My energy to help others in this profession was a great deal of my motivation when I wrote 4th & Inches. For as long as I’ve coached, that energy (aka fuel) was driven to help players get better. It’s an awesome thing to see guys get better. When you’ve been mentored by good coaches, you take on some of those aspects in the way you coach. Over time, you learn your own style but at the same time those mentors influence your core values. Over the years, I’ve grown from not only building players but also helping younger coaches grow in the profession.
I’ve grown to believe, over time, that God has blessed us all with a great set of skills. Sometimes we just don’t know what those skills are or we are in that phase of life where we are trying to discover what they are. I believe I’ve known mine for quite a while and everything I’ve put my energy in involves helping someone else. I’ve learned quite some time ago that we can’t take anything on this earth with us. It’s all staying here! Many may not agree, but everything we do here on earth when it comes to purpose, is for someone else. It’s a set up for someone’s growth in their career or the way they may raise their own family one day. Someone is always watching what we do and how we treat people.
I’ve come to discover that the more I do for someone else, the more it will help prepare me for a better life with regards to being sharper with my current skills. When I learn something and pass it on to the next coach, I believe it helps him as well. As an old, wise man and mentor to this very day said to me years ago, “Every interaction has potential treatment implications.” That man was Gerry Wilson and his words have stuck with me.
In July 2018, I traveled to Piscataway, NJ to spend some time with a football program. Some have called Piscataway High School, NFL High School, because of its uncanny success in producing NFL players. At one point they produced three NFL 1st round draft picks in the last 20 years. I was asked to come in and evaluate their quarterback situation and provide some recommendations to the team.
I was fortunate to have shared my time with the head coach, the quarterbacks, and some of the staff. My objective wasn’t to come in and tear down what they’ve worked hard to put together but rather evaluate, help improve, and leave a few things with them that would help the team going forward, specifically with the quarterbacks. Two weeks ago I was invited to attend their state championship game and be
a part of the staff as I have from more than 2200 hundred miles away this season. Instead of reviewing game tape of the quarterback all year, there I was on the sidelines during warm-ups and in the press box during the game sharing in the team’s 2018 New Jersey Division 5 State Championship. When you work to help others and share what you’ve been blessed to know, the benefit is awesome. When your purpose fuels you, the reward is endless.
This was a great run with this team this year and I enjoyed being a part of their process. Thank you Piscataway High School Football!!
