I have a lot of athletes in my classes, and I'm always showing them how academics are related to athletics. There is no better example of how discipline, preparation, and intelligence lead to success than the New England Patriots. Last night, priming us for the beginning of the NFL season this week, NBC aired "Do Your Job--Part 2," a follow-up to the original episode that appeared after the 2014 season and the Patriots' amazing last second victory in the Super Bowl over the Seahawks. Part 2 analyzes last year's equally amazing comeback win against the Falcons, overcoming a 25-point deficit to prevail in overtime.
What is worth watching in this show is how much the coaches and players pay attention to details. They look for any advantage that may help, and they work really, really hard. When doing uphill wind sprints early in the year, Belichick says, "Put your work in the bank, so you'll have it later when it matters the most." Sure enough, when it was crunch time in the Super Bowl, it was the Falcons who got tired, not the Pats. Yes, the Pats have the greatest quarterback in football history, but they've won their titles with a rotating cast over the years and very few superstars. Instead, they win by studying and preparing, and then studying and preparing some more.
If you want to be great not only on the field or court, you have to use your brain as much as your body. You can't just show up and be the best. The same is true in the classroom. To gain skills and be ready for the ultimate tests that life will throw at you, the work you put into studying and preparation will make the difference. Are you working as hard in your classes as you do at your sport? The show will re-air on Wednesday on NFL Network, or check OnDemand. Enjoy!
What is worth watching in this show is how much the coaches and players pay attention to details. They look for any advantage that may help, and they work really, really hard. When doing uphill wind sprints early in the year, Belichick says, "Put your work in the bank, so you'll have it later when it matters the most." Sure enough, when it was crunch time in the Super Bowl, it was the Falcons who got tired, not the Pats. Yes, the Pats have the greatest quarterback in football history, but they've won their titles with a rotating cast over the years and very few superstars. Instead, they win by studying and preparing, and then studying and preparing some more.
If you want to be great not only on the field or court, you have to use your brain as much as your body. You can't just show up and be the best. The same is true in the classroom. To gain skills and be ready for the ultimate tests that life will throw at you, the work you put into studying and preparation will make the difference. Are you working as hard in your classes as you do at your sport? The show will re-air on Wednesday on NFL Network, or check OnDemand. Enjoy!