Mon. Sept 12th - "Get out of the me and into the team"

Today's post is mainly a tribute to 9/11. Yesterday marked a huge moment in history. Many people remember it, not because two huge buildings were destroyed, but because of the countless lives sacrificed for the betterment of the community. Many firemen, policemen, soldiers, etc. have given their time, effort, and lives to preserve the beautiful freedom and opportunities that we take for granted every day. Now that I have mentioned this, think about what it means to play on a team. It is bigger than one's self. When you play for an organization, like the University of San Diego, you aren't there just representing yourself. You are representing the players you play with, the students who go to the school, the administration and support staff, the city you are playing in, even the guys working in the parking lots. This is why you see numbers of applications for universities sky rocket when teams win championships. As my special teams Coach Anno always says, "America loves a winner." He's right, we are a proud country that loves to be the best. Hence why when many teams lose their opener, they will never see the same dedication of fan-hood like they did in the beginning. The point I'm trying to make is that in the game of football, the world of athletics, even in the business community, being on a team is more than just individual representation. It is a hell of a lot bigger and if you don't realize that, the team and the organization that depends upon you will never reach its full potential. I am so happy that I live in a country where the majority recognizes that as citizens of America, our liberties are more than just an individual thing, but a community thing. This is so apparent on days like September 11th because you see so much recognition of the people that got out of themselves and got into the team. "Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." - Henry Ford...If you don't grind, you don't shine.

Thursday Sept. 8th - Going through the motions

One thing I have always been taught is give your best effort with everything you do. My mother used to say "touch it once". This obviously meant that you should do something so thoroughly and precise that you don't have to go back and fix it. Now when it comes to football, preparation for games follow a similar principle. However, "touch it once" refers to the fact that when a play is ran against you, you should have prepared to your full effort mentally and physically to defend that play so you don't have to repeat it, as well as have given your best effort doing your assignment and swarming to the football. My coaches constantly stress the fact that we should never play to our opponents ability and ream us in practice when it seems we do. They do this because the only way to ensure a victory on Saturday is to work harder than the man across from us. Many don't believe this, but it is true, and not just in the case of football. In life you are constantly competing with the people around you, and if you play the game of life to their level you will never win. I know I left the first post off with a quote so I will do the same... The great philosopher Plato said, "Apply yourself both now and in the next life. Without effort, you can not be prosperous. Though the land be good, you cannot have an abundant crop without cultivation." This is an obvious reiteration of what I stated earlier, but I cannot stress the fact more that if you give everything you have at every moment in your life, you will only deserve the best result. Just remember, if you don't grind, you don't shine.

Wednesday Sept. 7th - True test of character

This is obviously my first post to my new blog and it comes at a time when I am procrastinating, or as I see, taking a much needed break. See, when you are a student athlete at a division 1 college, it is very tough to find time to have a relaxing schedule. The reason I titled this first post "True test of character" is that my Wednesdays really test who I am. I wake up at 6 in the morning to make my breakfast and lunch for the day. I then go to morning meetings for football which consist of a very intense coach constantly challenging you and your ability as well as throwing a bunch of installations for the day that you are supposed to be able to carry out effectively by the afternoon. I then rush my butt to class at 9 and sit in class from 9-11. 11 marks lunch time which is only about twenty minutes for me, or really, just eating my sandwich as I drive to practice. I then get dressed and practice from 12-2. Then comes more class from 2:30-5. At five I have time to get a quick snack then head to lifting at 5:30 which goes until 6:30. At 7 I have one more voluntary meeting that usually carries on until about 8:30pm. Then I drive home, eat dinner, watch some Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and do homework...or in this case take a much needed break. This schedule is very common to my week, but Thursdays are my lightest day so it gives me something to look forward to. Just remember what Lombardi said, "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." He is right, I feel, to an extent, but you have to truly dig down when your tired, sore, and aching and find a way to grind through. Because if you don't grind, you don't shine.