Courtesy of Greg Johnson, Special Contributor for GVSULakers.com
PUEBLO, Colo. – Matt Mitchell, the head coach of the Lakers, had previously worked for a few coaches who had leadership councils manned by players on the team, and he had heard about them several times, too.
When the 2014 season ended with a 6-5 record and Mitchell found team leadership to be an issue, he decided to give it a try in 2015.
Jim Walsh, an all-conference senior guard for the Lakers and a member of the 12-player council, said the coach's idea has worked in awesome fashion.
"This year is different," he said. "We have established leaders and people take what they say to heart. We've done a lot more player-led activities even as far back as winter conditioning last year. Because we did that and have established leaders, guys have bought in. If we have to tell somebody that's not how we do it here, they listen."
The 11-2 Lakers play in the Super Region 4 championship game of the NCAA Division II playoffs Saturday against Colorado State University-Pueblo, which is the defending national champion. Walsh said they will be ready, and the process started soon after the win over Ferris last weekend.
"Even on the way home as we figured out where we would be playing, the guys who had been out there in 2013 when we beat them in the playoffs then, started talking about the environment, the field, those kinds of things," Walsh said. "Guys will be excited and chomping at the bit to play in a huge game, but there won't be any distractions because we will have put those aside and we will be prepared for what we face."
Mitchell said not every player has the ability to be a leader so he hand-selected the dozen well before the season.
"Part of my job was to find the leaders and put them in a position in front of the team to lead," he said. "It didn't have anything to do with class, or how good a player I think somebody is; it was just the guys I think have a voice and respect in the program."
Joining Walsh on the council were sophomore wide receiver Brandon Bean, junior running back Terrell Dorsey, junior defensive tackle De'Ondre Hogan, senior safety Brad Horling, senior defensive end Matt Judon, junior linebacker Joe Moran, sophomore safety Garrett Pougnet, senior guard Brandon Revenberg, sophomore linebacker Collin Schlosser, junior defensive end Alton Voss and sophomore cornerback Tre Walton.
Mitchell said sophomore quarterback Bart Williams has turned into a leader on the team, but was not put on the council for a simple reason.
"I wanted him to concentrate on being the guy," he said. "Quarterback is a critical position obviously. I'm sure he will be on it moving forward. He has leadership skills and has a voice on the team."
Mitchell said he bounces things off the council, and gathers feedback.
"It's been great because when things need to be said they get said," he said. "Two weeks ago at Ashland at halftime I didn't talk at all. Our leadership was the voice."
Mitchell likes the "chemistry" that has developed among the players on the team.
"Any time you get a team a little more peer driven as opposed to coach driven, you are going to have a team that falls in line," he said. "I'm really happy I tried it with this group. It's not a team that gets super giddy about things. It also doesn't get too low either. It's a pretty even-keel group and that's a credit to the leadership."
Mitchell said confidence for the players as well as the coaches has resulted from the council being established and successful. He is certain it will help when they play the defending national champions Saturday for a spot in the national semifinals.
"The team locked in to being 1 of 8 last week, and locked in this week into being 1 of 4 after Saturday's game," he said. "I think we'll be ready for just about any atmosphere and game, too. This team has experienced a lot this year and responded. Great leadership from the council is part of that."
