Much has been made, and rightly so, of the Belichickian atmosphere that has put barriers around the program, made fans feeling distanced and less connected. That's a real negative when a program is struggling.
What could say, Kirby, do in a conversation with Kliff about making fans feel part of the program without making for more work or give away trade secrets?
To me, it's just a couple of tweaks, and not an overhaul:
1. Let assistant coaches speak to the media. This isn't the old Soviet Union. They have insight and personality and have a better feel for their position groups that goes beyond Kliff. Treat them as adults.
2. Open entire practices to the media during the preseason and many during the spring. One thing I used to enjoy during the Leach years was reading notes about certain WRs making some exceptional catches, certain DBs mixing it up in drills, coaches excited about a big hit from somebody, how certain players did in 7 on 7 drills.
I read about that during Cowboys training camp and there's a bit more of a buy-in as the season approaches. We get none of that any more. It's almost an invisible team until the season starts.
3. Maybe something in the spring. More emphasis on spring game perhaps, or even having one. Events in Midland and Frisco are really good. I remember after one spring game under Leach there was a massive autograph session on the field for kids and others.
These aren't that major and maybe it wouldn't change much, but in trying to think what could be a compromise for fans and the program, those things came to mind.
Thoughts?
What could say, Kirby, do in a conversation with Kliff about making fans feel part of the program without making for more work or give away trade secrets?
To me, it's just a couple of tweaks, and not an overhaul:
1. Let assistant coaches speak to the media. This isn't the old Soviet Union. They have insight and personality and have a better feel for their position groups that goes beyond Kliff. Treat them as adults.
2. Open entire practices to the media during the preseason and many during the spring. One thing I used to enjoy during the Leach years was reading notes about certain WRs making some exceptional catches, certain DBs mixing it up in drills, coaches excited about a big hit from somebody, how certain players did in 7 on 7 drills.
I read about that during Cowboys training camp and there's a bit more of a buy-in as the season approaches. We get none of that any more. It's almost an invisible team until the season starts.
3. Maybe something in the spring. More emphasis on spring game perhaps, or even having one. Events in Midland and Frisco are really good. I remember after one spring game under Leach there was a massive autograph session on the field for kids and others.
These aren't that major and maybe it wouldn't change much, but in trying to think what could be a compromise for fans and the program, those things came to mind.
Thoughts?
