Herm Edwards Q&A with Cronkite Students: Positivity In the Shadow of COVID-19

Last Friday Arizona State Head Football Coach, Herm Edwards, Zoomed with sports starved Cronkite students and Professor Brett Kurland. Edwards spoke on the shadow of the COVID-19 virus and its effects on journalism and sports alike. He delivered a welcomed positive perspective and encouraged everyone to find opportunity in disruption. “Do something that’ll get you better mentally and physically,” he suggested, reminding everyone that “Only you can help you.” Edwards can still be found early most mornings at the office, following a bit of exercise, working hard all day to prepare for next season.

Edwards played eleven years in the National Football League. After those playing days he decided to go into coaching, “to give something back to the game… [and] to the players.” He quickly realized it wasn’t easy, taking an entry level spot as a secondary coach for San Jose State. He then moved to the Chiefs as a scout and eventual secondary coach. After serving as assistant coach to mentor Tony Dungy with Tampa Bay, he became the head coach for the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Entering his third year as Sun Devil head coach, Edwards faces a new challenge; no spring practice. While some coaches might panic, he remains optimistic. With new offensive and defensive schemes now hard to implement, he plans to simplify his offense, implementing a “don’t lose” game plan he observed in the NFL. The goal: don’t lose games through mistakes and count on your star players to do what’s necessary to win. Edwards knows his young team will make errors but is ready to take the risk. “We’re going to live with it because that’s who we are.” In the meantime, Edwards and his staff have been poring over practice film, dissecting game film of the first three teams they play, and using Zoom calls to stay in touch with the team.

When asked about the plight of student journalists during COVID-19, Edwards pushed to report on classic games as if they were happening now. “Lost time is never found again,” he said, urging everyone to take advantage of the break. There’s “a lot of noise” in the world we live in. Right now, “it’s quiet,” he said. He suggested to use this time to find out who you are as a person before it gets noisy again.

He noted that journalism is always hard, reflecting on his ten years with ESPN. “I was commuting 6,000 miles a week!” he reminisced enthusiastically, “But when you love what you do, it doesn’t matter.” This positivity he expresses, even in difficult circumstances, is something everyone can emulate. The best way to start, is to, as he says, “just keep a good attitude.”