DETROIT: Kent State football coach Paul Haynes has brought the African term “ubuntu” to his team, and his players love it.
The Golden Flashes posted a 3-9 overall record in 2015 and finished last in the Mid-American Conference East Division with a 2-6 mark.
With a tough season in the past, Haynes and the Flashes are seeking a turnaround in 2016 with 21 returning starters.
“I heard the term ubuntu for the first time a number of years ago, but then I started researching it and looking into it on what it really means and what it is about, and I think it fits our team this year,” Haynes said Thursday during the Mid-American Conference Football Media Day at Ford Field in Detroit.
“What the term is is ‘I am who I am because of who you are and because of who we are.’
“I can’t be the best person or best football player I possibly can be unless you are. It is not a ‘All for One, One for All.’ It is a little bit more than that. It’s all about humility, servitude and making sure that the person next to me is reaching his full potential. That is my job as a person to make sure that I do that. If everybody around us is reaching their full potential than we will get the results that we want.”
KSU defensive backs Nate Holley and Demetrius Monday are returning starters and Thursday expressed that the team is embracing the ubuntu philosophy.
“The term is basically saying I can’t be great, if we aren’t great,” Holley said. “That is kind of our new motto going into this season.”
KSU will open its season at Penn State at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 3.
“We are changing guys’ minds and we are maturing as a team,” Holley said. “We do have a lot of guys returning, but we still have mentally some maturing and growing to do. That is really what our emphasis is on. I think that will make us a better team in the long run. We have the same goal as everybody else, and that is to be back here in Detroit come December [2 and win the MAC championship game].”
Haynes said Justin Agner, George Bollas (Aurora) and Mylik Mitchell are competing for the starting quarterback position. Bollas has starting experience.
“We will name our starter hopefully after our first scrimmage in August,” Haynes said.
Haynes praised Holley, defensive lineman Terence Waugh, offensive lineman Wayne Scott and linebacker Nick Cuthbert for being leaders.
“These are guys we threw into the fire Year One,” Haynes said. “Those guys know our expectations and know what we want as a coaching staff.”
Other returning starters on offense are tight end Brice Fackler, running back Raekwon James, linemen Scott, Stefano Millin, Nathan Puthoff, Reno Reda and Brock Macaulay, wide receivers Kris White, Johnny Woods and Antwan Dixon and kicker Shane Hynes.
The defense returns Monday, Holley, Najee Murray, Darius Redmond and Elcee Refuge in the backfield and Waugh, Jon Cunningham and Chris Fairchild up front.
“The expectations for these guys have gone up on how they play because they have played a lot of football,” Haynes said. “I think everyone wants to be back here in December. That is the goal of every program here, but we don’t want to think about the end result of the season. We think about the end result of the day. We have got to make sure we get better every day.”
Check the polls
The University of Akron checked in at No. 3 in the MAC East Preseason Media Poll and KSU appeared at No. 6. Bowling Green and Ohio held the top two spots in the MAC East. Western Michigan, Toledo and Northern Illinois were 1-2-3 in the MAC West.
“We didn’t beat Ohio and we didn’t beat Bowling Green last year,” UA coach Terry Bowden said. “Until we beat them, there is no reason for us to be ranked higher.
“As much as you want to have a lot of preseason accolades, there is nothing less important in life than where you rank in the preseason. It’s where you end up after the season. … Ohio and Bowling Green have consistently been there.”
KSU is confident it can climb up the standings in 2016.
“We have a lot of guys that come in with experience,” Monday said. “Experience always helps when you are trying to bring the leadership role and getting closer on a personal level. We are looking good with our experience and helping the younger guys come up.”
http://www.ohio.com/sports/kent-sta...s-african-term-ubuntu-to-his-players-1.700720
The Golden Flashes posted a 3-9 overall record in 2015 and finished last in the Mid-American Conference East Division with a 2-6 mark.
With a tough season in the past, Haynes and the Flashes are seeking a turnaround in 2016 with 21 returning starters.
“I heard the term ubuntu for the first time a number of years ago, but then I started researching it and looking into it on what it really means and what it is about, and I think it fits our team this year,” Haynes said Thursday during the Mid-American Conference Football Media Day at Ford Field in Detroit.
“What the term is is ‘I am who I am because of who you are and because of who we are.’
“I can’t be the best person or best football player I possibly can be unless you are. It is not a ‘All for One, One for All.’ It is a little bit more than that. It’s all about humility, servitude and making sure that the person next to me is reaching his full potential. That is my job as a person to make sure that I do that. If everybody around us is reaching their full potential than we will get the results that we want.”
KSU defensive backs Nate Holley and Demetrius Monday are returning starters and Thursday expressed that the team is embracing the ubuntu philosophy.
“The term is basically saying I can’t be great, if we aren’t great,” Holley said. “That is kind of our new motto going into this season.”
KSU will open its season at Penn State at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 3.
“We are changing guys’ minds and we are maturing as a team,” Holley said. “We do have a lot of guys returning, but we still have mentally some maturing and growing to do. That is really what our emphasis is on. I think that will make us a better team in the long run. We have the same goal as everybody else, and that is to be back here in Detroit come December [2 and win the MAC championship game].”
Haynes said Justin Agner, George Bollas (Aurora) and Mylik Mitchell are competing for the starting quarterback position. Bollas has starting experience.
“We will name our starter hopefully after our first scrimmage in August,” Haynes said.
Haynes praised Holley, defensive lineman Terence Waugh, offensive lineman Wayne Scott and linebacker Nick Cuthbert for being leaders.
“These are guys we threw into the fire Year One,” Haynes said. “Those guys know our expectations and know what we want as a coaching staff.”
Other returning starters on offense are tight end Brice Fackler, running back Raekwon James, linemen Scott, Stefano Millin, Nathan Puthoff, Reno Reda and Brock Macaulay, wide receivers Kris White, Johnny Woods and Antwan Dixon and kicker Shane Hynes.
The defense returns Monday, Holley, Najee Murray, Darius Redmond and Elcee Refuge in the backfield and Waugh, Jon Cunningham and Chris Fairchild up front.
“The expectations for these guys have gone up on how they play because they have played a lot of football,” Haynes said. “I think everyone wants to be back here in December. That is the goal of every program here, but we don’t want to think about the end result of the season. We think about the end result of the day. We have got to make sure we get better every day.”
Check the polls
The University of Akron checked in at No. 3 in the MAC East Preseason Media Poll and KSU appeared at No. 6. Bowling Green and Ohio held the top two spots in the MAC East. Western Michigan, Toledo and Northern Illinois were 1-2-3 in the MAC West.
“We didn’t beat Ohio and we didn’t beat Bowling Green last year,” UA coach Terry Bowden said. “Until we beat them, there is no reason for us to be ranked higher.
“As much as you want to have a lot of preseason accolades, there is nothing less important in life than where you rank in the preseason. It’s where you end up after the season. … Ohio and Bowling Green have consistently been there.”
KSU is confident it can climb up the standings in 2016.
“We have a lot of guys that come in with experience,” Monday said. “Experience always helps when you are trying to bring the leadership role and getting closer on a personal level. We are looking good with our experience and helping the younger guys come up.”
http://www.ohio.com/sports/kent-sta...s-african-term-ubuntu-to-his-players-1.700720
