By Micah Wheeler

Last semester was a pivotal moment for QU’s football team. After ending the season 5-6, which was a one game improvement from the previous year, the team optimistically heads into the offseason with a new mindset to get better and never settle.

Prior to winter break, returning players set up a meeting with head coach Gary Bass to discuss the success, failures and other concerns. As the discussion came to an end, Bass informed them that things were going to be different moving forward.

 “I’ve taken note of everyone’s concerns and promise you, if you give me time, I will change everything,” Bass said.

One of the first things to change was the coaching staff. During winter break, offensive coordinator Keith Barefield, notified the players via a hudl message that he would no longer be a part of the team due to him taking a coach position at the University of Louisiana.

“This comes because of the success that we had on the field this year. I couldn’t have done this without you, and wouldn’t have wanted to do this with anybody else. It breaks my heart to leave you all. However, it helps me to know that I’m  leaving you in the most capable hands,” Barefield said.

One of the most shocking changes came early in January when QU football’s twitter page made a post that was received well by the team and others. It stated that coach Ryan Olson, the team’s wide receiver coach who had only coached at QU for one season, would now claim the spot to be the new offensive coordinator for the team. 

“It was stressful at first but there are a lot of things I’m excited about,” Olson said.

“I’m excited to get to work with the guys obviously. I think we have a lot of youth and from a coaching perspective that is one of two things: you kind of get clay to mold and shape the team how you want to shape it but also the guys haven’t been stuck in one system to where their going to be rigid in what they’ve learned,” Olson said. 

Optimistic thoughts fluctuate throughout the ranks of the team seeing that the system is changing. There had been talk amongst the team prior to the players returning from break that the reason for their continuous losing seasons is because the team has never had a coach such as Gary Bass that would risk trying out new methods to be more successful. 

“There is nothing I will put over this program. Not me, not any other coaches, not the players, nobody. If we want to win at a high level we all need to be willing to make sacrifices for the greater good and that includes not just the players but the coaches as well,” Bass said.“This spring we have a lot of guys returning that can help us win games as well as some recruits that we as a coaching staff feel can also help to push other players to be better. As a result we can push the bar higher until we have what it takes to be GLVC champions.”