Just came across this. Had not seen it before. Couldn't find it posted on the board; apologies if it already has been.
But, it's pretty damn cool!
Just came across this. Had not seen it before. Couldn't find it posted on the board; apologies if it already has been.
But, it's pretty damn cool!
And we can't forget Knoxville!Bet this is well received in South Bend, College Park, Columbia, Waco, etc.. Love it!!!
Since I didn't hear it---I accept the header for this thread and bits and pieces of Geno which appear to be repeats of his previous
lectures on what it takes to make a champion.
If his : Champions are made not born---to that I say---only partially true. Each Champion, with all the hard work, are working along side of players of talent who never become champions. The difference is native talent, drive, self discipline---to work with the hard work Geno demands. I suggest that the native talent, drive and self discipline is within the individual and born with them---take away the work no champion. Take away the talent--no champion. Ying and Yang--as mother said ---YOU can't have one without the other!!
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Of course access to talent is required. As the old saying goes, "You ain't winnin' the Kentucky on Pony Boy." OK, perhaps it's more of a saying I just made up, but my point is every coach has access to the same talent. I know, I know, "in theory" they have access to the same talent. But where was Storrs, Connecticut on the "in theory" recruiting spectrum in 1985? Recruiting is part of building a champion. Those who can't recruit don't build champions.
Fast forward to 2016-17. How many other programs have realistic access to talent equivalent to UConn's? A dozen? Two dozen? More? When was the last time any of them won 11 championships? Build it and they will come.
Not much to argue with here---however, let me point out: In 1980/90's maybe 8 -10 schools had "access" to talent. Geno built his program with those that didn't go to Tn, LSU, Stanford, UCLA--he broke through the "glass ceiling" of WBB by producing a product that beat the top dog--Tenn. It wasn't that ONE beating that did it---Geno built a program on fundamentals, Conditioning, making pretty good talent in to greater talent--and DEFENSE--DEFENSE--
ANYONE CAN DO IT---it takes dedication from the coaches, institutions, players, parents--it takes really hard work--it takes attention to fundamentals, Defense, Conditioning, and dedication. ANY TEAM CAN DO IT. But the won't --why?? Geno is a motivator and keeps that motivation going for 12 months a year--try it --it isn't easy. It's not because other teams CAN"T--they WON"T .
I am quoting you, but not 'picking on you' with the following comment:A couple of seasons ago at a big meeting of coaches Geno bluntly said it ain't rocket science but very many coaches are lazy and just settle.
What separates Uconn from the pack is not effort or talent, but the intelligently focused and motivated application of those traits. And no one does it better than Geno and CD, and whichever assistants they choose to cultivate in their art. And at the level they perform, it is similar to great artists, or Nobel laureates. That 'magic' cannot just be taught and it certainly can't be copied.
I am quoting you, but not 'picking on you' with the following comment:
This is to me the fallacy that gets repeated and is not dissimilar to the 'we aren't tough enough' or 'we need to play harder' lines coaches spew after losses.
No - not anyone can do it, in fact probably no one can do what Geno and CD have done or what any other coaching legend in any other sport does. It isn't about the hours and the effort from coaches and players - I am sure there are coaches across the country putting in more hours and more effort than Geno and CD, and players spending more hours in the gym and weight room than the Uconn players. Yes you need the hours and the effort, but much more importantly you need the eye and the mind - and they aren't handing those out for free. And you need the psychology and the teaching skills, and those are pretty rare as well.
What separates Uconn from the pack is not effort or talent, but the intelligently focused and motivated application of those traits. And no one does it better than Geno and CD, and whichever assistants they choose to cultivate in their art. And at the level they perform, it is similar to great artists, or Nobel laureates. That 'magic' cannot just be taught and it certainly can't be copied.
Agree - and I know it was Geno himself you were quoting - just that it is one of those things that I think he downplays.In my comment I did not mean to imply that if some lazy coaches got off their duffs they could do what Geno rolls out year after year. Geno was saying that too many settled for mediocrity. It is his observation, not mine. Without question, Geno and CD are a team that has become hands down the most accomplished coaches and their assistants are extremely talented. I wholehearted concur in your observations about their level of performance.
A couple of seasons ago at a big meeting of coaches Geno bluntly said it ain't rocket science but very many coaches are lazy and just settle. But we also know that there are a significant number of very good coaches with high motivation that just have to break through to a school which can attract 4 and 5 star athletes.
At times I'm not Geno's biggest fan or even a fan of GENO. However, he looks into his own soul, abilities, persona better than most psychologists would attempt to do. He has said for many years--being a top coach begin with recruiting top players. Or the key to success is to recruit the best. That didn't/doesn't tell the whole story. But I believe he is accurate in that many other (below the top 15 or so rated schools) that are downright lazy. Even some top 10 coaches would rather be popular than hold their team to proper performances.
Thank Rocky for the Rocket Science quote!!!!
Merry Christmas!