#22 Eagles go back to basics of program identity, confident that wins will follow
Following a third straight loss of the season on Saturday to #16 UW-Oshkosh, and the second straight which saw them blow a double digit 4th quarter lead, UW-La Crosse football coach Matt Janus realized changes needed to occur. The answer was to go back to the basics and roots of the program, which has led the Eagles to a 31-10 record in his tenure.
Janus believes the cracks in the program’s foundation occurred following last season’s quarterfinal defeat to North Central.
“Everything in our program shifted to winning,” Janus said. “That became the ultimate drive and focus. We put the focus into building a roster and getting as many pieces as we could. Ultimately what we lost track of was the thing that got us to where we were which was the culture of the program.”
The four principles of ‘The Experience’, according to Janus are accountability, growth, commitment and positivity.
The three Eagles losses are by a combined 11 points. Close games are not something the #22 Eagles are strangers to. In last season’s 11-2 campaign, UWL went 5-1 in one score games.
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“When we’ve struggled and are in tight ball games, we didn’t have the culture to fall back on,” Janus said. “And when the culture is now winning, and you’re not, then you have problems.”
Janus added that his own approach has shifted this week, as he has not mentioned to the team UW-Eau Claire (2-3, 1-1), who the Eagles will visit this Saturday at 11:30 AM.
“Our captains have had multiple meetings with the team already. I’m definitely leaning on those guys and provide them more opportunities to lead.”
Fan support continues to be strong for the program. During this week’s “One Day” put on by UW-La Crosse, the Eagle football program raised more than 23,000 dollars in a 24 hour period. Janus said the donations couldn’t have come at a better time.
“It showed me there’s still a heartbeat in this program. And as long as there’s a heartbeat, we’re going to fight like hell.”