Mike Evans Addresses Dirk Koetter’s Order
June 11th, 2017
Stick Carrier receiver. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com)
Joe talked to Mike Evans last week about winning Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter’s most famous order: “Speak softly and carry a big mother fu%#’n stick.”
Not only did the revealing locker room video of Koetter’s message spark a nation of Stick Carriers, who have taken Bucs fandom to new heights (just wait til you see the passion during Training Camp Takeover Day!), it was evidence of a broad culture change at One Buc Palace.
If you think Lovie Smith would ever rally his team with such a mantra, well, then you just weren’t paying attention.
But that wasn’t just a one-liner from Koetter after a victory. The “Speak Softly” rallying cry was a stated theme of the Chargers game week.
Koetter wants his team speaking softly and staying focused while practicing and playing with big _ _ sticks.
“So everything’s like routine and everything’s like the same as it’s been with Coach Koetter this offseason, but guys have more swag,” Evans said. “There was swag last year with Dirk being the head coach. But now everybody’s more comfortable. The defense looks great. Even though we’re not game-planning against them, they’re beating us most of the days in [OTAs]. It’s good to see that.
“When Dirk and Jameis started doing those subliminal things, I mean that’s when we started our [winning streak]. So I guess it is like a hidden message to carry that big stick. It works. Dirk knows how to, you know, he gets players. He gets players a lot. It’s hard to explain. I think that’s what makes a great head coach.”
This is all a big part of what makes the 2017 Bucs season so exciting. The team appears to have the right mentality, plus the right leaders in Jameis and Koetter, along with Mike Smith, who turned around a defense that was disgraceful under Lovie.
And now there’s been a major talent upgrade, aka the tools to execute.
Thankfully, fans don’t have to “speak softly,” which explains the meteoric rise of the Bucs Uncensored podcast (found here Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays) and its new Facebook page (just search Stick Carriers on FB.)
Evans says Koetter “gets players a lot.” Joe will say the same thing about Koetter when it comes to fans.
The head coach has sent all the right messages, including his hate for visiting jerseys in the lower bowl of the stadium, and praising the few games (not all) when the home crowd finally felt like it did 15 years ago.
June 11th, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Never been this excited for a season. Speak softly and carry that big MFing stick!!!!
June 11th, 2017 at 12:05 pm
THIS IS TAMPA!!!
12-4
#seizethemoment
June 11th, 2017 at 12:21 pm
We Are light year ahead right now on O- Cam Brate
We Are at a calculus level right now on D- Mike Smith
Y’all put it together. I smell the essence of Lombardi.
June 11th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Watch out NFL there’s a High Ride tide coming inn.
June 11th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Lovie banned MUSIC in the lockeroom!!
Do you know who else bans music??
ISIS!!!
June 11th, 2017 at 12:54 pm
can’t wait for our first preseason game……let’s see what our Bucs look like playing with real bullets!! I am cautiously excited…..I think our defense will be better than most of us realize………HOPE SO, ANYWAY…what about our running game……….without Doug Martin??
+
June 11th, 2017 at 1:05 pm
Koetter been amazing and 100 times the man and coach that he replaced except for when he got down on all four for that amazing Buccaneers home tweet, in retaliation to his former team who canned his azz
June 11th, 2017 at 1:14 pm
Tampaaaaaaaa
June 11th, 2017 at 1:25 pm
Our guy is gonna be on this mondays top 100 during the 30-21 episode!!!
June 11th, 2017 at 1:32 pm
“Do you know who else bans music??
ISIS!!!”
Yeah, lets make that comparison, along with all the Baptist & other Christian churches that don’t allow any music other than for Church purposes. Stupid comparison. Lovie’s regime was bad enough to evoke plenty of disdain, without trying to demonize him…come on
June 11th, 2017 at 1:44 pm
Can we please leave Lovie Smith alone. This website seems like the old boyfriend who can’t get over the girlfriend he broke up with because of a perceived slight and cannot move on.
Lovie Smith was not a good coach with us but he was successful in Chicago so given time he may have been a solid coach for us. But we rightfully have been tired of waiting and failed draft picks and free agent signings.
He is a good man, who didn’t work out. Joe, just move on and focus on the future and less about the Disgraceful Lovie Smith, as you put it.
Actually, Joe called the defense “disgraceful” not Lovie. And c’mon, this post isn’t about Lovie. –Joe
June 11th, 2017 at 1:47 pm
Baaaaaaaaay
June 11th, 2017 at 1:58 pm
Pittsburg has it’s terrible towel we need Big M.F. STICKS [crowd safe of course ] to carry at home games!!
June 11th, 2017 at 2:00 pm
Remember when Gruden had the big rock in the locker room I see a big stick in this locker room this year on our way to Minnesota.
June 11th, 2017 at 2:24 pm
Love that image. Someone send Sherman a poster sized version.
June 11th, 2017 at 2:30 pm
I always mix that movie with my thoughts about this team Whata. I like that.
June 11th, 2017 at 2:32 pm
300.. BUCS!!!
June 11th, 2017 at 2:54 pm
@BucFan78
Really? Lovie Smith created a culture of losing and made a culture of failure. Thankfully Coach K coached “The Lovie Outta of em” and now Coach K has created a culture of winning, unlike your beloved Lovie Smith.
June 11th, 2017 at 3:01 pm
This will piss off Koetter: Maybe we’re witnessing epic history in the making?
The next great NFL team.
June 11th, 2017 at 3:12 pm
While the coach is preaching the message of “speak softly” The owners turn around and turn the locker room into a reality tv show!!!!! I would be claiming great success this year if not for that!!!!!
I hope the glazers get their money’s worth with jersey sells now that the Bucs are on NFL’s longest commercial!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!
And Go no distractions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 11th, 2017 at 4:06 pm
@First Down Tampa Bay
“Really? Lovie Smith created a culture of losing and made a culture of failure. Thankfully Coach K coached “The Lovie Outta of em” and now Coach K has created a culture of winning, unlike your beloved Lovie Smith.”
So let me get this straight, we had a culture of winning before Lovie…as in 28-52 record the 5 seasons before he walked through the door. This was a losing Franchise before he walked through the door and he didn’t substantial improve between year 1 and year 2. The Glazers from all reports, I believe on this site as well, didn’t like how he responded to their questions about the defense and moved on. I respect the decision and understand it. I supported the Glazer’s decision to move on, because I liked how the offense progressed under Koetter and thought he was an asset. But the style and temperament of a coach is to me irrelevant. Because just as in life there is many different ways to manage people as well as Coach. Nobody would compare Bill Belichick to Tony Dungy as far as style, presentation or temperament but both were successful. As Bill Parcells would say, Lovie shopped and cooked his own dinner and it stunk, and Glazer’s went to another restaurant. So to close my point, you don’t have to declare make public declarations about who the team is to win football games. All you need is the team in the locker room to buy in to your vision and get the right pieces in place to execute your vision. I feel Coach Koetter has buy in from the players and is getting the pieces where he needs them to be successful. I look forward to our 2017 season being a successful one with a playoff berth.
June 11th, 2017 at 4:14 pm
Ga. Buc fan 40 years… carry a big stick to home games. Yeah a foam one, even plastic would be battle problematic.
June 11th, 2017 at 4:18 pm
Joe, what did Evans mean by subliminal messages from Jameis? Is he just talking about his attitude. He referred to “carry a big stick” as a hidden message. I think it’s pretty straightforward and would be classified as psychological, not subliminal. Any thoughts on what he meant?
June 11th, 2017 at 4:26 pm
Buccfan37 Yeah I was thinking of those foam pool noodles painted up to look like BIG M>F> STICKS! Wouldn’t that be awesome to see thousands at a home game?
June 11th, 2017 at 4:45 pm
Respect!
June 11th, 2017 at 4:51 pm
I’ve been excited before. I have never been THIS excited about the long term future of this team. I honestly believe with this front office, coaching staff and young core players, we are truly looking at something special for a very long time. Indeed carry a big mother %@%#=#=@ stick!
June 11th, 2017 at 5:30 pm
Lovie appoligists are the worst
June 11th, 2017 at 5:40 pm
I have to laugh… thinking about the past… Im actually on the the super bowl DVD .. Cleveland game .. 5 rows behind bucs bench 50 yard line as Alstott runs over everyone… I have played catch with Eric Rhett in the middle of the benz dealer across the street while i was working on Alvin Harpers “stolen” 500SL… I have worked on and was a trusted friend of Sapp and many other Tampa sport figures that owned Mercedes. Forever grateful I was able to be a very small part of an Amazing time…. Grateful Joe lets me post my stupid posts… But we all felt Lovie would bring us back to that time… Hell we all miss the past, the good times….. Couch K… he is from the Mike Mularkey coaching tree… Yes I was in the stadium during the Sam Wyche , Mike Mularkey days too…. so sheep we are living in the past.. Happy Sunday!
June 11th, 2017 at 6:36 pm
First of all Stick Carriers UNITE! Our movement cant be stopped, its only growing and visiting teams will feel our wrath when they come to Ray Jay this year!
Secondly BucsFan87, you are sadly misktaken. My church plays awesome music that is better than most bands!
June 11th, 2017 at 7:13 pm
Dirk Koetter will eventually be a hall of fame.candidate….thats my gut feeling on this guy. He will win at lwast on superbowl in Tampa
June 11th, 2017 at 8:13 pm
It’s time to whip out that big f-Ing stick and write Ws on the scoreboard!
June 11th, 2017 at 9:23 pm
Great article “joe” I would love to see you interview the godfather himself Dirk Koetter and hear his take on the movement that Justin the commish has created with all of us as loyal stick carriers. He is sure gonna feel us at training camp if he hasn’t heard already. Great work yall do @ joebucsfan and bucs uncensored!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK MY BROTHERS..and as always…speak softly..and carry a big mother#*#$ing stick !! STICK CARRIERS UNITE !!!
June 11th, 2017 at 9:29 pm
I’m telling you guys now with djax on the other side Mike Evans is about to epitomize what Godzilla looks like in the NFL.
June 11th, 2017 at 10:09 pm
I found a really nice stick for my buc collection. Oy, I just can’t wait for this season to start. Joe, I wish there was a way to post pics on this site so we can all compare our sticks. Lol
June 11th, 2017 at 10:59 pm
Can’t say the offense was disgraceful under Lovie,he never really gotten a chance to see it blossom all he had was 2 years which from year one to year 2 The team got better under Lovie I think the team would of still been good had Lovie gotten more time,that just like Mark Jackson building the Warriors up and Steve Kerr taking the credit it’s a similar situation, nothing against coach K,he’s a great coach but I just feel like Lovie should of had more than 2 years to coaching this team,Lovie built that Defense and the offense was just starting to flourish
June 12th, 2017 at 6:53 am
Fran Smith Says:
“Lovie built that Defense”
Exactly – and that’s why Lovie was fired
“and the offense was just starting to flourish”
and Koetter was hired…
C’mon – keep up….
June 12th, 2017 at 8:59 am
I think we also learned a lot about the players that Lovie had to coach. The ones that want to play and CAN play are still here. Most of the rest are already out of the league. If we’re going to lay blame lets make sure we cover all the ground; Coaches coach and players play. I’ll leave it at that.
I love the swagger this team has developed. It has been missing for a while.