Football players, coaches stay positive

October 17, 2003
By GENE McGIVERN
Sports Information Director

There's frustration, but no finger pointing. There's disappointment, but no negativity or self pity.

Behind the Tommies' 2-4 football record, there's no panic -- just a lot of solid teaching and learning going on.

In a team sport like football, some teams implode when adversity kicks in. But Tommie sophomore linebacker Andrew Ubbelohde said the Tommies'
attitude and commitment hasn't waned this fall.

"Everyone is staying positive," Ubbelohde said. "Every week is a new week and a new chance to improve. No one likes to lose, but we haven't gone into a game yet where we felt like we weren't going to be in the game. The coaches have been real positive, win or lose. When we look at film of the games, the comments are always constructive. We're all just looking to get better."

For Tommie coach Don Roney, the glass is always
half full, and that positive attitude rubs off on his staff
and his players. Roney sees many bright spots, especially with the deep and talented freshman and sophomore class.

Injuries have sidelined key players, but some of those
players will return with an extra year of eligibillity.

There's the Tommie junior-varsity team that's now
3-0 and has outscored foes 128-25. The Tommie JV's 41-6 win over Bethel was particularly impressive, given that the Royals' JV had beat St. Thomas the previous four seasons.

The Tommie junior-varsity team will look to make it 4-0 when it plays at Hamline Sunday (2 p.m.).

"There's a lot of talent in those freshman and sophomore classes," Roney said. "It's a fun group, and it's been fun to watch them develop."

The Tommie varsity depth chart is also loaded with younger players. Nearly 30 of the team's top 45 players
are first- or second-year players. Such cycles are inevitible in non-scholarship Division III, and those cycles bring occasional errors and inconsistency that can turn close wins into close defeats.

"We have high expectations -- we always will," Roney said. "It's just a matter of getting execution out of the players."

Ubbelohde said the Tommies have resisted any temptation to look ahead to next season. "We have four games left, and I think everyone has that 'Finish Strong' mentality," he said. "Like I said, this is a new week and a new challenge."

Roney said in recruiting, mental toughness is just as
important as physical toughness.

"When we recruit players, first we want an academmic fit, because that's why you come to college," Roney said. "Next we look for good athletes with good work habits. You can be the best high school player in Minnesota, but three years later if you don't work hard, you still will be the best high-school player in the state. We want the best college players. Third, we want good people. The kids we have don't have the off-field problems, and they make it fun to come to practice every day."