""As players, we have to move on," said left tackle Jordan Mailata. "That is the only way we can improve or strive to perform this season. We can't carry the baggage from last season -- good or bad -- you can't bring it in. It's just like a new relationship. You've got to buy into that because you see everyone else buying into it. And you can see who doesn't buy in because you get left behind.""
""As a coach, Auriemma called winning a championship \"the best thing that ever happened to you and the worst thing that ever happened to you.\" Your thoughts are \"completely dominated\" by figuring out how to win another one. There is fear about being a one-hit wonder.""
""[Fans] just see, 'Wow, we got a lot of really good players. We got all the pieces. People think we're the best team in the NFL. This is going to be easy.' Nah. This will be the hardest thing they've ever done," Auriemma said."
The team must move on from last season's success and avoid bringing past baggage into the new year. Players are urged to buy into daily work and collective urgency, or they will get left behind. Winning a championship creates pressure and obsessive focus on repeating, with a real fear of being labeled a one-hit wonder. Key defensive contributors left in free agency and required replacement, increasing turnover. Opponents will attack with maximum effort, forcing a defensive posture to protect the title. Sustained intensity and clear buy-in across the roster are required to meet those challenges.
Read at ESPN.com
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