Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The new college football

Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, I was surrounded by coaches, programs, and people who viewed football as more about the "Jack and Joe's" than the "X's and O's."  They prided themselves on creating winning football players, but often would look the other way when student athletes made mistakes in and outside of the classroom.  In addition to this, I grew up that football players were stereotypically just big ol' meatheads.  This "stereo type" often bothered me, knowing the amount of knowledge and learning that it takes to understand the game of football as a player.  I also found it ironic, as my high school QB was one of the brighter students in our class (and currently a successful lawyer), and is just one example of the many of bright football players.
 


Recently I viewed Coach David Shaw's TEDx talk about Stanford football.  Coach Shaw was asked to speak, and might be the first coach, at a TED talk.  For those of you who are unaware of TED talks, they are a non-profit program looking to help spread positive ideas to make the world a better place.  Coach Shaw provides a great TED talk, and discusses aspects of football, program development, and student-athlete development.  


Check it out for yourself below:




The talk asks "Can football change the world?"  

Coach Shaw goes on to highlight how Stanford, under Coach Jim Harbaugh and Coach Shaw, Stanford has been able to go from 1-11 in 2006, contemplating dropping the program down a level,  to multiple winning seasons, culminating in three consecutive BCS bowl games, and winning the Rose Bowl (2012) and Orange Bowl (2010).  

I wanted to highlight some main points of the talk, as I truly believe this is the New College Football.  

#1  Extremely ccompetitive people-  Coach Shaw points out how those who excel in academics are competitive people.  It was an important thing for Stanford to find student athletes that have a drive to excel in academics and athletics.  Those who want to be the "Best Biologist" or "Best Engineer" while also trying to be the "Best down field Tight End" in the country.  The world is changed on a daily basis by people who are willing to compete, no matter the setting or environment they are in. Coach Shaw is looking for players who "Complete like crazy in the classroom, and compete like crazy in football."    

#2  High expectations-  Student athletes will rise to the expectations of their coaches and school.  If a school doesn't expect their student athletes to attend class, or give them an useless major, then the athlete becomes just an athlete.  But if the school, coaching staff, and program commit to high expectations in academics and athletics, then the student athlete will also commit to the high expectations.  

#3  Create your culture-  "We were going to be audacious.  We are going to compete with anyone, any where, any time.  We are going to build a bully."  Enough said.  

#4  Sustain the success-  Once you have been able to create your culture, high expectations, and competitiveness, success will exist.  The key part is to continue to find people who understand competitiveness, expectations, and buy into the culture.  

MOST IMPORTANTLY-  Coach Shaw believes that Stanford football can change the world (and the NCAA).  He believes that the influence that his program has, will change how other programs are run.  Stanford has proved that you can recruit players who will invest in the school, academics, and athletics, and can be successful.  Schools such as:
StanfordNorthwestern
Notre Dame   Vanderbilt

are the new wave of college football.  These schools have so much in common, recruiting student athletes that want to get the most out of their college experience educationally and athletically, and the results are showing on the field, and changing the world of college football.  

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

I'm back

Ladies and Gentlemen....



I have decided to pick up the blogging again, and I am back. I had to step away for a while because I have done the following over the past year: Welcomed a new baby boy, gone through 2nd masters, supported wife through 2nd masters, bought a new house and moved, and a variety of other professional and personal accomplishments. So in the following week, I will be adding new blogs to Hit'em Hard!