A Player's Coach, in his own words words

There was a glimmer of hope at the end of football's disappointing 1999 campaign. Going into the fourth quarter, the team held an 18-point lead over Dartmouth in the final game of the season.

Roger Hughes, then offensive coordinator for the Big Green, extinguished that light, erasing the deficit and sending the Tigers to the bottom of the Ivy League.

Now, the same man will try to restore hope and the winning attitude of past Princeton teams. Since his arrival, Hughes has made many tangible changes. New coaches and a new playbook are a couple of examples.

But more than just changing the terminology in the huddle, Hughes has set out to change the attitude of every member of the program. To really understand what Hughes is doing, you have to hear it in his own words.

"We have to step on the field and expect to do well," Hughes said. "The first thing I did when I came in was I asked them to remember that feeling they felt on that bus ride home from Dartmouth.

"I wanted them to understand that feeling they felt. I asked them 'What are you prepared to do to never have that feeling again?'

"Sometimes losing is a self-perpetuating situation. My biggest concern is that if we don't have success early the kids could revert back to old ways. That's why I've tried to teach new habits and instill a work ethic so that we can fight through adversity. Early in the spring, we didn't do it well. Our second scrimmage we were in a rainstorm and some kids were ducking their heads and I had to call them aside and get their attention a little bit.

"The thing I've told them is carry yourself like a champion in everything you do," Hughes said. "It doesn't stop on the field or in the weight room. When you're a football player on campus it evokes a certain stereotype, and I don't think athletics and academics have to be a dichotomy. It can be synergistic. These kids have to understand that they're scrutinized because they're football players, and there's no place to hide when you're 6-4, 290. So at every practice I remind them that how they carry themselves is important.

"I focused on a different 'p' word after every practice. Words like poise, pride, perfection and production. Every night I had a different 'p' word theme that focused on what it takes to be the most important 'p' word — a player. Being a great player is not just benching 400 pounds and running a 4.3 40. There are different aspects to it, especially in a place like this where you are challenged athletically and academically.

"My job is to help them succeed, first in the classroom and second on the field," Hughes said.

"You always want to stick with the things that have worked. Having a strong tradition of past success shows you that there's no reason why you shouldn't be successful now. You have to relish that tradition, cherish it. Keep one foot in the past, but the other foot better be in the fast lane.

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"Success makes you quick to forget and slow to learn.

"Attention to detail has become a focus," Hughes said. "If you walk in our locker room right now, it's spotless. Stools are put away, equipment is put away. If stools are left out, I'm going to figure out who left them out, and they're going to hear about it from me. If they're not treating their equipment correctly, I'm going to hear about that, too. Same thing goes with events that happen on campus. It's like a family — I'll watch your back, but you have to let me know what's going on.

"I can't get to know every kid like my son, but they need to understand that if there is anything I can help them with, my door is open. There has to be trust developed there for our program to succeed.

"I want to show them I care about them. I get fired up, I get excited, I try to catch them doing good things. I think people are motivated more when they're told they've done well. But when we get on them we're not just telling them they screwed up, we tell them why and how to get better.

"The comment I get most from the players is that it's fun. And I ask them why, because if I can bottle it and sell it I'll be a millionaire."

Hughes' enthusiasm has made it easy for his players to embrace the new philosophy.

"I really like his style, and I think that everyone feels the same way," next year's captain Mike Higgins said. "We weren't sure what it was going to be like having him on the sidelines, working with him every day, but he's really a player's coach. He's got a lot of personality. He's very positive, very encouraging. I enjoyed being out there with him very much."

Hughes is quick to compliment his players on their quick adjustment to change.

"They've all done a great job of embracing our plan," Hughes said. "In terms of attitude, enthusiasm, everything they've done has been great. If we keep the same work ethic that we had during spring ball we could surprise some people this year."