of the surest ways to be a horrible coach is to be hard-headed and inflexible. The system should adapt to the players, not the other way around. If your running backs are better than your receivers, get your running backs the ball more than your receivers. Hand it to them, pass it to them, snap it to them. Just do it. If we do not have game-breakers on offense, let us not run plays that require game-breaker ability. If we are better at ball control than quick-strike-ness, let's slow the tempo some. Especially if our defense struggles to, well, defend.

Recruiting-wise, this is the time to get players that WILL fit your system. Do your homework. Get guys that want to play here, that CAN play here, that WILL be here. You can't complain about the ingredients when you did the grocery shopping. 

Physical portion 20%:

Players: Get stronger, get faster, get agile-er, get durable-er. Now is the time to make sure you don't get blasted of the line, lineman. Now is the time to make sure you can get separation, wideouts. Now is the time to make sure you can stay with Hutton, and Chery, and Tanner, defense .. and TACKLE THEM. 

Coaches: Well, I guess this is the time you can lose that gut, or something. 

So, to save you time: GET BETTER. I know that is easy to say, but you can't study for the test when you are on question 14. Just the same, you cannot try to improve the team in week 7. All that happens now. 

Also, there will be a quiz in the Spring. Look for it under the heading, "Spring Game." 

There are NO MAKEUP EXAMS. You get the score you EARNED.

Reach me during office hours or on this blog.