Every college football coach over the last 50 years has talked about leadership among the players on his team. As we begin wrapping up Spring camp around the country, it’s good to see what leaders have emerged at different programs. And what does that leadership look like at Wake Forest?
What Does Wake Forest Leadership Look Like
One former head coach, and current offensive coordinator, loved the phrase, “Player-led, not coach-fed.” He used it so obsessively that even a few members of the media covering the team started using it as though it were not completely cliché. The leaders on any team are taking their cues from the head coach in both style and substance. So what does leadership look like at Wake in year two under Dickert?
Player Accountability
The coach has a group of 16 players that make up his leadership council. They represent every class from freshmen to seniors, as well as the different position groups. The group is designed to have some give and take with the head coach. “I’m a big fan of feedback and listening,” Dickert said last week as Spring camp was drawing to a close. “There’s a lot of things in our program that I don’t see. And I want those guys to take ownership of the program.”
They met at breakfast last Friday morning to take the next step post-Spring camp. Dickert had topics to be covered. “What does May look like? How do we hold each other accountable? How do we do the things we need to do to take some steps forward? And how do we build up some guys that maybe had a rougher Spring that we’re going to need?”
A couple of weeks ago, defensive back Braylon Johnson had an unusual angle on his role as a team leader. Johnson said the players are always going to get plenty of feedback from the coaches. And there will always be plenty of teammates holding them accountable on the field, in the weight room, and in workouts.
Braylon Johnson’s Impact
Johnson said he takes a different approach. He said he works from the mental wellness standpoint. “For me, it’s like ‘How are you doing outside of this? How’s your girlfriend? How’s your family?’” Johnson said he wants to provide an avenue for his teammates to take if they need something extra off the field. “A lot of guys are away from home. So, what is it that you need help with outside of our school?”
Johnson will be in his second year at Wake Forest after spending his first two seasons at Virginia Tech. And while in eligibility terms, he will be a redshirt junior, he is already in graduate school at Wake Forest. He is originally from Richmond, Virginia, so even while he is away from home, he is not so far away that he does not know how to reach out.
Dickert was told of Johnson’s comments and his approach to looking after his teammates’ big picture well-being. “We talk about making sure you take care of yourself to a high order,” Dickert said. “That’s what we talk about with being a connected team. You never know what your buddy is going through unless you talk to him, unless you act and engage.”
Dickert said it is part of an ongoing message he gives to all of the leaders on the team. He said he emphasizes being there for each other on their worst days, and that it would be the true definition of connection. “It’s real easy when you’re scoring touchdowns, and things are going great,” he said. “When we beat SMU, I got 700 texts. When we got our ass kicked by Florida State, I got five. But those are the real people in my life.”
He took note of Johnson’s specific path. “That’s real leadership to me. And for him to embody that and for him to speak that into existence. I think it’s really powerful. And I think it puts a lens and a spotlight on the good things we’re doing in our program off the field.”
Off-Season
The team has about a month off now to heal the bumps and bruises from camp, to handle academics before the end of the semester, and, as Dickert put it, go see your family if you can. After Labor Day weekend, they will be back in the gym for workouts.
Main Image: Wake Forest Athletics via Imagn Images
