"You Gotta Learn to Love These Times..." quote by John Gruden to high school football players

"You gotta learn to love these times like right now.

When you are hot, when you are sore, when you are exhausted, those are the times that you gotta love.

That is what I miss most about football! Is times like this!

You gotta love misery. You gotta love being together right now. You take your misery out on your next opponent you play.  Right guys?

I am proud of you guys!  And Keep it going."

This is the after game comments he made to the high school football players he is volunteering to work with this summer.

ESPN is following John Gruden as he volunteers with his son's high school football team this summer.  The video clip on Sportscenter showed his team competing but struggling with the results of the competition. His words struck a chord with me.  What is that makes being part of a team so special.  Of course, we all remember the wins and the good times but is that what molds us and transforms us. 

• Going to practice
• Sacrifice for the good of the team
• Work hard
• Improve despite the obstacles
• Learn from our mistakes
• Encourage others

What are the things you remember about being on a team?  It does not have to be a sports team.  We are all part of a team.

Sidenote

I admire John Gruden for volunteering his expertise to the team he is working with. Granted his son plays for the team so that is a big motivation for him but how is he impacting besides his son?  The coaches have talked about how much they have learned in the process.  What impact will this have not only the current team and players but in the future?  This is a great example of a mentor thinking about giving back to the community  We need more mentors to follow John Gruden's example.

What impact or legacy are your leaving?  Who are you mentoring?  Have you considered becoming a mentor?  I know we have special talents and skills we can pass on to our community.  Reach out and touch someones life, you never know what it will lead to. 

If not for my mentors, I cannot imagine where or what I would be doing. 

• My parents were my first mentors in so many ways: school, get up and try it again, do your best, be patience, help others, do not be afraid to talk to others.
  
• Mark Adams, my college basketball coach, believe in yourself; Go Get Your First Job as a Head Basketball Coach; If it is to be, it is up to me; hard practice makes the game easy.
  
• Dean Phillips, friend and substitute teacher: Be yourself, challenge yourself, share your stories, love life
• Clifton McNeely, previous head basketball coach at Westlake High School: No Pearl Harbors or in other words be prepared and try to have not surprises
• Paul Gothard, previous Superintendent at Irion County High School: You will not always have the best talent and it is not always about winning but do your best anyway with what you have.  
• Dale Blaut, played college basketball at West Texas State University and worked with me on as a basketball player:  Break it down into simple steps, practice each step and put them together. 
  
• and many others.
  

Posted via email from Reflexions