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If you were around Ambrose and the Tigers this past spring, you knew his focus was on...well, focus. In order for the Tigers to repeat, let alone surpass, the success they achieved last season, they would have to check their pleasant memories at the door and shift their attention to 2012.
Whereas in the past Ambrose faced a challenging fight against apathy, his new opponent would be complacency. The 2011 Tigers did what no other college football program has done in the past; they became the first college football program to ever participate in the NCAA football playoffs of Divisions III, II and I. Not to mention, they brought in more fans to Unitas Stadium than any other Towson team in school history. Also, did I mention they brought home national honors with the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award (Ambrose) as well as the first ever Jerry Rice Award for the most outstanding FCS rookie performance (running back Terrance West)? And if this wasn't enough, they also had a handful of All-America and All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) honorees.
It's easy to kick back when you sit at the top. Luckily, Towson's higher-ups understood this, even foresaw it, and dedicated the spring and summer practice seasons to anti-complacency efforts. Ambrose was not afraid to bench starters this spring. A sign that every roster spot is fluid, no matter how many bright returning players started last season for the CAA's best squad, sends a message to every man on the team there is no downtime for champions. Alternatively, players who respond positively when a fire is lit under them are the type that make up championship rosters. If I were coaching this team, I want all of my starters to be the type that want more when the heat is turn up on them because that's what champions do.
But just like the Tigers on the field have their work cut out for them, so does the support staff. College athletics are a partnership between educational institutions and athletic programs. They provide an avenue for students to achieve excellence on multiple planes outside of the classroom as well as an atmosphere and legacy for universities to enhance the student, staff and community experience. Having the resources, academic support, facilities and community engagement are just as important to college sports as having finely tuned athletes suit up every weekend.
This means the "expect success" philosophy preached by Mike Waddell provides the vision a championship program needs. While it may sound odd, a winning program needs this kind of direction more than a rebuilding program would. When a program is down, their eyes can only be looking upward. But if you've tasted success as a team, it can be easy to take your foot off the gas and let your rivals catch up. If Towson does not continue to improve, if they don't expect success this season and put forth the work required, what's to stop an Old Dominion or James Madison from seizing the CAA crown?
The 2012 Tigers will not sneak up on anybody. They won't surprise anyone with their electric offense or shock anybody with their stout red zone defense. The only way this year's edition of Towson Football will reclaim their rightful throne is if the program imposes its will on opponents. The Tigers will need to expect a better version of themselves and then run over anybody that stands in their way.
