BEHIND THE MICROPHONE

On Coaching Behavior

Post-Game Saturday night. Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville. Vanderbilt coach James Franklin and Georgia assistant Todd Grantham get nose-to-nose in a nationally televised shouting match.

Post-Game Sunday afternoon. Ford Field, Detroit. 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and Lions head coach Jim Schwartz nearly come to blows after Schwartz took exception to Harbaugh's post-game congratulatory handshake.

OK, you've seen the video dozens of times. There's a lot of wrong here. But here's the leadership message that is getting lost in who is right and who is wrong: guys, you have to dial it down.

As the leaders of the football team, you have to keep your cool. They call it poise under pressure. If you expect the players to keep their cool when all around them are losing theirs, then you, too, must abide by those rules.

College and pro football are ultra-competitive. There are nights you would like to rip someone's head off. But you can't, at least in public. You are the leader and your conduct sets the tone.

And, if you need a reminder, there will be plenty of video after the fact. A frame-by-frame replay of your behavior will be made available within seconds on You Tube.

Let your coaching and your team speak for your success. As ticked off as you get, you must have the discipline to walk away.

Just like you tell your players.

The Conundrum of Leadership

Sunday morning, I received word that University of Georgia linebacker Cornelius Washington had been arrested for DUI and speeding only hours after his team's 24-10 victory over Mississippi State.

I was thankful that that no one, including Mr. Washington, was injured by his actions.

Immediately, Washington was suspended for a minimum of two games.

Cornelius played a great game, recording two sacks for a Georgia defense that is coming on strong. The Bulldogs pass rush has been superb in recent weeks, and Washington has been a big reason why.

Now, his loss affects the team in a big way.

But his post-game poor judgement got me thinking about teamwork, and leadership, and the buy-in from all on the team.

I spent considerable time last weekend with Georgia players and coaches, and many mentioned the true team spirit that had galvanized their group from the inside.

Many pointed to leadership lessons gleaned from Jon Gordon's highly acclaimed book, "The Energy Bus", where Jon describes energy vampires and his famous No Complaining Rule.

What struck me then, and today, is how everyone was on board with this thinking and the positive impact it was making.

So what has me puzzled about Washington's poor decision was this: what is the leader supposed to do when he or she thinks everyone is On The Bus and someone strays?

And what is the tipping point for that person who momentarily gets Off The Bus?

Certainly, head coach Mark Richt has been down this road before. He acted swiftly, suspending the player, and making him apologize to the team. Washington will be missed.

As for the person  involved, what causes someone to forget about the lessons learned, and begin a chain reaction that clearly will be detrimental to himself, his family, and his team?

It's an age old question to be sure. We all have an override button. It's called free will. What makes us push it from time to time? Ego? Arrogance? Alcohol? Philosophers have been wrestling with this one since the beginning of time. Trying to figure out human behavior is a centuries-old proposition.

As for the leader, how do you handle the blind-side hit? How will effect the rest of the team? The leader must press on, stick with what he or she thinks is right, and keep the team together.

It looks like this to me: if you say you are going to get on the bus, then stay on the bus. But if you don't want to get on, don't. If you want off the bus, tell someone first. Don't let the leader get a phone call at 2 in the morning from the Highway Patrol announcing your decision.

The Hunt for Wins in October

The first Saturday of college football in October has come and gone, and what are we left with?

In the ACC, two clubs are looking to knock Virginia Tech off its decade-long perch as the team to beat.

The Clemson Tigers proved championship-worthy, by pasting the Hokies, 23-3 in Blacksburg, VT's worst home loss in 30 years.

It marked the first time in history an ACC team had defeated a ranked team in three consecutive games.

Now, Clemson must avoid a letdown at home this Saturday against Boston College.

Same for Georgia Tech. The Jackets have started a season 5-0 for just the second time in 45 years after their win in Raleigh over NC State. This Saturday, the Jackets host Maryland.

In the SEC, I believe the new favorite to win the East is Georgia. The Dawgs defense was outstanding in its demolition of Mississippi State Saturday. Todd Grantham's 'D' has allowed only one touchdown in its last 12 quarters.

UGA does not have to face Alabama, Arkansas, or LSU this season. The may be the difference maker. Georgia got big time help from two West teams yesterday (Auburn, Bama) to tighten the race. The Gamecocks loss to Auburn and the Gators beatdown by the Tide marked the first losses of the season for each team. The East race is heating up and remains wide open.

This week, Georgia goes to Knoxville, for a big test against the Volunteers.

Nationally, one must put Wisconsin in the national title picture, after the Badgers spanked Nebraska.

Two games that will barely get noticed, but were impressive wins nonetheless: Duke winning at Florida International and Ole Miss winning at Fresno State. Congrats to David Cutcliffe and Houston Nutt.

 

Toe Meets Leather

Seven SEC football games added to Fox Sports South

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

9:04 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The proliferation of SEC sports on television continues.

Fox Sports Net said Wednesday it has reached a deal with ESPN that will put 91 SEC sporting events per year on FSN regional cable networks in the Southeast, including Atlanta-based Fox Sports South.

The package will include seven football games, expected to air on Saturday nights, as well as 20 men’s basketball games, 24 women’s basketball games, 16 baseball games and 24 other events per year.

The package comes from the massive inventory of events ESPN controls under its new contract with the SEC. Since there is not enough room on the various ESPN networks for all of the programming, some is being sold off to other outlets.

One place or another, all SEC football games and all non-conference home games involving SEC teams will be televised this fall.

The deals will mean an increase in the number of SEC games played at night. The seven Fox Sports Net games likely will kick off between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports South general manager Jeff Genthner said. He said there might be as many as three other SEC games televised elsewhere on any given Saturday night.

Genthner said selections of FSN’s first two or three matchups should be finalized next week.

He said Bob Rathbun will be the play-by-play announcer on the football games, with Dave Archer as analyst, Jenn Hildreth as sideline reporter and Fred Hickman as halftime host.

FSN also plans a live one-hour SEC football show on Wednesday nights this fall, “SEC Gridiron Live,” airing from the network’s Atlanta studio. The show will debut at 10 p.m. Sept. 2 and run for 12 weeks.

Genthner said the studio show’s cast will include Charles Davis (host), Randy Cross (analyst), former Georgia star David Pollack (analyst) and Cassidy Hubbarth (“social media reporter”). Hubbarth’s role will be to facilitate live interaction with fans via sites such as Facebook and Twitter, Genthner said.

Fox’s SEC programming will air on Fox Sports South in seven states, Sun Sports in Florida and Fox Sports Southwest in Arkansas and Louisiana. The programming will be available in more than 24 million cable and satellite households.

FSN had direct TV deals with the SEC for the past 18 years, but those did not include live football games except on rare early-season occasions.

Here's the release about the Emmy's from FOX Sports South

FOX SPORTS SOUTH, SPORTSOUTH

RECEIVE NINE EMMY AWARDS

Original Programming, Studio Programming, Live Event Production

and On-Air Promotions Recognized with Awards

 

FOX Sports South and SportSouth received nine Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Southeast Chapter.  The 2009 NATAS Southeast Regional Emmy Awards, presented June 27 in Atlanta, recognize television excellence in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina. 

 

FOX Sports South and SportSouth received 18 Emmy nominations and won in eight of 11 nominated categories.  For the third consecutive year, the networks won the Sporting Event/Game-Live/Unedited category for production of the Atlanta Hawks’ Game 6 playoff match-up against the Boston Celtics and the University of Georgia’s football game against Central Michigan University.  Also for the third year, FOX Sports South and SportSouth won in the Interview/Discussion category, not a sports-specific award, for In My Own Words: Charles Barkley.  The networks swept the nominations in the Sports-One Time Special category and won for the 60-minute documentary Spotlight: Joe Johnson.  Please see below for a complete list of FOX Sports South and SportSouth Emmy winners.

 

Television and Program Specialty Excellence – Sports One-Time Special

·         Spotlight: Joe Johnson – Steve Becker, Keith Wetzler, Dan Greene, Joe Johnson

 

Televise News and Program Specialty Excellence – Sporting Event/Game-Live/Unedited

·         NBA – Celtics vs. Hawks Playoff Game #6 – Hammond Reynolds, Rohan Backfisch, Jay Hoover, Garry Lehman

·         College Football – Central Michigan @ Georgia – Hammond Reynolds, Craig Ritchie, Joe Vencius, Ric LaCivita

 

Television Programming Excellence – Interview / Discussion

·         In My Own Words: Charles Barkley – Steve Becker, Keith Wetzler, Kevin Allison, Charles Barkley

 

Television Spot Announcements Excellence – Promotion-Program

·         SportSouth Trivia – Jon Johnson, Alix Jones, Phil Olshanski

 

Television Crafts Achievement Excellence – Director-Short Form

·         Braves LIVE Show Open – Adam Hirsch

 

Television Crafts Achievement Excellence – Graphic Arts-Graphics

·         SportSouth Trivia – Jon Johnson

 

Television Crafts Achievement Excellence – On-Camera Talent-Anchor-Sports

·         Jerome Jurenovich

 

Television Crafts Achievement Excellence – Photographer-Sports

·         Dan Greene

 

“To be recognized with 18 Emmy nominations for excellence across so many disciplines of our business – original programming, editing, promotions, graphics, on-air talent and photography – and to earn nine Emmy wins is a tremendous honor and a well-deserved recognition for our entire team,” said Jeff Genthner, senior vice president and general manager of FOX Sports South and SportSouth.  “We are grateful to the Southeast Chapter of NATAS and congratulate the many other Emmy winners for their excellence in television production.”