Leaders of Men...

Over the past few weeks, we've seen some interesting developments in the world of higher education. And yes, I do count the athletic department as a part of the higher education initiative. Perhaps that's where my difficulty lies.

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation,
because your character is what you really are,
while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
John Wooden, UCLA

As a former Division 3 player (note that I didn't say "athlete"), I respect and value the co-curricular experience, and see sports as a part of that. Intramurals, pick up games, games that you invent to kill time and make friends (Dunn "Hall Ball" anyone?), university sponsored opportunities (club or "varsity)- all of these should be driven by the mission of the institution and aimed at helping graduate well rounded and mature adults.

Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things.
Joe Paterno, Penn State

Heck, I value this so much that I've invested my life and livelihood (as well as the lives of my family) to pursue opportunities to encourage, support, and teach college students. I had the blessing, many years ago, to work with the academic support system at a Division 1 school and to coach football as an assistant at my alma mater, and found my passion and calling to work with young adults in these arenas. So, I'm a bit biased.

I can't believe that God put us on this earth to be ordinary.
Lou Holtz, Notre Dame

I also believe that coaches have the ability to make the greatest impact on the lives of students- that there are things learned on the practice field, training room, and on the court/field that many students will not have the opportunity to learn otherwise: Teamwork, sacrifice, persistence, winning and losing with dignity, etc. As you can (hopefully) see, I hold the role of "coach" in high regard.

Sacrifice. Work. Self-discipline.
I teach these things, and my boys don't forget them when they leave.
Paul "Bear" Bryant, Alabama

Like many lessons on college campuses, learning takes place as much from observing as it does from hearing lectures: in the realm of athletics, talking about sacrifice and character has little value if the players do not experience it consistently in all aspects of their coach's life.

Coaching is a profession of love.
You can't coach people unless you love them.
Eddie Robinson, Grambling

Young people need models, not critics
John Wooden

Which is why this past several weeks have been so difficult for me, as I watch coach after coach send very clear messages about their values to the students and others who are being shaped by them. Even more difficult for me has been to see how this disconnect falls not only on the individuals involved, but on the institutions as well. (This is why I care so deeply about hiring processes for minority candidates- these 'teach' values as well.) Clearly, there are messages being communicated in and by these places of learning; and I'm not comfortable with what they are.

Sports do not build character. They reveal it.
John Wooden

While a couple recent examples come easily to mind (I'll discuss 4), I want to talk about my first struggles with this inconsistency. Former Colorado Coach Bill McCartney made two decisions that seemed to be out of sync to me in his final season with the Buffs. First, Colorado won the National Championship in 1990 by finishing the season undefeated. Then, in 1994, Coach McCartney retired to found a well known Christian Men's movement, which focused on helping men live lives of integrity. The disconnect for me came at two levels; first Coach McCartney's championship came at the hands of an officiating mistake, and Coach McCartney never acknowledged this by forfeiting the game (even though there was precedent to do so). He did, eight years later, say that he was "remorseful", but at no time did he discuss giving his school's national title to another school. Second, when he left to start his ministry, I remember reading comments from student athletes who were devastated by his decision; one said, in particular, "What about the promises he made to use? Aren't those worth keeping?" I highlight this not to denigrate Coach McCartney, but to give some context for my recent thoughts on the actions and words we've been seeing/hearing on ESPN and elsewhere.

Leadership, like coaching, is fighting for the hearts and souls of men
and getting them to believe in you.
Eddie Robinson

While Nick Saban comes most easily to mind in these conversations, the first such case of actions speaking louder than words I want to point to comes from a much smaller place. After his first year at Rice, Todd Graham signed a contract extension only to take a new position at Tulsa three days later. Rumor has it that he may have even been in negotiation with Tulsa during his talks with Rice. And now, his name is at the top of the list for many searches... after one year at Tulsa.

Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him.
Woody Hayes, The Ohio State University

This brings us to coach Saban, who left LSU to the more lucritive pastures of the NFL, only to leave the Dolphins in disarray to jump to Alabama. While difficult enough to swallow for someone who's charged with character development (or not- we'll get to that), what makes Saban's decision all the more egregious were the words "I'm not going to be the Alabama coach" that he spoke just prior to signing the contract.

I plan on staying at Alabama for the rest of my career.
I guarantee that I'll be here for you through it all, regardless of what happens.
'Bear' Bryant

Bobby Petrino has been in the news as of late as well; this time for quitting his job as Atlanta Falcons head coach in order to return to the college world at Arkansas. Occurring just one day after his franchise QB was sentenced to prison for 23 months, this move came without conversations with his current employer, who had not granted Petrino permission to talk with anyone else about other opportunities. If only the owner of the Falcons had remembered that Petrino came to his employ six months after signing a contract extension at Louisville- This isn't a man who's word means much. Or, as a friend once said "Never date a girl that will break up with her boyfriend to be with you. If you do, don't be surprised when she leaves you for someone else."

I never criticize a player until they are first convinced
of my unconditional confidence in their abilities.
John Robinson, USC
I'll never give up on a player regardless of his ability
as long as he never gives up on himself.
'Bear' Bryant
You win with people.
Woody Hayes

Finally, we come to the big news from the Big House... West Virginia's coach Rich Rodriguez' decision to leave Morgantown after signing a one year extension last year. It's been pointed out that Coach Rodriguez only chose to stay at WVU after agreeing in principal to a deal at Alabama; after which the Mountaineers counter offered, and he had a chance to look and sound like he had been a WVU man all along. An alumni of the institution, Rodriguez pledged to be at WVU "for a long, long time" at his press conference following the signing of the extension. Yet he left his alma mater and his promises for more money.

When a team outgrows individual performance
and learns team confidence,
excellence becomes a reality.
Joe Paterno

Ability is what you're capable of doing.
Motivation determines what you do.
Attitude determines how well you do it.
Lou Holtz

What may be more troubling is the manner by which he chose to leave. According to reports, he submitted his resignation via a memo delivered by a graduate assistant, rather than meeting face to face with the staff involved. Also, before he told his own team, he called a prized recruit to invite him to come to Ann Arbor with the coach. When he finally met with the young men he had brought and taught at Morgantown, it was a 10 minute meeting immediately prior to leaving for his new position. Clearly, messages are sent about values.

Consider the rights of others before your own feelings,
and the feelings of others before your own rights.
John Wooden

As mentioned earlier, part of the concern that I have is not the messages being taught by individuals, but that institutions which are called to a higher purpose have colluded with this mindset and encouraged this behavior. ESPN's Gregg Easterbrook writes,

And this is the coach Michigan wants! Someone whose word is not bond; someone who, if the Free Press account is accurate, actively tried to double-cross his previous school. Wolverines: If Rodriguez is a fiasco at Michigan, don't say you weren't warned.

Loyalty is a two-way street, not a blind alley
Woody Hayes

Others point to this issue, and ask "Why don't universities pursue legal action against coaches for breaking their contract? Mark Story from the Lexington Herald-Leader points to the truth of this matter:

When their own jobs come open, teams want the ability to poach other head coaches. That's why they'll never hold their own coach to a contract.

If coaching contracts were actually enforced, then any time a job opened, your pool of candidates would be limited to those coaches A) whose contracts happened to be expiring at the same time; B) who were retired or otherwise unemployed; C) who were assistants.

Publicity is like poison; it doesn't hurt unless you swallow it.
Joe Paterno

So where does that leave us? Well, interestingly enough, right back where we started. After Coach Rodriguez left for Ann Arbor, Nick Saban is rumored to have contacted WVU about the open position. One year into his contract at Alabama, which he entered after one year as the Dolphins' coach. Remember what I said earlier about dating? Fortunately, there are some who are starting to see through this- the top recruit who Coach Rodriguez spoke with before his own players and staff is also rumored to have said that, while he loves the offensive scheme that the coach teaches, it would be hard to play for him since Coach Rodriguez could leave Michigan just as easily as he left WVU.

Success is a peace of mind which is a direct result of
self-satisfaction in knowing that you did your best
to become the best that you are capable of becoming.
John Wooden

And yes, I recognize that I'm a fan of an institution with the largest athletic budget in the country. Like I've said before- I'm not naive enough to think that college sports have become more about the money than anything else. As such, perhaps my thoughts are unfounded- we wouldn't have this problem with CEOs of Microsoft or Apple or Dell, would we?

The will to win,
the desire to succeed,
the urge to reach your full potential...
these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
Eddie Robinson

I guess I just hope daily that we can figure out ways to be good stewards of the thousands of lives that are entrusted to us, and to the millions of others who are watching and learning from outside the classrooms.

You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone
who will never be able to repay you.
John Wooden
You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward.
Woody Hayes