I received a tip that on the Monday following the BG game coach Martin gathered his team around the Jack Rittchier Monument and talked to them about courage and sacrifice.
What I've found out in my search for more details is that never happened. At least not according to the several players I have talked with.
But, he did take the team to the indoor facility and showed them the 1972 MAC Championship banner. He told them that team started out 1-3-1 and that the loss to Bowling Green didn't end the hopes of a MAC championship.
"Basically, he said that we weren't even close to being out of the championship race and to keep working hard because we have the talent to go as far as we want to go," said one player.
Another player was more precise in his summary of Martin's speech.
"He said we will win this thing, basically."
Martin's words weren't easily dismissed by the players--obviously, since they've dominated their past two opponents.
"Definitely," said one player when asked if he was impacted by what Martin said. "I knew we were good. That BG loss was something that we just couldn't explain. The ball just bounced their way.
"That goal was very real to me also. I knew, based upon the team we had, that coach wasn't just talking out his butt."
And from another player:
"Every time coach Martin speaks, I listen. He is one of my idols, so everything he says has an impact on me."
I thought the player might have been a bit sarcastic when he said that, so I asked. He said he was completely serious.
I'm always a bit skeptical of "coach-speak." So when coach Martin first started talking about this team being different than past groups, I figured it was coach speak. But, the past couple of weeks, I'm seeing it. And I'm starting to believe it too.
Latest Team Rankings
Mobile
