Frankly, I loved what he was saying and how he was saying it.
Willard miked up.
- Thread starter Seton75
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So far this year signs are he may actually be getting it. He seems a bit more stern with them, more demanding, more no-BS than he was in the past. Plus considering everyone here is only in their second year with him, maybe it's taking more than if he was trying it with kids that had been with him for 2-3 years already.
I've seen the postgame stuff with him in years past. Remember all the, "This is what we do!" videos when they mobbed him? But this year seems different, at least early on.
In coaching you have to get after them at times. You cannot be their buddy all the time because by the time you need to be stern it's then too late and doesn't work.
I've seen the postgame stuff with him in years past. Remember all the, "This is what we do!" videos when they mobbed him? But this year seems different, at least early on.
In coaching you have to get after them at times. You cannot be their buddy all the time because by the time you need to be stern it's then too late and doesn't work.
The reporter from the Wichita Eagle included the following post-game quote:
“The first half was all my fault,” Willard said. “I had too much time to watch film and tried to be creative. I tried to confuse (WSU) and I ended up confusing our guys. In the second half, we got back to being real simple, doing the things we’re good at defensively.”
This is a significant set of thoughts from our coach. This is a level of maturity and self-awareness that can only mean good things. I have been very upset with what appears to be a disastrous level of arrogant obstinacy in this coach. A person who can speak the reported thoughts, however, is growing in important ways.
The wind is at our backs, Boys!
“The first half was all my fault,” Willard said. “I had too much time to watch film and tried to be creative. I tried to confuse (WSU) and I ended up confusing our guys. In the second half, we got back to being real simple, doing the things we’re good at defensively.”
This is a significant set of thoughts from our coach. This is a level of maturity and self-awareness that can only mean good things. I have been very upset with what appears to be a disastrous level of arrogant obstinacy in this coach. A person who can speak the reported thoughts, however, is growing in important ways.
The wind is at our backs, Boys!
Agreed. This is the first time I've heard this coach come out and directly say something was his fault. It signals maturity and accountability. Let's hope we eventually look back on this game as the turning point towards a more successful program under Willard's leadership.
As we've said, this time looks, feels and sounds different. Let's hope so.
I sat next to Jerry Carino and we were both stunned when he said what he said.
Not that we disagreed with it in any way, just that he placed the blame where it deserved to be placed.
Kudos to Willard for manning up in front of the media. Especially when he volunteered the info in response to an innocuous question.
Not that we disagreed with it in any way, just that he placed the blame where it deserved to be placed.
Kudos to Willard for manning up in front of the media. Especially when he volunteered the info in response to an innocuous question.
If he keeps growing up like this I hope he stays forever. A big boy coach at last.
Pete, personally I didn't have an issue with the 'try'. My issue was with the 'continue'.
Game plans are critical for all contests. But if they're not working tear them up and move on. In short be flexible. Eventually KW was. Just not quick enough IMO.
Great that he placed the blame on himself. That's what a coach should do when he makes a mistake. After all, no one is perfect.
My biggest knocks on Willard's coaching have been the lack of adjustment and seemingly detached style where he sticks to whatever he taught when the circumstance of the game are screaming otherwise. You tie the over-coaching in with inconsistent discipline and trying to be too buddy-buddy and you get a muddled, demotivated mess.
You to be able to adjust, to be flexible, and to use that to lead and motivate your guys in the heat of battle.
So to say I was impressed with the comeback yesterday, the adjustments made, and then the comments afterwards would be putting it lightly. A terrific job by Willard all around.
You to be able to adjust, to be flexible, and to use that to lead and motivate your guys in the heat of battle.
So to say I was impressed with the comeback yesterday, the adjustments made, and then the comments afterwards would be putting it lightly. A terrific job by Willard all around.
Agree with just about every comment above. I've always thought that one of KW's faults was that too often he tried to prove how smart he was and was too rigid in sticking to his game plan and not making the on fly adjustments all teams have to make. Let's hope that yesterday is the start of a more flexible coach.
This game is the lens through which we can see many things more clearly, at long last.
