SIAC MEDIA DAY: New Albany State coach Dan Land embracing the challenge

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — In his first year as the Albany State head football coach, Dan Land has some big shoes to fill.

He inherits a team that finished 7-3 and came up just short of winning the SIAC championship. As though that weren’t a high enough bar, the Rams were picked by coaches as East Division favorites at the 2015 SIAC Media Day on Monday at the Holiday Inn hotel.

With all that said, Land said he feels everything that happened last year as well as Monday should serve as nothing more than motivation. He said that’s the main sentiment he’s trying to get through to his team.

“Work hard to get it, they believe in you,” he said. “They’re telling you they believe in you because they selected you number one, now go out and do it. So we’re just trying to use that as motivation for the guys.”

While the expectations are lofty, Land said he’s enjoying the process, which includes his first media day.

“It was great just seeing a lot of the coaches that I always see, especially coach [Mike] White and getting to talk to him,” he said. “[It was nice] getting to talk to all the coaches about their situations and what they got going on…things like that I really enjoy.”

Former ASU and current Benedict head coach Mike White also shared a few thoughts about his new gig this season. He said as hard as it was leaving a place he has a long history with, he’s excited for the new opportunity.

“I’m just trying to get things lined up, but it’s a new experience and I’m excited,” he said. “I got a group that’s coming that’s getting to know us, we’re getting to know them…we want to get back to where his [Land] team is, Albany State.”

With nine players named to the preseason first and second teams, Land said he feels he inherited the tools to make this a memorable season. One of the things he said he’d like to achieve that White did was continue to push his players and get the most of their talents. Preparing his players to rise to the expectations placed on them is what Land told the SIAC media was his biggest challenge.

“The biggest challenge so far has been getting all of the players back in and getting ready for the season,” he said. “With the SIAC, you have to get your players in and get them ready over the summer to be successful.”