Falcon Football has had some issues with a “losing culture” for years now, with both students and athletes always anticipating a loss. The mentality just wasn’t there. Downs wants to change that, and commented, “I think right now we’re working through the culture of being used to not having success, what it takes to have success, and doing those little things that weren’t necessarily happening previously which led to the results we were getting.” Downs continued, “We’re just fighting that battle right now, trying to work through learning what needs to happen to succeed and having the mentality to succeed, but that doesn’t just happen on gameday, it happens during the week.”

Downs is huge on making sure his athletes aren’t only focused on football and what happens on the field. “I do grade checks twice a week. I think this helps keep everybody accountable for something that doesn’t [have] to do with football, but just being a well-rounded student-athlete. It goes back to the little things, like your academics, that’s something that’s going to carry over into life and football, so that’s one big thing we’re getting used to,” Downs explained. Downs also introduced BAM Mondays, where the varsity team must come dressed in business casual attire to school. “We’ve done a few lessons, had some people speak to them and Dr. Ferguson came in and taught how to tie a tie to some of our athletes, so some of those little things are pretty awesome.” Again, Downs goes back to giving his athletes the right mindset, on and off the field. “We’re just trying to have a mindset of where we have an identity. One that we’ve adapted at least for defense is ‘dirty bird mentality,’ which is just taking pride, having grit and having a little bit of swagger when we play the game.” With this new identity, Downs is helping his athletes adapt behaviors that will turn the program around, and it’s definitely going to play a part as the season continues.