Members of any team, the professor said, fit someplace in a matrix of willingness and ability. They can be willing and able, willing but unable, unwilling but able or just plain unwilling and unable.
After they survived his rigorous boot camp at Barbers Point, vonAppen had to figure the Rainbows were more able. Indeed, against Boston College they showed they had come together as a team. Last Saturday against Ohio U., however, fans had to wonder how willing the players were to fight for their general.
When I read this week about vonAppen's going ballistic about the level of support his crew is getting in the areas of training tables, travel and practice facilities, I pictured him as Peck on the phone to Wing Command demanding spare parts, replacements and more fighter protection for his men.
Gen. vonAppen seems to have put his job on the line going to bat for his men. What better way to cement the loyalty of his players? If war is a metaphor for football, Wyoming faced a more willing and able Rainbow team today.
