Calm Before The Storm

January 12 marks the start of our 2026 season, and there is a different feeling around the program right now. There is joy in the air. Not excitement built on hype, but confidence built on preparation. This is the calm before the storm.

This season also marks Year 5 for our coaching staff. What a journey it has been. Five years of building, adjusting, learning, and refining. Time has sharpened our perspective. We coach with more clarity now. We communicate better. We are more intentional with what we keep and quicker to remove what does not serve the team. Experience has not made the work easier, but it has made it clearer.

Our fall was built around 'Systems of Success". Not slogans. Not one-off talks. Systems that show up every day and guide decisions when emotions fluctuate. We spent months clarifying how we work, prepare, and respond. That clarity has changed everything.

One of the most significant shifts was establishing daily processes that eliminate guesswork. Players know what matters. They know what winning behaviors look like when nobody is watching. From readiness check-ins to structured practice flows, everything has a purpose. The goal was simple: eliminate wasted energy and help each individual show up with intent.

We leaned heavily on concepts such as stacking bricks and invisible growth. Progress does not always announce itself. Sometimes it shows up quietly, through better routines, sharper focus, and more consistent responses to adversity. Those ideas enabled our players to trust the process rather than chasing immediate results.

We also spent intentional time developing identity. Who we are. What we stand on. What does not change when things get uncomfortable. Through leadership, reflection, and candid conversations, players came to understand that performance is an extension of habits, not emotion. That shift matters when the season stretches long.

The results of that structure showed up across the board. Statistically, we had our best fall ever. That matters, but not in isolation. Those numbers were a byproduct of better habits, more evident intent, and more consistent daily execution. Players took ownership of their development because they understood the why behind the work, not just the drill in front of them. The energy remained steady rather than reactive. Growth became sustainable rather than erratic, and the separation became evident over time.

Off the field, the same standards applied. Our team finished the fall with a 3.2 GPA. That number represents more than academics. It reflects discipline, organization, and follow-through. When systems are built the right way, they transfer. Classroom habits mirror training habits. Accountability becomes a lifestyle, not a requirement.

The season will challenge us early. We open February 19 in Virginia with four games, then return home briefly before heading back out to Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida. From February 19 through March 9, we will live on the road. Travel tests focus, fatigue tests standards. Pressure tests trust. That is where systems either hold up or break down.

We are not relying on motivation. We are relying on structure. We are relying on preparation. We are relying on habits established months ago when no one was watching.

I am grateful. Grateful for the staff who pour into this program daily. Grateful for players who choose to buy in and do the work the right way. Thankful for the opportunity to compete, teach, and pursue something meaningful together. These moments matter, even the quiet ones.

There is pride in where we are right now. Not satisfaction. Pride in the work, belief in the process, and respect for what is coming next. The storm is coming.

And we are ready to step into it.