Letter From the Publisher

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Little Things Define Big Men

Year-after-year and season-after-season, scribes attempt to define why some coaches are constantly successful and why some men are mired in the muck of mediocrity. I am not certain I know each and every reason why the big-time winners get it done. But, I point to one thing I firmly believe all thriving coaches and, for that matter, all businessmen do: They take care of the little things.

As I watch seasons unfold and see scores reported on Sports Center or read them in USA Today, it comes as no surprise when I see Texas winning another game, Dennis Franchione leading Alabama back to respectability, Stanford beating Pac 10 favorites, Fisher DeBerry winning another Commander-in-Chief trophy, or certain high schools winning yet another state championship or keeping alive an unbeaten streak. I know firsthand that the leaders of these teams are doing it the right way, because they have shown me the class and attention to detail with which they handle their respective programs in many ways.

This past year two examples further fortified my belief in attention to small details as a trait common in the best coaches. In August, just as the season was about to begin, I received a hand-written note from Texas Longhorn headman Mack Brown complimenting our June issue featuring his brother Watson on the cover. Sure it is his brother, but how many coaches two weeks from camp opening would take the time to send a thank you note on behalf of a family member. In light of this, does it really come as a surprise that countless young men and their parents want to go to Austin to play for Brown?

Then in the first week of September, just three days from his first game as the head coach of the Crimson Tide versus powerhouse UCLA, Dennis Franchione sent me a note concerning our annual list of hot college coaches and our look at the nation's top minority coaches. He wanted me to know the talents of three of his assistants. He took great care to explain why these coaches should be included in future compilations. That loyalty and effort showed me something and made me confident the Tide is in good hands.

These are but two examples. Call or write DeBerry or Willingham and you will get a call back within hours. Put in a request to De La Salle or Jenks, Oklahoma high schools and someone will call back. Success is not a surprise; it is the product of design orchestrated by competent and detail-oriented men.

Sincerely,

Barry Terranova

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