Coach to Coach: Preparing Your Athletes to Succeed at the 4-Year Level

It’s been said that it’s the Willies and the Joes not the Xs and Os that make college football teams and programs great. There is no doubt that a surplus of talent usually translates to wins on Saturday. Every 4-year college coach in the nation is trying to identify high school and junior college athletes who can successfully transition into great college football players. Identifying talent, however, is only part of the equation that determines success. Every year there are extremely talented young men who are released from their scholarships or simply walk away due to issues unrelated to their athletic ability. I am sure we can relate to the athlete who has unbelievable talent but lacks the self-discipline, motivation, academic preparation or other necessary traits that will allow him to succeed at the college level. These failures are frustrating and disappointing for all