Accountability and a Fresh Start for the Hoosiers Going into the Season

Written by: @zachegreene

All eyes are on our Hoosiers as the season is less than a month away. The primary focus for the coaches is building winning habits and a fresh clean slate, especially for Assistant Head Coach and Cornerback Coach Brandon Shelby.

“When you build any great culture, you have to make sure that when you have success you go back to the building blocks. Because the building blocks were there when these guys were freshmen and sophomores, we just had to dust it off.” Shelby explained

On the defensive side of the ball, the Hoosiers bring back a lot of experience and talent, especially at the cornerback position and Shelby is making sure that players Tiawan Mullen, Cam Jones, and Jaylin Williams are continuing to build a “Winning Culture” in B-Town.

“We know that great teams are player-led. If we have to sit there and pull and push, you are not going to go very far.” Shelby continued. “Maybe last year, us coaches did too much of that. To see Cam Jones, Tiawan Mullen, Jaylin Williams, and the [leaders] on the offensive side of the ball step up and set the standard of what we want to do is the beginning piece to have a good season.”

This is Jones, Mullen, and Williams's last ride with the program, and what better way to do it than having a winning season? The motivation must be there for the players to go out on a high note.

While these players already have a legacy in Bloomington, Shelby is pushing them to work harder than they ever before as well as wanting them to take more of a leadership role.

“You still have to put in the work. It is great to see guys take the team into their own hands, make it player-led and player connected.” Shelby explained. “I think that is what we see a little more now, they are connected. They are together a little bit more, laughing and joking. I think the guys are a little more cohesive than last year. Like I said, that does not correlate to wins and losses, but it gives you an opportunity to hold each other accountable to the standards that they have and that we have for them.”

“Holding each other accountable” is going to be vital this year. When things get bad, and calls don’t go there the way it will be important to support your brothers on the field and pick them up.

Bryant Fitzgerald, another player who has been in the program for 5+ years had this to say,

"What's been different is that it's really on the players. Coach Allen made it a point of emphasis that great teams are player-led. If you go through any team that's ever won a championship, a Super Bowl, all those coaches will tell you that the players hold their players accountable.” Fitzgerald said. “That's a big deal as far as us holding each other accountable. To raise that standard so we don't have a season like we had last year when we went 2-10 because no one wants to experience that after coming off two bowl game experiences from the years before, having a 2-10 season was really disappointing. So, I think as the leadership council on this team we all came together said we have to change the standard, we can never have that happen again. I think that's really been the difference ––– the leaders on the team are trying to help the young guys and show them the culture."

Many have already written off this program after last year's miserable season, but on the bright side they have little to no national media attention and little to no expectations. This could be exactly what this program needs.

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