We’ve completed two weeks of football, yet it’s still unclear how good (or bad) this year’s Bethune-Cookman Football team is. To be fair, ambiguity in the early part of the season is typical for this program due to our scheduling. Most seasons, we kick off with a series of uneven matchups against Power 5 or non-conference opponents. These are normally “money games”. Last year, the team faced two Power 5 teams in the first three weeks. While this year’s schedule may not feature the big-name Power 5 opponents, B-CU will still face several superior programs.
Toughest Football First
For example, last week’s opponent, the University of South Florida (USF), had their fanbase on upset alert after nearly upsetting “Bama”. While the final score was lopsided, Alabama nearly lost to USF. The week before that, we faced that same USF team.
Then there’s this past Saturday’s opponent, the Mercer Bears. Although they may not be a household name, that doesn’t mean they aren’t a solid team. Mercer is ranked 23rd nationally in the FCS and has built a winning program over the last four seasons. By all accounts—whether on paper or on the field—they’re currently a strong program who could win their conference.
Western Michigan Football is Division 1
Next week’s opponent, Western Michigan, is no pushover either. They’re another lesser-known Division 1 program, but they’ll likely be bigger, faster, and stronger. We’ll have to battle hard against another quality team and play near-perfect football just to stay competitive. Whether or not this is technically a “money game,” the final score might resemble one. Of course a win this weekend does wonders for the program, but a loss doesn’t hurt us any more. Thus, don’t overreact to what could be an 0-3 start. This is just a function of our schedule and not entirely indicative of the actual state of the program. Again, relax.
For the most part, these games aren’t about racking up wins—they’re about making money, helping other teams fill out their schedules, and getting our players some reps against superior talent. That’s the reality.
The Big Picture
I say all of this to ease the concerns of what seems to be an increasingly impatient Wildcat fan base. Sometimes, we see the outcome of a game and immediately assume our team is just bad. I understand that feeling, especially since we’ve been struggling for nearly five seasons now. But I urge those of you who aren’t happy with what you’ve seen so far to take a deep breath and give it a little more time.
First, these are non-conference games. In the grand scheme of things, starting 0-3 doesn’t mean much. These games help pay a few bills and prepare the team for conference play. These early season matchups are often lopsided. We enter these games with the primary goal of staying healthy, not necessarily winning. I’ll admit, Saturday’s game was winnable, but that’s a discussion for another time. For the most part, these games aren’t about racking up wins—they’re about making money, helping other teams fill out their schedules, and getting our players some reps against superior talent. That’s the reality.
This Year Is Year One
So don’t hit the panic button just yet, Wildcats. Coach Woodie has done a remarkable job in a short amount of time to rebuild a program that was headed in the wrong direction. Remember, he’s only had one full offseason to recruit and develop talent, which means this is technically year one for him. In the toughest situations, a college football coach needs at least three years before being fairly evaluated. Until that timeline passes—unless there’s significant regression or a complete lack of improvement—we’ll be grading him and the team on a curve.
Time To Forget Ed Reed
Also, I don’t know who needs to hear this, but Ed Reed is not going to be our football coach. For some reason, certain fans continue to invoke his name after every loss or mishap, as if that could somehow reverse his departure. But that ship has sailed. There’s a reason no team has given him a coaching opportunity yet, and it likely stems from what happened here. That’s on him. Reed may still seek a coaching job, and maybe someone will give him a shot, but it won’t be us. No matter what happens with this team, dwelling on what could have been will only drive you crazy. Coach Woodie is our guy, no matter how much you wish it were Ed Reed. It’s time to move on.
Lastly, this team still has everything to play for. The SWAC Championship, the Celebration Bowl, and some good old-fashioned redemption are all still within reach. Overreacting to these first three weeks is just wasted energy because, in the grand scheme, these games won’t matter much. Without diving too deep into the team’s performance so far, there’s plenty to be optimistic about. Yes, Saturday’s 31-2 loss was rough, but you could argue it had more to do with us not executing than being outmatched. We’ve shown big-play potential, a decent offense, and a solid defense. I believe this will become even more apparent once we get into conference play. So for now, take a deep breath and relax. It’s not time to write off Coach Woodie or this team.
All Hail to Thee.
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Great article!!!