NCAA.com is doing a summer series featuring, “10 athletic programs that stood not just once, but twice (and, in three cases, thrice) atop the college sports world with national championships in ‘08-`09.“
The Terps qualify with the 2008 national titles in men’s soccer and field hockey. And what, according to AD Debbie Yow, was the key to the athletic program’s success last school year?
A mantra. From the story:
Each year, she and her colleagues institute a departmental “mantra,” she said – “something to wrap our goals around.” Last year, the Maryland mantra was simple: “Excellence,” she said. “Excellence in all we do. Excellence by everyone. Every day. In everything.”
For the most part, that strategy worked in ‘08-’09. Besides the two national titles, the Terps won five ACC Championships and legitimately had a chance at two other national crowns — in women’s lacrosse and women’s basketball.
It wasn’t all good of course. While competent, men’s basketball, football and men’s lacrosse didn’t achieve “excellence” last season. Men’s tennis, women’s tennis and baseball all had rough seasons in the spring.
All three of those coaches either resigned or didn’t have their contract renewed, perhaps indicating that Yow’s mantra was no joke. Could you imagine Gary Williams sitting down, eyes closed carefully repeating the “mantra” in deep thought and meditation?
Probably not his style.
Say you were charged with coming up for a 2009-2010 mantra for the Athletics Department. What would it be and why? Would it work for improved results compared to last year?
Aaron Kraut is The Diamondback’s Sports Editor. He can be contacted at akrautdbk@gmail.com