A Coach’s Diary: UpRoar 2012

WEEK #1: July 30

The 2011 Towson Tigers football program earned it’s way to the 2011 CAA Championship and a Top 10  ranking in the final NCAA DI-FCS National Poll. We scratched our way through a grueling schedule, to finish 9-3 overall on the season (7-1 in CAA play). To a man – regardless of background, tenure, role or responsibility, it was a daily reality of US/WE…never I. It was our “family” vs. your “team” each week and our bonds were as strong and secure as any I’ve ever experienced as a coach.

The 2011 Tigers were picked to finish last in the CAA Pre Season poll. The 2011 Towson University Tigers finished first.

Worst to first. The most-improved football program in the entire NCAA DI for 2011. The programs first CAA Championship. The programs first appearance in the NCAA FCS playoffs. The programs first Top 10 national ranking. The program was honored at a phenomenal banquet during the spring, where we were given our 2011 CAA Championship rings. The 2011 post season honors went the Tigers way as Rob Ambrose was awarded the Eddie Robinson Award (top head coach in DI-FCS – in the nation) and Terrance West was named the Jerry Rice Award winner (best freshman DI-FCS football player in the nation). Since then, the program has been ranked in the Top 10 in numerous national pre season polls and a number of returning Tigers have been named to watch-lists and pre season All American and All CAA teams.

“Restore The Roar”? I hope it was mission accomplished.

The 2012 Tigers have been picked to finish first in the 2012 CAA Pre Season Poll.

39 letter winners return. 8 starters on offense and 8 starters on defense return. A new locker room and turf field welcome all, including seven transfer student athletes and 22 red-shirt freshman. All, to a man, will be asked to compete each and every day and earn the right to be a part of the Tiger family.

On Thursday at 11am, the players will move into the dorms. When I get off the air on Friday, I’ll head over to campus and attend our afternoon coaches meeting, then prepare myself for practice #1. Long days. Long nights. No flinching. No looking back. No looking ahead. One day at a time. One practice at a time. This will be my 19th year in coaching and this much I can share…getting all the hardware and kudos was fun, but the image I carry with me is…Lehigh 40 Towson 38.

Here we go…ONE TOWSON!

- Bulldog