Coach to Coach: The Class of 2013

Last month I enjoyed watching one of the greatest golf tournaments in the world, The British Open. While some find golf boring to watch, I find it to be an intriguing display of both the internal and external struggles of sport. I love the tradition of golf, the variety of skills required and the individual pressure that accompanies every shot. I love the fact that golfers are paid entirely on the merits of their immediate accomplishments and not on the wishful expectations of future events.

What I like most about golf however, is the class and elegance that surrounds the game. Even the commercials promote items that embody class. Classy cars, classy watches, classy clothes - a myriad of classy products fill the advertising spots of any nationally televised PGA event. In the British Open, as Phil Mickelson came from five shots back to win the coveted Claret Jug, class was proudly on display. During a round of crowd-acknowledging smiles, enthusiastic knuckle bumps and the giving of golf balls to fans, Phil Mickelson demonstrated a level of class and elegance rarely witnessed in the world of sports today.

What about the current state of football? Would you describe this great game as a game of class? Do the coaches, players, fans and media display a classy reverence for the most popular sport in America? Like the broadcast of the British Open, does class come to mind when you describe the state of the game today?

Being the football junkie that I am, I will watch any football that is on TV. I have especially grown fond of the CFL games that are currently being shown on ESPN (I may be a little biased as one of the most popular quarterbacks in the CFL, Ricky Ray, was the first college quarterback that I had the privilege of coaching). During a recent game, the first year head coach of the Montreal Alouettes, Dan Hawkins, was asked to describe his team and organization. He responded with the motto of “Excellence with Class”. I like that motto. Over twenty years ago, I had the opportunity to play for NFL Hall of Fame Coach George Allen. Coach Allen preached the ideals of class and excellence on a daily basis. As a twenty-year-old college football player, I bought into the idea of pursuing class and excellence in every aspect of my life. Trying to adhere to these ideals changed my focus and changed my work ethic. The pursuit of class has served me well in both life and in coaching. I continually work on being a man of class and integrity. But unfortunately, in my opinion, class is a forgotten virtue. 

Dictionary.com defines class as “of high quality and excellence in integrity, status, style and behavior”. When I think of the classiest coaches that have roamed the NFL and collegiate sidelines, I think of high quality, excellence, integrity in style and behavior. When I think of classy coaches I think of Tom Landry, George Halas, Bear Bryant, Vince Lombardi and many others. Today however, the three piece suits and stylish hats of the legends have been exchanged for simple collars or even sloppy sweatshirts with the sleeves cut out. Like many areas of our society, football is currently suffering from a shortage of class.

When it comes to class in sports, the question may simply be, “is class even necessary for success? Is class a virtue worth pursing? Does it still hold a valued place in sports and society?” In the wake of recent headlines that include the Aaron Hernandez arrest and tragedy, PED suspensions, The New Orleans Saints Bountygate scandal and many other negative storylines, a resurgence of “excellence in integrity and behavior” and a commitment to the restoration of class is long overdue. 

In studying several definitions of class I really like the following from an unknown author: “Class never runs scared. It is sure-footed and confident, and it can handle whatever comes along. Class has a sense of humor. It knows that a good laugh is the best lubricant for oiling the machinery of human relations. Class never makes excuses. It takes its lumps and learns from mistakes. Class knows that good manners are nothing more than a series of small sacrifices and minor inconveniences. Class bespeaks an aristocracy unrelated to ancestors or money. Some extremely wealthy people have no class at all, while others who are struggling to make ends meet are loaded with it. Class is real. You can’t fake it. Class is comfortable in its own skin. It never puts on airs. Class never tries to build itself up by tearing others down. Class is already up and need not attempt to look better by making others look worse. Class can walk with kings and keep its virtue and talk with crowds and keep the common touch. Everyone is comfortable with the person who has class because he is comfortable with himself. If you have class, you’ve got it made. If you don’t have class, no matter what else you have, it won’t make up for it.”

Confident, fearless, never making excuses, learning  from mistakes, good mannered, social rank and colorblind, complimentary of others, able to handle adversity,  real and virtuous. A classy team, a classy coach, a classy player; wouldn’t any coach want his team, his players, his staff and himself to be described this way? I want to be described this way and I want all of those associated with our team and program to be described this way. Class with Excellence…That is a great motto and a description of a coach who understands that regardless of the ups and downs of success, class will always remain a constant. 

If I asked you to name the five classiest people in sports today who would you choose? What about the five classiest football coaches? And the five classiest players? There is no doubt some very classy people made your list and there were many you missed. There are many people associated with this great game who give countless hours to charity, who donate tremendous funds to those in need, who demonstrate integrity, honesty and hard work on a daily basis. It is often much easier to identify those with a lack of class than it is to find those who possess it. For every athlete who handles the stress of competing at the highest level with the class of a Phil Mickelson, there are others who curse out loud at missed shots, throw clubs, perform a touchdown dance on the logo of the opponents’ field, carry guns to dance clubs, and the list unfortunately goes on. Good mannered, virtuous, able to handle adversity…. class. Who made your list?

Finally, as coaches, do we have a responsibility to teach and demonstrate genuine class to our players and to our teams? Without a doubt, we share in this responsibility. Can you imagine what impact we would have on the generations that will follow if every single football coach from Pop Warner to the NFL demonstrated and demanded class from ourselves as well as our players? If we watched our language, promoted great manners, heralded the respect for women, encouraged those who are struggling, were color and social rank blind, promoted education as fiercely as victory and chose integrity over intolerance. Excellence with Class – wouldn’t it be nice if this was the norm and not the exception. It can be. All it takes is committed men like you and me who want and are willing to make a difference in the small slice of the world that we have been blessed to impact.  As we near the start of the 2013 season, I hope you have a successful and enjoyable season, and in the words of legendary anchorman Ron Burgundy, always “Stay Classy”.