ASU football Turns the Page, Tunes Out Championship Nostalgia
TEMPE, Ariz. — Despite a successful 2024 season that included a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance, Arizona State University’s football team is firmly focused on the future. Head coach Kenny Dillingham is working to ensure the team does not rest on its laurels.
Dillingham’s Message: “Nobody Cares Anymore”
Dillingham drove home this point during the first spring practice by repeatedly playing queen’s “We Are the Champions.” His intention was to make the song, and by extension, last year’s achievements, monotonous and irrelevant.
“I wanted it to become monotonous like, ‘Who gives a crap?’” Dillingham said. “Like you’re going to be told so many good things forever. You better just let it become monotonous to you that it becomes irrelevant. Nobody cares, right? So we’re just trying to make last year irrelevant because nobody cares anymore.”
Players Embrace the future
Quarterback Sam Leavitt echoed Dillingham’s sentiment, expressing his annoyance with the constant repetition of “We Are the Champions.” “I don’t care about last year’s championship. Obviously, it was fun for the moment, but I don’t want to hear that no more,” Leavitt said. “We’re not champions anymore. It’s a new season. We got more to prove.”
Focus on Handling Adversity
Dillingham emphasized the importance of preparing for adversity.”Nobody’s talking about punching us in the face. They’re just giving us our roses. So we got to be ready to get hit in the face this year, not the handle success part. We’ll be fine there. It’s when we get hit,” Dillingham explained.
Attention to detail
Dillingham also focused on refining the team’s execution, even down to the sound and timing of his whistle during drills. He acknowledged that even small details can impact the players’ effort and response.
Sailing Forward
Dillingham shared a quote from assistant coach Trenton Bourguet: “A sailboat doesn’t sail on yesterday’s wind.” He stressed the importance of the team’s leaders in propelling the program forward. “Our best players got to be the winds that move this boat and we’ll only go as far as them.”
* **What specific examples from the article illustrate the team’s commitment to focusing on the present rather then dwelling on past successes?**
ASU Football: Q&A on Turning the Page
Here’s a closer look at how ASU football is moving beyond past successes:
Q&A:
Why is Coach Dillingham playing “We Are the Champions” repeatedly?
Coach Dillingham uses the song to make last year’s achievements irrelevant in the players’ minds. He wants them to focus on the present and future,not dwell on past glory. Trivia: Overplaying a victory song is a common coaching tactic across sports,aimed at keeping players grounded and hungry for more.
How are the players reacting to this approach?
Quarterback Sam Leavitt, and the team, seem to embrace the message. They recognize that last year is over and are focused on proving themselves in the new season.Actionable Advice: Remember, success breeds complacency. Continuously strive to improve and don’t get caught resting on your laurels in any aspect of life.
What’s the focus of the team’s preparation?
The team is preparing for adversity and refining their execution.Coach Dillingham wants them to be ready for challenges and to pay attention to detail. Engaging Fact: Even subtle changes,like the timing of a whistle,can impact team performance,underscoring the importance of precise coaching.
What’s the meaning of the “sailboat” analogy?
It highlights the importance of leadership and forward momentum. The leaders of the team are the ”winds” that propel the program forward. The past is just that, the past.Call to Action: Just like ASU football, focus on the current season and what you can accomplish right now, not what has already been done.
