One of the first things that I learned about organizational leadership is that most of success (or a lack of it) is a function of institutional culture. Right now, our institutional culture is a loser mentality. Our players expect to lose. We, as fans, expect to see the team fold and find a way to lose. The end of the Vandy game where they suddenly were able to pass at will was just the latest example of it.
The hardest thing to do is to change the culture. Sometimes, if the right ingredients are in place, a rapid turn around is possible. In other cases (such as our current situation), it will take time to wash the stink of failure and misery out of the program. Next year is going to be just as tough, I think, with wins being few and far between as we break in yet another group of young players . . . I can hear the comments now that we will be hearing next season: "Player X just needs to get some experience, Player Y just needs to get in the weight room, etc., etc."
I see a massive need for leadership on this team from coaches and players. There isn't much right now. In fact, I'd say that the leadership now is mostly negative. The guys are playing hard. They want to win. However, they just know how to lose. Dooley taught them that. Kiffin taught them . . . well, nothing. In the last days of Fulmer, despite all his past success, he was below average (that is putting it lightly).
The coaching staff has a big job still ahead of them. They haven't proven that they can get it done yet. Last night was a game we should have won . . . and isn't that what most reasonable fans expected this year? Win the games we're supposed to and maybe steal one that we weren't? Well, we stole one against South Carolina but we completely botched the Vandy game. Overall, a massively disappointing season yet again.
