When most coaches are applying for a position to take over a team that went 8-19 the season before they won’t mention the words “national championship ” or even “Ohio Valley Conference championship.” Normally, head coaching candidates will try and potential bosses with talk about “rebuilding years” and “adjusting to new systems.”

But not Blair Savage-Landsen, assistant coach at Belmont and the newest candidate for Eastern’s women’s basketball head coaching position. She came right out and boldly proclaimed her plan for success if she is chosen as the Panther head coach. Win.

And why not? Any team that stepping on the floor has an equal shot at taking home a prize so let’s bring that mentality to Eastern. In fact, that could be just what the doctor ordered for a Panther squad that is only losing two players to graduate and returning four starters, including second-team OVC selection Pam O’Connor and all-freshmen OVC team selection Megan Casad.

There is no reason why a team with the talent and experience, despite youth, can’t have a winning season or an OVC championship or, dare I say, a national title. O.K. maybe Savage-Landsen is getting a little ahead of herself when she said she would approach future recruits with this statement, “We are going to win a national championship here and you have a choice. You can win it with us or get beat by us.”

But that’s the kind of attitude we need at Eastern. Just because we’re not in any major sports conferences, don’t have the athletic resources other schools have or get coverage on a national level that’s no reason we can’t win. Hey, Southern Illinois’ men’s basketball team has made a well felt presence in the NCAA tournament the last three years and, dang it, I want our turn to celebrate in March.

We need to give something for students to be excited about in the Eastern athletic program. No doubt, Eastern has had successful seasons in several sports this year but I want to see a program that the whole school is behind. Something that every student is glued to the TV for when the team is on the road and lined up a mile back waiting for the doors to open when they’re at home. And maybe this could be it. Maybe Savage-Landsen’s rallying cry of “win” will sweep across all sports and take Eastern to new levels. Then again maybe she won’t get hired.

Either way Eastern needs something to get excited about. I understand that building a winning program doesn’t always happen in one day, a one month or one year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t.