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.

 

Take a deep breath..dust yourself off....

But we can't start all over again.

The toothpaste is out of the tube on collegiate conference expansion/realignment. And after the events of the week, college administrators have again hit the "pause" button.

The Atlantic Coast Conference sent the latest shock waves, after accepting Pitt and Syracuse last weekend. That brings the ACC membership to 14.

That has shifted the attention to the Big 12 and the Big East.

It says here the Big 12 will survive. More money, better tradition. Exactly what shape the Big 12 will find itself in a few days or weeks is still unknown. Oklahoma will stay. So will Oklahoma State. Texas will probably follow suit. Can the Big 12 then pick up the Big East leftovers that suit them? Probably. They'll also chase after the more attractive Conference USA members.

The Big East will probably sub-divide. The football schools will go one way, and the Catholic Schools that do not play football will go another. I can see DePaul, Marquette, St. Louis, Providence etc. forming a Catholic League out of all of this.

What about Notre Dame? If there has ever been a time to give up the football independence, it is now. Four Super Conference will make it virtually impossible for the Irish to put together a schedule in the years to come. ND's days in the Big East for the rest of its sports are numbered.

It's all one big mess in my view. The trust factor has been wiped out by college presidents and athletic directors. Conference Commissioners are leading the way in the lastest money grab. Integrity is in short supply.

"Every man for himself!," said the elephant as he walked amongst the chickens. The losers in all this? The colleges who do not bring eyeballs to TV or big revenues to the coffers. And what will become of them? And does anyone really care about them?

I think what we are seeing here is the beginning of the end of the NCAA as we know it. When the big boys get a little bigger, they will try to control basketball like they now control football. When the hoops tournament goes away, so will the NCAA.

And then, what will we have?

How To Stay Ahead of the Pack

One of my greatest challenges is not to give in to my own negative thinking.

It's always more regret than anger. Watching tape back of a broadcast or a speech, my own selftalk can get pretty harsh. I know, we are always harder on ourselves than anyone else could be, but that doesn't ease the pain of mistakes made, or the regret of having let a moment pass where I was not at my absolute best.

It's also true that the chatter we hear from others plays a role. And that, we can all do something about.

My friend Karon Cook (www.karoncook.com) wrote an intresting blog piece on that very subject, "Focus on Your Dream and Ignore the Hecklers".

Here are a few excerpts:

When you think of the word “Heckler”…what comes to mind?  I see Jerry Seinfeld doing his stand-up routine and having to contend with some drunk yelling at him from the dark. 

 

Did you realize that we all have “Heckler’s” in our lives?  Some of these people may even be our friends and family.  Their contribution is sitting on the sidelines, trying to distract you and willing to do anything so that you will miss your shot.  Often times their words of criticism come easily and it ends up getting in your way which can lead one to believe that they don’t want you to succeed.  Hecklers tend to support the opposing team....

 

What about the Cheerleaders?  No, I’m NOT talking about the women on the sidelines of certain Sporting Events. 

 

The Cheerleaders I’m referring to, are the people in your life who are encouraging, are on your side ~ especially when you are trying to reach out for something new.  They are excited for you, saying things like: “Yes, it’s going to be a challenge, but you’re up for it” and “You’ve studied, you’ve got the knowledge to pull this off”.  They roll up their sleeves to work with you and when you’re not listening … brag about you to others....

 

Yes, indeed. Be a cheerleader. First for yourself, and then others.

 

To read Karon's entire blog post, click here: http://karoncook.posterous.com/focus-on-your-dream-and-ignore-the-hecklers

 

Until next time,

 

Bob

 

 

The Care and Feeding of Your Brand

I've been spending the last few weeks watching endless pre-season college football media days...those staged events where every coach and select players preview their teams' up and coming season.

And it struck me how easy it is for an "accredited" journalist to open up his smart phone and start broadcasting YOU--Mr. Coach, Mr. Wide Receiver, etc.

How that brand---your brand---comes accross is so important.

It is imperitive that these opportunities be taken very seriously. The image that you portray helps define you. Do you come accross as intelligent? Thoughtful? Insightful?

Mr. Executive, do you answer the questions with genuine interest, or do you rely on "coach speak" just to get through?

Ms. Athlete, do you go back and watch the tape of yourself? How did you do? What kind of a grade would you give yourself? Speak in cliches? Repeat verbal crutches as you tried to come up with the right words? Did you offer anything original?

These are very important questions. Because social media is EVERYWHERE, 24/7/365. And much of today's sports news is being generated by reporters who use only new media, espcially the blogs.

What should be your responce to this? Embrace it. Become one with it. Start your own website. Write your own blog. Get out ahead of the pack. Set the tone.

If you are in a positon where you might be interviwed, take the time to prepare yourself and put your best self out there. Treat all with diginity and respect. Leave the interview space better than you found it.

More on this in the days ahead.

Have a great weekend!

ON JOSH SMITH

CHICAGO--You know it. I know it. Larry Drew knows it. And, deep down, Josh Smith has to now know it.
The knowledge is this: that when Smith, the Atlanta Hawks mercurial power forward, plays like he played Sunday night at Philips Arena, there is no power forward in the NBA that can stop him.
Slow him down, perhaps, with superior length in close to the hoop. But stop him? No way.
Smith played his best game of these playoffs, and arguably the best of his career in leading the Hawks to a must-win, 100-88 victory over the Chicago Bulls that evened the best of seven Eastern Conference semi-final series at two games apiece.
if Josh hadn't heard enough from the fans during Game Three, he certainly heard it from his head coach the next day. Coach Drew laid it all out for Josh. Showed him the stats, the percentages, and then rolled the video to hammer home the point: quit taking ill-timed, low percentage shots from the perimeter.
Instead, go do what you do so well, namely punish people with your off the chart athleticism. Josh in the paint is unstoppable, when playing at a high energy level.
You don't destroy a great defensive team like the Bulls like he did without that kind of ability: 23 points, 16 boards, eight assists, and two more blocks, brining his series total against the Bulls to 14.
(An aside here, Bulls fans: spare me the chatter about how the Bulls "didn't play their game" or "we Got happy after the Game Three win" as Joakim Noah would lead you to believe. this game was tied with four minutes left, and Josh did his damage all night long).
Smith has this kind of ability. The question is: will he play to his strengths consistently? if he can stay focused, the Hawks can win this series. yes, they can upset the Bulls.
As I checked in at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport this morning, the Delta Skycaps said to me "that's Josh's game! in the paint!".
On the train to the A33 gate, a gentleman who watched the game from his suite said to me, "Josh was amazing!"
Yes he was. it was great to see.
When Josh Smith operates in the paint, good things happen.
Everybody knows it now.

A GREAT WIN FOR THE HAWKS IN CHICAGO

When the 1969 New York Mets were making their improbable run to baseball’s World Championship, reliever Tug McGraw coined the phrase, “Ya Gotta Believe!”.
Who would have thought that the miserable Mets, losers of 120 games in their inaugural season just seven years previous, would supplant the Chicago Cubs, win the National League East, and go on to win the World Series.
OK, be honest. How many of you believed the Atlanta Hawks had any chance of winning game one in Chicago last night?
That’s what I thought.
OK, now, this morning…how many of you believe, just a little bit?
The Hawks last night maintained their post-season momentum with a well-played, 103-95 win over the Bulls, and captured home-court advantage in this Eastern Conference semi-final series.
Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford combined for 56 points. The man of the hour was Jeff Teague, who took over the point guard duties for the injured Kirk Hinrich, and played the best game of his career, considering the circumstances. Teague committed only one turnover in nearly 45 minutes of action, scored 10 points and had five assists. He did his best in limiting the Bulls Derrick Rose.
It’s interesting to listen to the “experts” who last week questioned “what is wrong with the Magic?” as they fell to the Hawks, and now their question is “what is wrong with the Bulls?”.
It’s high time the elitist NBA experts give the Hawks a little bit of credit.
Folks, it’s a basketball game. Hustle, play smart, and see what happens. The Hawks have shown a much better determination and grittiness in the playoffs than they ever showed during the regular season.
And that’s a sign of a team growing and maturing. It’s hard to grow without pain in the pro game. The Hawks suffered a very painful exit last year against the Magic. It has fueled them this post-season. Remember, it took a ton of frustration and losing for Michael Jordan and the Bulls to finally get past Detroit back in the day.
Will the Hawks win the series? Why not? All they have to do now is hold serve at the Highlight Factory. Easier said than done, but…
Ya Gotta Believe!

ORLANDO---They’ve won twice in this building.
They’ve won six of the last seven games between the two teams.
They’ve built double-digit leads in all four games of this series.
They hold a commanding 3-games-to-1 lead.
And yet, the Hawks are once again underdogs tonight as they prepare to close out the Orlando Magic in their first round, Eastern Conference series.
True enough, the fourth game is always the hardest to win, especially on the road. Only the Boston Celtics have been able to do it so far in this year’s NBA Playoffs.
Here’s hoping the Hawks can match the crowd’s intensity and the anticipated desperation from the Magic.
The Hawks are on the verge of doing something that has never been done in Atlanta’s NBA history.
During the regular season, the Hawks won eight fewer games than the Magic (52-44). Only once in a best of seven series, have the Hawks prevailed over a team in the playoffs with more regular season wins. It was the 1957-58 St. Louis Hawks, and it came over the Boston Celtics in the 1958 NBA Finals.
Twice in Atlanta history, the Hawks have done it: in a best of three over Houston in 1979 and the most recent case, 1996 over Indiana in an opening round best-of-five.
After the humiliation that the Hawks suffered at the expense of the Magic last season, payback in their brand new building would be sweet indeed.
See you tonight on SportSouth. Our coverage begins with Hawks Live! at 7 pm.

As wonderful as the Hawks Game Three win over Orlando was Friday night, there was no time to celebrate today.
As the Hawks reported for duty Saturday morning, all thoughts were on taking Game Four Sunday night, to put the pressure squarely on the Magic.
“This is now the big game,” Jamal Crawford told me after practice. “Last night was pivotal, but tomorrow is now the big one.”
Couldn’t agree more.
When the players left practice, they didn’t know, but presumed, that both Zaza Pachulia and Jason Richardson would be suspended for Sunday’s game (6:30pm on SportSouth).
Later Saturday afternoon, the word came down that each would be suspended for one game.
So, which team is hurt more?
I’ve been rolling that around, and I’d have to say both equally, because both players are instrumental in what their teams’ are trying to accomplish.
The Hawks defense has been built on playing Dwight Howard in single coverage, and not allowing the Magic three-point shooters to get going. Zaza has been tremendous in the series backing up Jason Collins in the post, so the Hawks lose a key defender with size.
Orlando must hit three’s to win. Their confidence soars when they hit a few early in a game. Now, the league’s second leading three-point shooter, Richardson, is out. Plus the Magic lose a key defender on Joe Johnson.
Now, the coaches will adjust their rotations. More minutes for Collins. More minutes for Quentin Richardson and possibly Gilbert Arenas in Game Four.
See you on TV!