Fedora: 'Our special teams culture is what it takes to be successful'

[jdennis82]

As we wait to see what a Littrell led team will look like, I find it interesting when coaches who he's studied under speak about their leadership style or philosophy.  

So, this article about Fedora's approach to using special teams units to build the desired culture on the squad...

Quote

 

http://coachingsearch.com/article?a=Larry-Fedora-You-cant-start-if-you-dont-start-on-special-teams

“You have to start on one of the big four, or you can’t start on offense or defense,” Fedora said. “At the end of camp, I’ll have guys come to me and say, ‘Coach, I’m not starting. I need to be a starter on the kickoff team.’ It’s too late, son. You had all this time, and you knew that. If you want to be a starter on offense or defense, you have to be a starter (on special teams).”

...

“I told them this program would have a blue-collar mentality, because that’s who I am, that’s the way I was raised. That’s what the way we’re going to do things. Immediately, they started buying into that. Some of those players in that first meeting still have the shirts. They have the sleeves cut off and laugh about it now, and they’re proud of them Our guys believe they’re going to outwork the other team. They may not be more talented, but we’re going to outwork other teams. That culture has changed at Carolina.”

 

Spring practice can't get here soon enough so we can start to see Littrell's approach in action.  Would love some version of "Beyond the Green" documenting the process.

[Tyler Maryak]

34 minutes ago, jdennis82 said:

As we wait to see what a Littrell led team will look like, I find it interesting when coaches who he's studied under speak about their leadership style or philosophy.  

So, this article about Fedora's approach to using special teams units to build the desired culture on the squad...

Spring practice can't get here soon enough so we can start to see Littrell's approach in action.  Would love some version of "Beyond the Green" documenting the process.

If I recall correctly, Coach Littrell said almost verbatim what Fedora said in that quote about contributing on special teams in order to start on offense or defense.  I can appreciate that.

[rcade]

I'd like to see UNT adopt an aggressive walk-on culture. Be the school that gives enough walk-ons a look that we find 4-6 good ones a season -- and make a big deal about hyping their achievements -- so every Texas kid who doesn't get an offer believes he might have a shot in Denton.

[UNTexas]

1 hour ago, rcade said:

I'd like to see UNT adopt an aggressive walk-on culture. Be the school that gives enough walk-ons a look that we find 4-6 good ones a season -- and make a big deal about hyping their achievements -- so every Texas kid who doesn't get an offer believes he might have a shot in Denton.

This philosophy means you can't recruit. Simon tried it at UNT and failed. I was there when he tried it. It was a disaster. Division 1 football isn't for everyone, not even close. It's actually for a tiny percent. The NCAA told us during our orientation 1 and approximately 5,500 high school players will ever play a single down on a D1 field. Walk ons have a place but it's absolutely not in any way, shape, or form what you want to be known for. If we are, then RV will be looking for Littrell's replacement and GMG will still be a depressed place.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that our new coach can recruit like a good program does and not hope for a gimmick.

[rcade]

6 minutes ago, UNTexas said:

This philosophy means you can't recruit. ... Walk ons have a place but it's absolutely not in any way, shape, or form what you want to be known for.

A program can walk and chew gum at the same time. A&M is known for the 12th Man kickoff program and it hasn't made it seem like the school can't recruit.

[GMG24]

3 hours ago, rcade said:

I'd like to see UNT adopt an aggressive walk-on culture. Be the school that gives enough walk-ons a look that we find 4-6 good ones a season -- and make a big deal about hyping their achievements -- so every Texas kid who doesn't get an offer believes he might have a shot in Denton.

If your walk on program is like Mac's it means you can't recruit and you have to rely on walk ons... Not good.