New position, same identity

Former defensive MVP back six years later as coordinator

UW-Eau+Claire+defensive+coordinator+Sam+Cummings%2C+pictured+here+at+Concordia-St.+Paul+%28Minn.%29%2C+was+the+Blugold+defensive+MVP+in+2006+and+2007.

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UW-Eau Claire defensive coordinator Sam Cummings, pictured here at Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.), was the Blugold defensive MVP in 2006 and 2007.

It was a November morning back in 2007 when Sam Cummings woke up and thought his college playing days were over.

He and his teammates had nothing to be ashamed of as they improved by six wins from the year before under first year head coach Todd Glaser, but nevertheless, the NCAA playoffs seemed out of reach.

The selection committee had other ideas, selecting the Blugolds to go to their first NCAA tournament since 2001 and extending Cummings’ career.

Six years later, he’s back in blue and gold as a first-year defensive coordinator, and he’s in a similar situation. Last year, the Blugolds were bitten by the injury bug and finished 2-8. But as Cummings found out in 2007, one year can make a huge difference.

“I told our guys when I first got here, I was a part of a team that was 3-7, and we went 9-3 the next year to make that playoff run,” Cummings said. “It’s just guys with right attitudes that come together, come to work every day, anything’s possible. That’s definitely attainable here.”

Cummings earned four letters and three all-WIAC honors while patrolling the middle of the field for the defense. He also garnered two straight team defensive MVP awards in 2006 and 2007.

He became a graduate assistant for Glaser before pursuing a coaching career outside of Eau Claire. He coached for two years at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and from 2011 to 2013, he was the special teams and defensive line coach at Division II Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.).

In his heart, however, he knew if an opportunity arose to come back and lead the program that defined him as a college student, he would jump.

And when last year’s defensive coordinator, Mark Sipple, left this offseason for St. Cloud State (Minn.), the opportunity sprouted like a spring flower.

“Once I got done playing, it was actually my dream to get this job one day,” he said. “I didn’t have to think twice about it when the opportunity came up.”

As a player, he left everything out on the field, and it’s the standard he hold his defense to, as well. He’s intense, passionate and committed.

But as current defensive captain Erik Hulman said, it’s an effort the entire defense can rally around, especially after the 2013 season.

“I love playing for him,” Hulman said. “He’s a high-energy guy, and I feel like the players feed off that, too.”

Glaser’s first year as Eau Claire head coach was Cummings’ senior year 2007, and he too has been impressed with the passion he displays to his players.

“He brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and you see that in practice,” Glaser said. “He’s detail-oriented and putting his own stamp on the defense.”

So what is Cummings’ stamp which is all set to make a splash in the WIAC this fall? Really, it’s all about keeping it simple.

Cummings knows the offense can only run so many plays. He preaches one play at a time to his defenders, and he stresses if they stay within themselves, plays will eventually find them. He said he wants his guys to understand there’s 11 men on the field, not just one.

While he found plenty of things to correct from Saturday’s matchup against St. Thomas (Minn.), the Cummings era made a big statement by shutting down the potent Tommies’ offense in the fourth quarter, holding them to zero points as the Blugolds almost pulled the upset on the road.

While gaps will close, holes will fill and schemes will strengthen, one thing is overwhelmingly certain: Cummings’ defense will take no plays off.

“I want people to walk away saying that’s a defense that plays every snap and we play our tails off as a group.”