Georgia State made history last year because it was the Panthers’ inaugural season. Everything was new. Every first was a first.
That history is, well, in the past.
Shiny and new are being replaced by the sometimes dark realities of what occurred during the offseason and what’s next: discipline issues off the field, a tougher schedule, an inability to surprise teams when things go right. Once again, coach Bill Curry will lead the Panthers, who went 6-5 last season and will open their second season against Clark Atlanta on Sept. 2 at the Georgia Dome.
Q: Is this still fun for you?
A: Yes, absolutely. This is the most fun, being with them when it’s mostly football. It’s never all football. Academics do come first. I had a college coach, Bobby Dodd, and that was pounded into our consciousness. It never leaves. Training is brutal for the players, but what they learn is priceless. The stuff about everyone being important, it’s true. Pain of discipline, pain of regret, it’s true. Sometimes you’ll see the lights come on. We aren’t polished, but when you see them make progress, that’s what’s fun for me.
Q: What advice would you have for other first- or second-year programs based upon what you have experienced?
A: There’s so much. Everyone is different. Our biggest issue was the economy. Even though the students voted for the marvelous increase in the athletic fee, which gave us a chance to give scholarships and buy the basics of equipment, you can’t build facilities with public money in the state of Georgia for athletics. So we have to raise it, and that was really hard. So, if someone is thinking about starting in a few years, get your money first.
Q: Specific to this team, what lessons did you learn about these guys that you are steadfastly applying this year?
A: They shocked us all with their performance in the first game, and then they shocked us the other way with their performance in the second game. We found out that they really were kids, capable of performing well and then capable of playing terrible. That was my fault, I was hard on them the second week thinking it would shake them up. Instead, it shook their confidence.
The other unpleasant surprise was having a winning season unglued us. We decided, ‘We don’t have to go to class.’ We had all these disciplinary issues. Seemed like a lot, but it was really only a few guys. I didn’t see that coming.
Q: Is it fair to judge this team on wins and losses?
A: I don’t think it’s fair to judge any brandnew program on wins and losses because we could schedule it so that we win every game. There’s some merit to that. I look at my schedule every now and then and say, ‘Why’d you have to be so brave, it’s one tough team after another?’ I think that’s how you build a program for the long term. The answer is I don’t think there are any other excuses for not winning, but there are several ways to do this by manipulating the schedule.
Q: What’s going to make you smile in the season opener?
A: No turnovers, stone the run. Run the ball, great kicking game. That would make me smile.
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