By Jim Johnson
SouthernPigskin.com

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The Citadel will still be the tough, disciplined, physically imposing team that took the SoCon, and the entire FCS, by storm in 2015.

Brent Thompson was buzzing with anticipation at his first SoCon Media Day. The new leader of the Citadel Bulldogs has big shoes to fill in the wake of Mike Houstonxe2x80x99s departure. Recently promoted from offensive coordinator, Thompson must walk the tightrope of building upon his predecessorxe2x80x99s success, whilst making his own footprint.

There has been a noticeable cultural shift within the Bulldogsxe2x80x99 program over the past couple of years. xe2x80x9cIt started with the new coaching staff,xe2x80x9d said offensive lineman Kyle Weaver. xe2x80x9cWhen Coach Houston came in, he started creating a championship culture. We built on that, and wexe2x80x99ll build on it again, this season, with Coach Thompson. The expectations, externally, have changed, but internally, wexe2x80x99ve always thought we could win.xe2x80x9d

Standout linebacker Tevin Floyd echoed his teammatexe2x80x99s sentiments, xe2x80x9cWhen I first got here, it was different. When the new staff came in, they wanted to change the nature of how we train, how we, practice, how we approach the game. This past year, I feel like that change in aggression and physicality helped put us over the top.xe2x80x9d

In regards to going from losing a lot of close games, to being able to finish those tight ones, Floyd said, xe2x80x9cA yard here, or a yard there — we got that yard back with the way that we trained during the offseason.xe2x80x9d

Both Floyd and Weaver stated that there was almost no difference between Houston and Thompson, from both a schematic, and philosophical standpoint. The only difference is that Houston was a little more defensive minded, and Thompson is a little more offensive minded.

The Citadel will still be the tough, disciplined, physically imposing team that took the SoCon, and the entire FCS, by storm in 2015.

Donxe2x80x99t expect to see any drop-off from the Bulldogs, in 2016. Thompson isnxe2x80x99t going to mess up a good thing.