- Mar 22, 2016
- 394
- 697
Gators Acing Team Chemistry
This article really speaks to a core principal of Mullen's coaching philosophy which I believe makes him such an effective coach. This quote speaks to his understanding of how team development off the field contributes to winning practices on it:
Ultimately, I think this is the essence of Mullen's secret sauce of coaching. He had to develop this mentality at MSU because there he was guaranteed to be saddled with lesser talent than a lot of the teams he knew he'd have to play annually. What excites me about having him now at UF, however, is that these principals also work with highly talented players. I admittedly underestimated the intangibles he brings when he was originally hired, but I may now be the most impressed by his team building skills more than anything else. The reason for this is I now realize what a huge difference team chemistry can make to both game execution and recruiting because all humans respond positively to being part of a true team environment. I think that is especially true for kids that age and even more so with millennials and generation z kids.
So, for the true "1% of the 1%" recruits who can go anywhere but actually are committed to working to achieve their goals, an environment like what Mullen is building will be more appealing than other options simply because it is so rare to find a place that legitimately pursues these types of goals. Honestly, I think Mullen is actually just applying the ideals he learned from back when he was with Meyer. The difference is that Mullen is actually committed to those ideals where Meyer had a tendency to apply old school situational ethics to his professed ideals when the caliber of player involved was high enough to warrant exceptions. When Mullen talks about "team accountability" and pursuing the "1% of the 1%" he actually means it without the caveats that allow for special treatment (ex.Percy Harvin and Aaron Hernandez). I believe that is what ultimately sets him apart as a coach and why he has the potential to ultimately match Meyer's accomplishments (without the inevitable baggage that always followed).
If this makes me a pumper, I am fine with that and for anyone who doesn't like it...
This article really speaks to a core principal of Mullen's coaching philosophy which I believe makes him such an effective coach. This quote speaks to his understanding of how team development off the field contributes to winning practices on it:
“I like all the team stuff, team activities,” Mullen said. “While they’re here at the facility and work their tail off and do what they’re supposed to do, we’re going to improve, we’re going to be solid.
“The positive stuff is when they leave the facility and they go and hang out and have a team cookout or guys’ll be like, ‘Hey, we’re having all the guys over for a team cookout, pool party today.’ Those are the things to me that show they enjoy being around each other on the field and off the field, just shows the closeness of the team and that’s what I like to hear.”
[...]
“You see successful teams. When the team’s together, they do group activities,” Mullen said. “Team bonding and how they get along together and their desire to want to hang out with each other is huge.”
Apparently it's working too:“The positive stuff is when they leave the facility and they go and hang out and have a team cookout or guys’ll be like, ‘Hey, we’re having all the guys over for a team cookout, pool party today.’ Those are the things to me that show they enjoy being around each other on the field and off the field, just shows the closeness of the team and that’s what I like to hear.”
[...]
“You see successful teams. When the team’s together, they do group activities,” Mullen said. “Team bonding and how they get along together and their desire to want to hang out with each other is huge.”
It’s been pretty much been the same summer scenario for the running backs, the offensive linemen and every other position group. The players have been doing stuff together off the field, having fun and strengthening bonds and growing team chemistry.
I think this bodes very well for the coming season because this level of team bonding can make the sum of the parts truly greater than the whole when the chips are down. Therefore, if we can stay healthy (which, thankfully, has been trending in an improved direction due to the Savage Treatment), this united front mentality may give our team a more singularly focused approach to their play. When that happens the focused team can overcome the team loaded with talented individuals simply due to their commitment to each other and their shared commitment to winning. (It's the same principal that led a Detroit Pistons team with largely journeymen players to beat the mighty Lakers with Shaq and Kobe along with Gary Payton and Karl Malone for the NBA Championship.)
Ultimately, I think this is the essence of Mullen's secret sauce of coaching. He had to develop this mentality at MSU because there he was guaranteed to be saddled with lesser talent than a lot of the teams he knew he'd have to play annually. What excites me about having him now at UF, however, is that these principals also work with highly talented players. I admittedly underestimated the intangibles he brings when he was originally hired, but I may now be the most impressed by his team building skills more than anything else. The reason for this is I now realize what a huge difference team chemistry can make to both game execution and recruiting because all humans respond positively to being part of a true team environment. I think that is especially true for kids that age and even more so with millennials and generation z kids.
So, for the true "1% of the 1%" recruits who can go anywhere but actually are committed to working to achieve their goals, an environment like what Mullen is building will be more appealing than other options simply because it is so rare to find a place that legitimately pursues these types of goals. Honestly, I think Mullen is actually just applying the ideals he learned from back when he was with Meyer. The difference is that Mullen is actually committed to those ideals where Meyer had a tendency to apply old school situational ethics to his professed ideals when the caliber of player involved was high enough to warrant exceptions. When Mullen talks about "team accountability" and pursuing the "1% of the 1%" he actually means it without the caveats that allow for special treatment (ex.Percy Harvin and Aaron Hernandez). I believe that is what ultimately sets him apart as a coach and why he has the potential to ultimately match Meyer's accomplishments (without the inevitable baggage that always followed).
If this makes me a pumper, I am fine with that and for anyone who doesn't like it...
