AFM Asks...
We asked some of the top coaches in the country to finish these statements.
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"Every great player I have coached has had. . ."
Mike Dikta,
New Orleans Saints
" . . . a commitment to excellence, a will to excel and a will to win. They were willing to do all they had to do to maximize their talents. 'Effort without talent is a shame, but talent without effort is a tragedy.' The great ones were great off the field also."
Fisher DeBerry,
Air Force". . . a burning desire to be the best his God-given talents would allow him to become and has been one with great work ethic and a very unselfish attitude."
Tom Holmoe,
Cal". . . a great passion for the game and a strong desire to make a difference in the game through his play."
Mike Bellotti,
Oregon". . . the burning desire to not just get by, but to get better&- whether it was in the classroom, in the weight room, or on the field."
Dan Reeves,
Atlanta Falcons". . . the ability to work hard and never, ever quit!"
"The first thing I look for in a player is. . ."
Bob Davie,
Notre Dame" . . . Character."
Bob Toledo,
UCLA" . . . The first thing I look for in a player is self-motivation to become the best that he can be."
Bobby Bowden,
Florida State" . . . The first thing I look for in a player is discipline. Is he disciplined? Does he obey his coach, teachers, parents, peers? If so, he's coachable."
Hal Mumme,
Kentucky" . . . Academic achievement, character and a passion for the game of football."
Carl Torbush,
North Carolina" . . . The first things I look for in a player, after determining if he is a Division I player physically and academically, are: No. 1, character; No. 2, work habits; and No. 3, does he play with a "high motor?"