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Hello all. This is my first post on basketball. What I'm about to write, is a true story, and something I shared on the football website about 2 years ago now. I'm going to write it here, in the hopes that somehow it helps. Because I really want to beat Syracuse tomorrow. I really do. And I see a UConn hoops team, that needs this lesson.
This is a football story, but the concept, is what matters.
Football practice. Hot day. Players assembling on the practice field in south Florida. The U. Sept. 1985. Before regular drills start, practice stops. After reachign #6 in the country, they finished the '84 season on a 3 game losing streak, including the Doug Flutie BC hail mary game, a then record comeback loss to Maryland, after being up 31-0, and a 2 point loss in a constant back and forth Fiesta Bowl game to UCLA. They opened the '85 season with a loss to Florida State. They weren't playing well, they've been hesitant.
Highly, highly talented roster loaded with future NFL player and a couple of NFL HOFers. They've questioned each other. They weren't playing as a team up to their capabilities. The killer instinct and swagger was missing. Practice stops. All the assistants gather the whole roster together. Coach want's to talk to everybody.
Jimmy Johnson comes walking out to the practice field with an arm full of 2x4s. About 6 foot lengths. Some players are worried for their safety. Strap on their headgear. Silence. He walks into the middle of all the players, and begins to lay them out on the ground in the middle of everybody, one at a time. End to end. Guys are relieved that he's not swinging those things at them.
He starts talking. Picks out TB, Alonzo Highsmith. Says..."Walk across those boards". Alonzo goes and does it.
He says..."Guys. If I ask every single one of you, to walk across these boards, every single one of you will be able to do it. If I take these boards, and raise them up into the air 10 feet, and ask every single one of you to do it again, you'll all fall off. What's the difference?? You know that when you fall when they're on the ground, it's not that far. But you know when you fall when you're up there, it will hurt. The job is still the same.".
Focus on your job, and trust in your abilities, and walk across the boards, no matter where they are.
That Miami team would go 44-3 over the next 4 years, and win two national championships.
They had the talent.
Our guys need to play like that hardwood is on the ground, not 10 feet in the air and falling off.
This is a football story, but the concept, is what matters.
Football practice. Hot day. Players assembling on the practice field in south Florida. The U. Sept. 1985. Before regular drills start, practice stops. After reachign #6 in the country, they finished the '84 season on a 3 game losing streak, including the Doug Flutie BC hail mary game, a then record comeback loss to Maryland, after being up 31-0, and a 2 point loss in a constant back and forth Fiesta Bowl game to UCLA. They opened the '85 season with a loss to Florida State. They weren't playing well, they've been hesitant.
Highly, highly talented roster loaded with future NFL player and a couple of NFL HOFers. They've questioned each other. They weren't playing as a team up to their capabilities. The killer instinct and swagger was missing. Practice stops. All the assistants gather the whole roster together. Coach want's to talk to everybody.
Jimmy Johnson comes walking out to the practice field with an arm full of 2x4s. About 6 foot lengths. Some players are worried for their safety. Strap on their headgear. Silence. He walks into the middle of all the players, and begins to lay them out on the ground in the middle of everybody, one at a time. End to end. Guys are relieved that he's not swinging those things at them.
He starts talking. Picks out TB, Alonzo Highsmith. Says..."Walk across those boards". Alonzo goes and does it.
He says..."Guys. If I ask every single one of you, to walk across these boards, every single one of you will be able to do it. If I take these boards, and raise them up into the air 10 feet, and ask every single one of you to do it again, you'll all fall off. What's the difference?? You know that when you fall when they're on the ground, it's not that far. But you know when you fall when you're up there, it will hurt. The job is still the same.".
Focus on your job, and trust in your abilities, and walk across the boards, no matter where they are.
That Miami team would go 44-3 over the next 4 years, and win two national championships.
They had the talent.
Our guys need to play like that hardwood is on the ground, not 10 feet in the air and falling off.
