I was fascinated this week by the coaching debut of San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Mike Singletary. In an effort to get the attention of his players and perhaps stir things up on a less than mediocre season, Singletary sent tight end Vernon Davis to the showers after a late game unsportsmanlike penalty. Davis looked dumbfounded and almost ready for tears as he headed into the locker room before the end of the game. I’m certain he never saw that one coming. I’m not sure anyone did. But Singletary, in his post-game comments, made it clear that the 49ers cannot compete, much less win, with a player who’s main concern is for himself and not the team.
The action and comments from Singletary received so much attention this week because someone finally stood up to a professional athlete and held them responsible for their actions. But not just for how their actions affected him personally, but more for how they affected his team, coaches, fans and the franchise. And it unearthed a lot of the issues that are afflicting this 49ers team. Selfish play. Me-first attitude. Lack of discipline. Lack of respect. Lack of desire to win. Going through the motions.
So, I got to thinking about all the other pro teams and college teams and high school teams out there who probably deal with similar problem players and issues but have not had a public display like this one to bring it all out in the open. And as a former coach, I was delighted to see Singletary make an impression and set a tone right from the start of his career that he will not tolerate that kind of attitude or behavior from his players. And as a former student-athlete, I was reminded of teams I competed on that had similar problems. I thought about my role on the team and how I felt about teammates like Vernon Davis.
So, what about the high school student-athletes out there now, looking to earn a college scholarship. Are you ready for that responsibility? When you sign that scholarship, you are becoming a member of that particular team, but you also are becoming a representative of that athletic department, of that college or university, of that conference, and of the NAIA or NCAA.
Your words and actions should be a reflection of that. Take some time this week to watch Coach Singletary’s press conference and think about what your attitude toward “team” really is. While you seek to earn a scholarship, are you only looking out for yourself? Or are you considering what your role will be in the bigger scheme of things? Have you considered what a privilege it is to be chosen for a scholarship and the responsibilities that come along with it? Make sure your heart and your head are in the right place and keep your eye on the bigger picture.
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