‘Different Brand of Football’
Back in the spring, a few months after being hired as the third head coach of Hatters Football in the modern era, Mike Jasper was especially energetic and enthusiastic. He had arrived from Bethel University in Tennessee, earning Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year and NAIA Region I Coach of the Year in 2022, as well as leading his team to consecutive 11-win seasons (2022 and 2023).
At the time, in a published interview, Jasper spoke about his plans to build a Stetson program, little by little, for long-term success through individual and collective growth and development.
Now, with the season opener approaching on Aug. 30 vs. Webber University at DeLand’s Spec Martin Municipal Stadium, Jasper talks about how he sees his program and his players shaping up.
Following spring practice and through the summer, how do you feel about the progress being made?
“I’m very pleased with what we did in June and July. We were very fortunate to have just a little over 100 guys report back for voluntary workouts on June 2, and since that day we’ve held firm roughly with 100 guys. So, anytime you get guys that are bought-in and committed to coming in and working hard, and building that comradery and working towards a common goal, you feel pretty good going into camp. We’ve had some guys transform their bodies, put up some good numbers in the weight room. So, we’re starting to develop that physical makeup that I’m wanting on the football team in our program moving forward.”
During the spring, you talked about creating an environment that would be conducive to success. Do you feel like that’s happening?
“Yes. That’s something I’m a firm believer in — that you fight for your culture daily. Depending on how those guys are feeling day to day could really impact your culture. I think these young men are starting to see some of that player-led leadership in our locker room. We’re starting to hear some of our sentiments echoed. So, I’m really excited to get going and start really honing in on some of our pillars and keys to success. So, yeah, I think we’re on the right track. We just got to keep moving forward.”
You have talked about trying to foster and nurture an aggressive style of play. It’s early, but do you feel that can happen?
“I think we started to see remnants of it in the spring. Guys started to understand the style of practice that we want to conduct. Our practices are physical. If we’re going to play physical, we got to practice physical. We can’t just show up on Saturday and expect it to happen. So, we’re starting to put that into play. I’m really excited to see how things go after that acclimatization period and we get the pads on and we’re popping. We’re going to have a couple live scrimmages this [fall] camp. We’re going to have ‘move the ball’ periods where we come out and really show, and set our pads and prepare our bodies to play a lot more physical brand of football than we have here in the past.”
Another of your themes has been growth and development, both as players and as people. Have you’ve started to see it?
“Yeah, we’ve already started to see that. I think there are different areas. You have to compartmentalize the success that we’re going to see in this program. Some of the success we’re going to see in true [game] wins. But we’re also not going to see it until these guys leave this program. They become fathers and leaders in our community. But as of right now, the off-the-field comradery I’m seeing out of these guys has been phenomenal. We’re recruiting the right type of people that fit our mold. We had two freshmen this summer that started a bible study, and it started off with six and seven guys and then it grew to 20 [and more]. … So, you’re starting to see that growth permeate within our program. I think we’re on the right track, but then obviously we want to continue that growth. I think it kind of goes with that culture component, where you’re always continually pushing and striving to be great.”
What can the Stetson community and the DeLand community expect from this football team this fall?
“We’re going to control what we can control. So, anybody that comes out and sees us play, they’re going to see us control our effort, our attitude and our toughness. It’s going to be a different brand of football. We’re going to be a source of pride for this campus and in this community. I think the people in DeLand need to know that we have a legitimate Division 1 football program right here.”
Has there been a highlight this summer — a personal interaction or something you saw in the weight room or anything else at this point?
“I wouldn’t say a personal interaction as much as it is just starting to see those key culture ingredients starting to permeate throughout the guys. Guys are handling business without me having to do or say something. I think true success is going to come when those sentiments are always echoed and coming from the locker room. I can get these guys prepared to play. I can teach them. I can pour into them and mentor. But at the end of the day, when they get out there on Saturday, it’s up to them. So, to see them already starting to take the reins and push our culture has been huge. … I’m a firm believer that when you handle things off the field, the wins, the championships and all those things that people want to celebrate, they’re a byproduct of doing things the right way. And I think Stetson Football is starting to do things the right way.”
-Michael Candelaria
Meet the Team Night, Aug. 23
Stetson Football fans are invited to kick off the 2025 season with Meet the Team Night on Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Athletic Training Center on campus. The free event begins at 5 p.m.
Ultimate Gameday
The Hatter Zone is back and better than ever for the 2025 season! Read more in “The Ultimate Gameday Experience Just Got an Upgrade: Welcome to Hatter Zone 2.0!”
