NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TEACHES GREAT LESSON ON VALUE OF TEAM (click to read more)

Alabama was certainly impressive in their decisive win over LSU in the BCS national title game.  There were a lot of things to admire about Alabama’s play: great defense, efficient offense, no turnovers, 1 penalty the entire game, outstanding hustle and effort on special teams.  But, maybe the most impressive thing about them in my mind, was the post-game awards ceremony.

That may sound strange coming from a football coach, to be most impressed by the awards ceremony, but for me, that segment showed what made Alabama truly standout from everyone else in the country.  Yes, the great athletes on their team made them standout, but LSU had that same kind of talent and athleticsm on display.  To me, what made everything come full circle for the Crimson Tide was their attitude of TEAM before ME.  It was almost as if no one wanted to take any credit or accept any award as an individual.  I’ll give you some examples:

1.  When Nick Saban, the head coach was interviewed immediately following the game, the only thing that he wanted to talk about was his players, the fans, and the community of Tuscaloosa.  At the trophy presentation, the reporter tried to trick him and asked him if his dad, who has passed on, were here, what would he be most proud of.  Surely he’d have something to be proud of about his son and his accomplishment as a coach, but Saban answered that if his dad were here, he’d be most proud and most impressed with the total team effort of Alabama on this night.

2.  When Alabama’s QB was given the offensive player of the game award, he was almost embarrassed to talk about the role that he’d played in the game but glowed when he mentioned his offensive line, the defensive effort and even went as far as to mention on the stage the great effort that the Alabama scout team had given during the bowl preparation!

3.  When the Alabama linebacker was given the plaque for the defensive player of the game, he wouldn’t even hold it in his hands.  He immediately handed it to his teammates and told them to pass it around to the rest of the defense.  He said for every defensive player to touch that plaque because it belonged to all of them in a dominant performance.

There’s an old quote that reads “It’s amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.” 

That unselfish attitude was certainly on display throughout the game and even more so at the end when it was time to recognize individuals.  It was all about team for the Tide and I believe, that attitude propelled them to a national title.

It’s OK to have dreams.  It’s OK to have personal goals, in fact, you should.  BUT, can the goals of the team be just a little bit more important?  I think those Alabama players and coaches would say that it was worth it. 

GO BORO!

Coach Wilhite