Harding's Paul Simmons explains how his program has managed to escape the grip of modern college football's chaos

With so many college football programs thrive on operating from the shotgun, running wide open offenses that stretch defenses from sideline to sideline with all kinds of innovative schemes and RPOs, combined with NIL, the transfer portal, and the transactional nature that has swept college football over the past several seasons, it's hard to find programs that are outliers.

One of those clear outliers from the direction that college football has been headed can be found in the relatively small Arkansas town of Searcy, home to just under 24,000 people as of the 2024 census, which houses the campus of Division II Harding University.

While Harding has a proud football history, head coach Paul Simmons and his staff have utilized the old school Flexbone option to take the program to new heights since he took over eight seasons ago. 

Since taking over, Simmons has won over 85% of his games leading the Bison including the 2023 Division II National Title.

But perhaps even more impressive than his track record atop the program, is how the program seems unaffected by the changes that have impacted nearly every other place across college football.

Speaking with local media outlet KATV in advance of their opening round game of the Division II playoffs this weekend, Simmons touched on the unique culture they've been able to create in his program that has made it a time capsule of sorts.

"Ten years ago our culture was really important - the accountability, the work ethic, the loyalty was really important - but in the last five years college football has changed drastically. There is almost no loyalty, coaches bounce from place to place, players bounce from place to place, and the message from the world is 'You've got to take care of yourself and do the best thing for you. Put together some great tape so you can transfer.'"

"It is chaotic. College football is chaotic. But I'm telling you, in the middle of the chaos, Harding football...high loyalty, high accountability. We have built our program around being selfless, about putting our teammates needs in front of our own needs. So the more chaotic things are, advantage Bisons. Because young men, they want to be coached hard, they want to be held accountable, and they want loyalty. This is one of the few places in the world where you can still find that."

"I think that is why we have been willing to separate from our league. Culture was crucial ten years ago, but right now it is everything."

Hear the full quote from Simmons in the clip.