ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NEVADASPORTSNET.COM
Sometimes there is only one thing to do: Put on a pot of coffee and work the problem. We do not know if Ken Wilson drinks coffee. We have taken to delaying our coffee consumption to midday simply because the exhilarating, cold-water fear and trembling of the working morning seems to provide sufficient adrenaline to start. And then the midday coffee is a great treat to anticipate. After all, caffeine is our most helpful drug.
The hiss and wash of the kettle boiling fills the room like a thin white smoke. The earthen tang of the grounds explodes off the spoon. The preparation of coffee is a quasi-religious affair for billions.
There must be thousands of cultural historians, epicurean sociologists and self-proclaimed food shamans who can confirm or deny this assertion: Perhaps the ritual of brewing a pot of coffee derives its power from its simplicity, and the likelihood of success of the act, when juxtaposed with the immensity of whatever challenge is to be tackled once the coffee is ready.
===
Down goes the plunger. Up rises the steam. Out gurgles the liquid. The initial slurp: petite and gentle, determining heat. The second is more ambitious. The third is a proper gulp. And then back we plunge into our tâche de l'heure.
===
The first thing to do is decapitate the moment from any larger contextualization. No one in the Wolf Pack locker room ought to give a damn about 16 consecutive winless results, or 408 consecutive victory-free days. These are knitting circle giggles for the chattering classes and the masochists, nothing more. Wolf Pack football will win when they block, tackle, and score in a superior manner to their given opponent over the course of a regulation game (God have mercy on us all should Nevada have to play in an overtime period before the next victory).
The 0-6 record of this year’s Pack belies undeniable progress within the program: Talent and performance upgrades at quarterback, running back, offensive line, and linebacker. Nevada’s offense posted their finest performance to date against UNLV by any metric. The Pack is not regressing. They are not winning, but they are improving. This is a better team than last year, and a better team than the one that lost to USC and Idaho to start this season.
===
Of course, progress is not victory. Seasons are not understood, lauded, or cursed in increments of progress. In the words of a very wise man, you play to win the game.
===
What to do then? The fanatical elements will shout, rend the garments, nash the teeth and wring the hands. Their narrow number is grossly overrepresented in the often scurrilous and ill-informed online conversation surrounding the Pack. And their number will suggest slashing and burning, benching and sacking, upheaval and revolution against the incumbent parties as the surest and fastest path to victory.
These well-intentioned souls are as wrong as they are loud. Do not listen to them. Yes, Nevada’s football coaching staff needs to do a better job. Yes, Nevada’s players need to play to their ability much more consistently. These are challenges, but these are not impossible circumstances. There are solutions to these problems well within reach of the program as currently constructed. They may even be solved by the next game.
Change for change’s sake is a wonderful romantic notion. It is a sub-optimal management technique, and an even poorer methodology for selecting football coaches. It is preposterous to advocate for it six games into a 12-game season. It’s as frivolous as saying Vince Lombardi could do better with this program. Do you think he’s available?
Ken Wilson should be thought of as a gardener. He has had one poor season and is in the midst of a second. But he had to replant the entire garden. Wilson’s seedlings need water, sunshine, care, and patience. Half the season remains. Who knows where this story goes?
===
Nevada Soccer posted their biggest win in memory Sunday. It may be their greatest triumph since joining the Mountain West. On the strength of two Emily Rich goals, Nevada slayed first place San Diego State 3-2 at Mackay. The Aztecs were thoroughly outclassed. The Pack built a 3-0 lead before San Diego State got two late goals to make the final score closer than the affair had proven. The Aztecs had not lost since August. It was their first conference loss.
Nevada had previously lost a match they should have won at home on Thursday to New Mexico 1-0. They responded to that disappointment with the greatest performance we can recall in our seven seasons in Reno.
The Silver and Blue are only one point behind fourth place Colorado State. Remember the standings in soccer are a bit different: three points for a win, one point for a draw. Nevada is only six points out of first place with three matches remaining.
The top six teams make the Mountain West conference tournament. Nevada has never qualified for this event.
Nevada next plays on the road at Boise State and Utah State, two teams above them in the standings. Then, the Pack hosts UNLV on October 26th in the regular season finale at Mackay. It will be your last chance to see the greatest Nevada Soccer side of the Mountain West era. See you there.