Jim Gazzolo Column: Goff Ready to Close Out the New Year in 2023 – American Press

Gary Goff’s longest off-season is almost over.

After a tough 2023 season, the head coach of McNeese State’s American football team enters his third season with an improved roster and new hope.

“I’m looking forward to getting training camp started,” Goff said Wednesday.

He calls this season a fresh start, a second chance and a new beginning, as last season ended with a 1-10 record, the program’s worst.

Goff previously admitted that there were times when last year’s misery became too much for him, but he also said he learned a lot. Starting next week, he will put those lessons into practice.

The Cowboys report to camp this weekend and begin official workouts next Wednesday. But before that, Goff has to travel to San Antonio for the Southland Conference Media Day, where he’ll have to reminisce about last season. He hopes this is the last time before everyone does what they’ve done and turns the page.

Speaking to local media yesterday, Goff is well aware of what is at stake this year.

“We know what we’ve been through, the staff, the team and myself are affected by it and I’m going to make sure it stays that way,” Goff said.

However, he does not let himself be influenced by the pressure, not even by his group.

“That’s something you guys have to write about,” Goff said. “I’m not going to go into the season talking about pressure, talking about last year and oh my god, we have to win.

“Yes, we know we have to win, we understand that. We have to win, but if you focus on that day in and day out, you are not doing your job optimally and you are worrying about the wrong things.”

Goff enters the new season knowing that time is running out and that the time to talk about rebuilding is running out. With one year left on his contract and a fan base growing increasingly frustrated, this is going to be a huge year for him and the Cowboys.

That’s why so much effort has been put into this off-season, making the squad more talented and experienced, and even adding some key pieces to the coaching staff itself.

On paper it seems to work, but no one knows better than Goff that this will have to happen on the field.

Granted, he inherited most of the problems the Cowboys have faced since his arrival, but it’s a head that wears the crown.

But what he wants to do most of all is make sure the pressure, like the goat, stops with him. He doesn’t want everyone to worry about everything in the McNeese locker room.

He wants to make sure that he gives his team the best of themselves every day and that they in turn show that to the players.

“We can only worry about what we can control and that’s coming to work every day with a great attitude and a great work ethic and making sure we take care of our football team and take care of each other,” Goff said. “Yeah, know where we come from, where we’ve come from, and we know what we’ve been through as a staff.”

They’ve also made sure that they’re not going into this season short-handed like they were a year ago. With over 50 new players, 20 of them from the FBS level, the Cowboys appear to be not only reloaded, but have acquired much better weapons.

With so much at stake this season, it’s good to know that McNeese at least won’t be outclassed.

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance sportswriter who covers McNeese State track and field for the American Press. He can be reached at [email protected]