Coach to Coach – Underestimating the Underdog

Months would pass before I would log my first meaningful memory of Joey. I remember the howling wind and unseasonably cold weather that made it almost impossible to communicate that night as I stood outside of the visitor’s locker room in Dixon, California. Players were starting to make their way towards the field as I reviewed my play call sheet minutes before we would kickoff the 2010 season. Joey, looking more like a manager than a player, nervously approached me with tears in his eyes and gripped with fear. Fear produced not from the anxiety of anticipating his first varsity game, but fear from the revelation that his estranged father who, despite a restraining order, was in the stadium and determined to make contact with his son. That’s how Joey started his varsity football career – buried at the very end of our roster and worried more about a violent father than the outcome of the game.

Joey never logged any meaningful minutes that season. Despite effort that was commendable, his strength and speed remained unassuming and his role was limited to the scout team where he prepared the starters each week by mimicking the defense that they would see on Friday night. Important? Yes. Noticed? No. At the end of the season Joey accepted his varsity letter and quietly remained in the shadows of the more gifted for the duration of the school year.

During the spring workouts leading up to Joey’s senior season, our coaching staff was continually shifting the names of players on our depth chart board. Each position was three players deep. By the start of spring football in May, Joey’s name appeared on the board where he was listed as the third string free safety. By the time the team boarded the bus to attend the University of Nevada Reno football camp in June, Joey had risen to the second string slot at free safety. The winter and spring workouts had put ten pounds of muscle on his thin frame and he had gained an inch in height but he still was one of the skinniest players on our squad and he certainly was not going to pass any coaches look test, including mine.

During the first day of camp one of our returning starting cornerbacks pulled his hamstring. Our “next best” at that position was our starting free safety but moving him to corner meant that Joey would now be our starting free safety. That scenario did not sit well with me and it certainly did not bring a feeling of confidence to our defensive coordinator. After a long discussion and the consideration of many other options, the final decision moved Joey into a starting spot for the remainder of camp.

I have to admit that I was not too excited about the move. I was convinced that Joey did not possess the skills necessary to be a starter on our team. I also felt that his position on our depth chart spoke to a lack of the depth that would be required to give us a chance to win a championship. It was with that preconceived opinion that my critical eyes watched and evaluated Joey’s every move. Looking back on it, I should have been excited about the possibility that someone who did not fit the stereotype of a starting defensive player would, through hard work and a determined will, rise above expectations and be successful. I should have championed his indomitable courage instead of doubting his capability. Regardless of my critical position, Joey was going to get his opportunity to change all of our minds.

We filmed every session at camp and graded out every player. The defensive player that finished camp with the highest grade in the secondary was Joey Costa. Joey did not allow his physical limitations, his lack of experience or his doubting head coach to be the narrative of his senior season. Joey Costa earned his place and in the process he earned the respect of his teammates and coaches.

Do you have players like this on your roster? Too slow, too small, too scared, too whatever? I am sure that every coach in every sport has “Joeys” buried on their depth charts – kids that don’t measure up in the tangible categories that often describe our best players. In my twenty plus years in coaching, I have taken pride in the fact that I can spot talent and put it in the best position to succeed. Evaluating players through the constant testing of their physical abilities and the developing of their natural skills has been a focal point of my coaching. And just when I thought that I was above missing on a player, Joey Costa shows up and shatters all of my preconceived notions of what a great football player looks like.

I am sharing this story with you to encourage you not to make the same mistake that I made with Joey. I encourage you not to allow factors that may seem obvious to overshadow traits that cannot be easily measured. Things like heart, determination, positive attitude, hard work and a ferocious will can overcome many physical limitations. We see athletes like this at every level. Names like Danny Woodhead, Wes Welker, Jeremy Lin, Victor Cruz and Mike Piazza (62nd round draft pick of the Dodgers) are just a few of the examples that come to mind when I think of athletes that proved the doubters wrong.

As a coach, I am just as guilty as anyone when it comes to getting excited about the incredibly gifted athlete who passes the eye test. The reality, however, is that the streets are full of gifted athletes who never were able to marry the tangible with the intangible qualities required to be great. There is something magical about the overachiever. The commitment and determination that allows them to supersede what others think impossible is contagious. The influence that these rare athletes can have on the rest of the team is beneficial beyond measure.

It’s a cliché to say that a team or a player taught us as much or more than we taught them; but in the case of Joey Costa, it is true. I know that I am a better coach today as a result of my experience with him. I pre-judge less, champion the underdog more, and value the indefinable qualities that certain players bring to the team in a greater way. My eyes are more inclined to find the reasons that a player can contribute than reasons they cannot.

As for Joey, he started all twelve games for us in 2011 and was a key factor in our winning the league championship. He set a school record with three interceptions in a single game and ended the season tied for the league lead in interceptions. He finished third on our team in total tackles and was one of the most feared hitters and respected players on our team. At the last team meal of the season we have a tradition of honoring our seniors and recognizing their contributions to our football program. As I introduced Joey to his teammates, I was honored to announce that he had been chosen by the opposing head coaches as a first team all-conference player. Joey stood and ended his football career just like he started it – with tears in his eyes and, unlike that cold evening in Dixon California, this time I had them too.