THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 8, 1997 TAG: 9702080617
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Tom Robinson
LENGTH: 61 lines
Old Dominion coach Jeff Capel got on the radio after Wednesday's horrid loss at William and Mary and accepted some of the blame for the 80-52 rout but then reminded everybody that he wasn't out there on the court. A bunch of players who quit on him were.
So it has come to this, the coach distancing himself from the carnage.
Can we agree that there is more than enough blame to go around for what's happening to ODU's season? Haven't the Monarchs established that?
When you go from 13-3 to 15-8 against mostly less-talented opponents in a mediocre league, and get obliterated a couple times to boot, it's pretty clear the coaches aren't coaching and the players aren't playing worth a fig.
So let's accept that. Point your fingers, guys, grumble about the fellow next to you, but realize that everybody is guilty, top to bottom.
Now, remember that in college basketball, all is never lost in most cases. If the Monarchs are psychologically shot, if the damage of losing five of seven has cut too deeply into their confidence, they can mail it in from here.
If not, then how do they get their groove back?
They start by assessing the situation. With five league games left, ODU is tied for fourth, yet one game out of first, in the muddled Colonial Athletic Association. It's not where the Monarchs ought to be, but that quick start is history, so forget about it. Deal with what is.
The top seeding in the CAA tournament is still within reach, and that's where the focus always is. Even with ODU's early success, it's unrealistic to count on a CAA team ever snagging an at-large NCAA tournament bid.
So the Monarchs' mission is the same as ever, slump or no slump - win three games in the CAA tournament to reach the NCAAs.
It won't happen, though, until each player and coach takes responsibility for doing a better job instead of giving the eye to the other guy.
By his actions, is anyone inspiring someone else to excellence? To at least strive for excellence? Are individuals being put often enough into game situations in which they can succeed? Are the right adjustments being made?
The Monarchs need to address those questions, roll them around in their hearts. Evaluate the reflection in the proverbial mirror, in other words. If they don't like the answers, they must realize they have the power to change them.
As important, ODU needs to emphasize having fun again. Remember fun, guys? It sounds so basic, but in a long, trying season, the most elementary of reasons for playing sports can get buried in the brutal grind of school, practice, games and just growing up.
ODU looks as grim as grim gets, in a world that beats you down enough without piling on yourself.
Some quiet visualization could help. Go back to Oct. 14, the day before practice started, and feel again how excited you were about what was coming; how good it felt to run drills and sweat together with teammates and friends.
No question, the fun is in the winning. But you'd be surprised how often people win when they're thinking more about enjoying themselves than about winning.
Sports psychologists say that success flows from relaxed minds channeling energy properly, fueled by motivation to compete well and relish, not fear, the struggle.
Mental toughness, they call it. With it, you get wealth to spread. Without it, you get blame to share.