COLUMN: The time for a change is now

Disappointment.

It’s one word that best sums up the University of South Dakota football teams’ performance thus far in its first full season in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Pathetic.

One word that explains USD’s second half against MVFC foe Missouri State October 13, where the Coyotes blew a 24-10 lead with six minutes left in the fourth quarter to fall 24-27 on a last second field goal.

Hopeful.

The only word Coyote fans can use for the rest of the football season.

USD has been in position to win each of its conference games so far this year.

USD has proved they can compete with teams in the MVFC, but it has also proved that they cannot find a way to close a game out with a victory.

The growing pains of competing in a new conference have taken their toll on Coyote players, coaches and supporters everywhere, but the reality is there is still plenty of season left for the Coyotes to salvage this season.

Now a complete turn around is not just going to happen over night but a step in a forward direction can take place this weekend when USD hosts reigning Football Conference Subdivision champion North Dakota State University on Oct. 20 at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.

USD will without a doubt be a huge underdog going into the game against NDSU but that is also a position the team can use to its advantage. First and foremost, USD needs to work on fixing the small and simple fundamentals.

Simple mistakes and penalties have plagued USD throughout the season.

Blocked punts, fumbles and bad penalties have been a common theme for the Coyotes conference games this season.

It is hard for any team to over come those problems, let alone, a team that is swimming in unknown waters.

Losing will always bring negative attention to every aspect of any football program and USD is no different. Coyote supporters demand a performance that they can be proud of and so far this season the football team hasn’t delivered.

Its tough to place the blame for this years season thus far on any single particular person, but if the team doesn’t start making improvements it won’t take long for Coyote fans to start searching for answers.