Cardinals seek to build upon surprising Southland title run
After going 1-10 in 2017, Incarnate Word lived by the mantra of “stealth mode” last season.
No one would be watching the Cardinals or fearing their potential under first-year coach Eric Morris. UIW flew under the radar, sneaking up on opponents to compile win after win. When the season ended, the Cardinals held a share of the Southland Conference title and were playing in the FCS playoffs for the first time in program history. Morris stood tall as the league’s Coach of the Year, going 6-5 overall and 6-2 in the Southland.
Entering 2019, the Cardinals’ cover is blown. As the defending conference champions, UIW is the hunted rather than the hunter, prompting Morris to change his approach. The team's new rallying cry is “the process,” a reminder that last year’s success was the product of every practice, workout and meeting from the time Morris took control in December 2017.
To repeat last year’s outcome, UIW knows it must repeat the process.
“We always say the secret is in the dirt, and that just means them coming in and focusing on the little things and getting better one day at a time,” Morris said. “As long as our kids are buying in, not getting complacent, continuing to be challenged on a daily basis, I think that’s what ‘the process’ is all about.”
Morris said sustaining success is one of a coach’s most difficult challenges. In a search for answers this summer, he studied some of the sport’s most successful leaders, such as Nick Saban at Alabama
or Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots.
He and his assistants have also been drawing lessons from the book “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win.”
“You always have to cover all grounds, no matter what,” Morris said. “We’ve used a lot of that book with our team in making sure we have the mindset that we don’t get complacent. Any time you have success, I think as human nature allows you, you tend to let off a little bit and start feeling yourself. So we tried to eliminate that as coaches.”
Far from complacent, senior linebacker Mar’kel Cooks said the Cardinals have a “fast and fierce” mentality this year, practicing with “a lot of anger.”
Sure, UIW is on the map this season, starting to establish a culture and brand.
But Cooks said the Cardinals’ defense has been overlooked in comparison to the high-powered offense, and critics will say last year’s success was a fluke.
“We don’t get any respect. Nobody respects us at all,” Cooks said. “We’re a big family. We put everything inside of us, and not worry about the outsiders and whether they help you out.”
Sophomore running back Ameer King said many of the teams in the Southland feel last year’s title run was a “one and done.”
Though the outside perception may have changed, redshirt sophomore defensive end T.J. Wright said UIW put a target on its own back last season. The 2019 campaign will be no different.
“We did good, but we didn’t reach our goal,” Wright said. “Our goal is a natty (national championship). It’s easy to not get complacent when we didn’t reach our goal last year.”
Leading UIW through fall camp for a second time this year, Morris said the Cardinals are much more organized, understanding his system and the structure of practice.
UIW wrapped up spring early to leave more time for players to add muscle through offseason strength training, and one of the main focuses in recruiting was building a faster and more athletic roster. Now, the Cardinals’ play in the trenches looks crisper and more refined, Morris said, compared to players tripping and going to the ground last year.
Morris said every coach relishes the opportunity to enter a season as a target. The recognition is a sign the program is headed in the right direction.
“We’re going to get everybody’s best shot, as we
should, and they’re sure as hell going to get our best shot, too,” Morris said. “I don’t feel like we ever went into a game and walked onto the field with a nervous fear in our eyes. We might’ve been overmatched a couple times, but I definitely want a team that’s going to pull the trigger and not hesitate. I think we’re building toward that right now.”
Senior wide receiver Lamont Johnson said UIW’s confidence is “out the roof.” Morris described himself as
a confident coach, and his players and assistants reflect that mentality.
“We’re not here to just have a conference championship type of year, like last year. We expect bigger and better things,” defensive coordinator Justin Deason said. “We’re going to do some big stuff this year. It's going to be an exciting year. You guys are going to continue to see UIW nationally.”