Miami Ohio University Athletics
Captains' Corner
9/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | General
Sept. 22, 2011
Captains' Corner is a weekly update from a captain or leader of one of the RedHawks' 19 teams that will run every other Thursday throughout the academic year. Today's update is from football's Anthony Kokal, a fifth-year senior from Warren, Ohio, who prepped at Warren John F. Kennedy High School and is a graduate student in accoutancy. Check back on Oct. 6 for the next edition of Captains' Corner.
It's an exciting time within the Miami Football Family as we look to build off the success that we were able to muster last season. There's a sense of optimism and determination that has manifested itself within our team under the great leadership of Coach Treadwell, and we are very excited to start our three-game homestand beginning with Bowling Green on Family Weekend.
While we have endured a coaching change through the offseason, we feel very confident about the relationships that Coach Treadwell and the staff have fostered with us not just as athletes, but also as students. The players, coaches, and administrators have a strong bond that has enabled us to learn from each other and continue to grow as a family. It feels as though we've been together for years instead of just nine months.
It has been interesting to learn from Coach Treadwell as he brings such a unique perspective as a former Miami football player himself. He has taken it upon himself to restore some of the traditions in which he participated when he wore the block "M" on his helmet. He has taught us to respect the traditions and hard work of the teams that came before us, and he has encouraged us to create our own legacies so that we can leave our own mark on such a storied program.
There's something about being a senior on a team that you've been apart of for so long that I'm learning is truly special. I've been working towards this--the culmination of my football career at Miami--for so long and I am excited to have a chance to lead my team to another successful season. The other seniors on the team are incredibly focused on the season, and I am eager to see just how far the leadership on our team can take us. Coach Treadwell puts a huge emphasis on the importance of senior leadership, and I feel very confident in our abilities with the mix that we have in that role.
Even more so, it has been great to watch the younger guys mature mentally and physically from spring ball to preseason camp and even now as we are in the beginning of our season. The identity that we've built for our team this season is one of discipline and trust, and we are very confident that that foundation will carry us a long way.
Love and Honor,
Anthony Kokal
