Leadership Lessons form the Super Bowl
Saints Coach Sean Payton and lessons in leadership
Indianapolis Colts Management are you listening?
On Wednesday, Dec. 30th 2009, I posted a blog, Gutless Indianapolis Colts coaching staff means they will not go down in history. Well, a lot has happened since then.
In Monday’s Miami Herald, Jeff Darlington writes, “The Saints became Super Bowl Champions because of a calculating quarterback, a risk taking coach and a team’s faith that did not waiver.” Drew Brees is quoted as saying this about his coach, “Not only is he an aggressive play caller, a confident play caller, but he’s a guy that can instill all those qualities in his players.” My words: That’s what leadership is all about.
This is not to say that the Colts players didn’t give the game every ounce of effort, because I’m sure they had. As a matter of fact I know they did. Surely the Indianapolis sportswriters will second-guess the coach’s decisions well into next season. This second-guessing may prove beneficial to the organization, maybe it will not.
I say it probably will not because my thoughts go back to the regular season and to the decision to rest players when the Colts had a chance at destiny, to go undefeated entering the Super Bowl. The Colt’s executive and coaching staff chose to play it safe. It was considered a “smart football decision” and thus they decided to defeat themselves, to quit, and not to strive to become the greatest NFL football team and thus the greatest Super Bowl Champions ever. Well, the Colts got their wish. They are the most rested, injury-free, second greatest, not Super Bowl champions.
When the decision to sit players was made, so went the Super Bowl. The Colts organization demonstrated a lack of need and commitment to be the best. Not good! These types of “committee” decisions must be washed away from the Colt’s organization if they are to recover to become champions again. The organizations will, their non-aggressive attitude, and their leadership skills must improve if they are to become champions. If not, they are destined to become what they desired by sitting their players…a safe and mediocre, second place team.
Am I being tough on the Colts organization? You bet. But what do we tell our kids? “OK little Johnny, strive to be the best, but only if it’s not too hard. If you get tired or afraid or if your goal is stressful play it safe.” It’s Okay to phone it in, Lil Stewie.
Is that what we teach our kids about striving to be the best?
I’ll bet they aren’t saying that to the kids in New Orleans!
As usual your thoughtful comments are welcome.
Dr. John Morgan
February 9th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
What a great Super Bowl game! BOTH teams came to play, and to win.
These games have gotten better in the last few years, but earlier they were in most cases boring, boring, boring! Usually the highlight of those games was the advertisements — and, for the ladies in attendance, the halftime show.
This time the season’s two best, two super, teams were in the final battle for the trophy. It didn’t hurt that there was a sweeping wave of sympathy for the “underdog” New Orleans club. They had a great team, but “who could stop” the Colts, who “had been here and done it before.”
Leadership: QB Manning was MVP of the regular season, and deserved it. QB Brees was MVP of the Super Bowl game, and deserved it — well, sort of. He was the best player on the field, and the Saints would not have won without him. But, the Saints would not be the CHAMPIONS without their coach, Sean Payton, whose leadership demonstrated “what it takes” to win. His aggressive play calling was the difference in victory! The first on-side kick starting the second half was the first in Super Bowl history prior to desperation-time-measures of the fourth quarter — in fact, it was the first successful on-side EVER in these games. How about going for a fourth down touchdown when conventional strategy is to take the three and regroup. And, most important, the successful attempt for a two-point conversion after a touchdown that put the Saints ahead by seven.
The two-point conversion turned the game around. Forget the interception which was correctly cheered as icing the victory. The Colts had the ball and plenty of time to score a touchdown as everyone expected. But, because of the two-point conversion QB Manning needed the touchdown just to TIE the game, not to win. The psychology changed, and the Colts played with more desperation — and lost.
I will not return to the question originally raised. Perhaps if the Colts had played their stars and remained undefeated in those no-longer-important games leading up to the playoffs, they would have arrived at the Super Bowl with more inspiration to complete a PERFECT SEASON. Perhaps, also, bad things could have happened so that they did not get through the playoffs. The question is still open.
But, for an example in real leadership, I nominate Coach Payton.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
They were out Coached and outplayed!!Thats all there is to it!!Dont go getting into all that rested etc stuff!!