I'd say we are right on track. By Diaco's third year i predict this program will be transformed to WINNING/CHAMPIONSHIP caliber. I have been reading up on Hayden Fry and it's amazing how HGBD mirrors much of what he learned from coach Fry! In the book "Beyond the X's and O's co-author Tom Berthel writes: "Over the course of a very successful career, Hayden took on three losing programs. He CHOSE these programs because everything screamed, "You can't" . The players and coaches were used to getting their butts kicked every Saturday. They were used to be told, "You can't win," and whether they knew it or not, they were hungry for someone to believe in them again. Coach Fry walked into their lives, got in their face and said, "Pick up the ball and get back on the field, and show the world that you are winners." A losing attitude was never an option for a Hayden Fry-coached team. Hayden loves the psychology of motivating people in the face of "You can't".
Next, Hayden turned his attention to the players, assistant coaches and fans. The Hawk eyes weren't winning yet. In fact it wasn't until his third season at Iowa that the winning would officially begin. But in Hayden's mind, the winning had already commenced and he never passed up an opportunity to generate a vote of confidence. " Where I come from," he likes to say, "it's called selling the sizzle before the steak"
During the 5 years prior to Hayden's arrival Bob Cummings (HCPP) left with an unpopular record of 18-37. Hayden never flinched. A couple of loses and a few angry fans were not going to change his commitment to winning or his confidence in his teams ability to do so. He never stopped looking, acting, or talking like a winner! (From beyond the X's and O's)
SOUND FAMILIAR BOYS?