COLUMN: Is the CMU football morale truly high?

• Tweet
• 

A lot of times when a team isn’t winning and achieving goals they get down.

Things fall apart, there are arguments behind closed doors and dissension between players and conflicts arise. Central Michigan football has faced plenty of adversity.

Injury after injury has forced freshmen to play and mixed results are because of it. A 2-5 record has created plenty of frustration.

Senior Armond Staten mysteriously wasn’t at the last game and junior Jake Bentley quit the team. I have no information on what happened, but it’s not a good sign for moral.

Talking to the players at practice though, they show no signs of low moral.

“Guys are pulling together, it’s not like the team’s divided,” said quarterback Ryan Radcliff. “We’re going to play and fight each week. We’re trying to be 7-5 this year and guys are taking the right approach.”

CMU’s defensive leader Jahleel Addae preached the same message.

“Positive,” Addae said of the team’s moral. “We bleed maroon and gold and love each other. We’re going to fight until the end.”

When you look at how CMU played against EMU, it didn’t appear like it laid down at all. The rush defense didn’t show up, but that can be expected with basically a bunch of freshman out there on the defensive line and linebacker.

The offense looked really sharp though. Radcliff played a phenomenal game out in terrific wind.

But will this hold up?

When you hear about players quitting or mysteriously not being at a game, the next week has red flags.

It’s concerning and you wonder how many players aren’t on the same page with other teammates or coaches.

“We’re going to keep fighting each week,” Radcliff said.

I’m not doubting that. I just wonder how that locker room is holding up after their second-straight struggling season.

Bad only goes to worse if this team isn’t all on the same boat. According to the players they are, but who knows inside the walls of the locker room.