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Hello CougarNation,
One of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was quoted as saying, "I am not concerned that you have fallen; I am concerned that you ARISE."
The measure of a man is determined when the chips are down. If a man stumbles and falls, will he get back up on his feet and keep moving forward? The measure of a team is determined when they have suffered a defeat. Will they get back up and keep fighting and push forward in their marathon battle of a season that is in front of them? The measure of a coaching staff is determined after things go wrong. Outsiders will say that it is futile to have high hopes and that they are doing things all wrong. Will they pull tighter together and circle their own inner wagons or start to blame each other for their mistakes? The measure of a group of fans is determined after they are severely disappointed. Will they continue to cheer for their team or will they throw up their arms in resignation and defeat?
The game against the Air Force Falcons was exactly what you wanted to see, if you were a Falcons fan. They came to play. They played with passion and discipline and excitement. They caused turnovers and they frustrated the Cougars with their effort from the flyover to the final buzzer. They did to BYU exactly what BYU was hoping to do to them. Give them credit for rising up on 9/11 and reminding everyone who saw them play that each one of those warriors fight, not just to win the Mountain West Conference, but to make sure that America wins in her fight against the enemies of liberty. If there is a silver lining to take away from that mighty pounding, let it be that.
As far as BYU is concerned, I am so excited to see how they bounce back. I love the opportunity that they have given themselves. They didn't play their best, and now they face an opponent who throttled them at home last year when that opponent was unranked and BYU was ranked in the top ten. BYU has so much to prove.
One of my favorite memories of President Rex Lee was in the locker room in Arizona before we played Arizona State. ASU had beaten us the year before in Provo in a sloppy game. President Lee addressed us with words of motivation. He said that since we were Latter-day Saints, we didn't believe in retribution. Then he said, "But we do believe in paying our debts." It was beautiful. I love that man and I miss him.
BYU has an opportunity to prove to the world just what they are made of. They are going into the middle of a war dance and I can't wait to see if they tip-toe in, or if they charge into that dance with their faces painted and their minds made up with a fixed determination to conquer!
Tom Rabb is the greatest high school football coach in the history of the game. He taught the Orem High Tigers a valuable lesson as they headed into the playoffs in the fall of 1987. He taught them that every person counted, not just the starters. He got them to believe in themselves first, and in each other second. He wanted to make sure that the trainers knew it, the team managers knew it, and that even the bus driver knew it. What did he want them to know? That, "IF IT'S TO BE, IT'S UP TO ME!"
He was passionate about each person fighting to do their job. He didn't want us to worry about anyone else. He didn't want us to waste one second of time complaining about a job someone else did not do. He didn't want us to talk about the pass they dropped or the read they missed, or the tackle they flubbed, or the TD they gave up. He wanted every single person involved with that team to know, not just to say, but to KNOW, that if we were going to win the state championship, it was up to every single person who committed themselves to being an Orem High Tiger.
I know the story of Coach Tom Rabb and the quote he shared because I was one of the worst players on that team that eventually won the state championship which ended a 19-year championship drought for the Orem Tigers. His message penetrated my plastic pads and went to my heart, maybe more than many of the other players, because I was not one of the better players. I was a junior and was 6 feet tall and weighed 140 pounds. I played on the punt return team and was valuable only as a practice player and the attitude I brought to practice each day. Coach Rabb tapped into my value. He created a fire of desire in my little heart. He got me to believe that I was just as important as Tyler Anderson, Ed Chatterley, Brad Eldredge or any one of the great players we had on that team.
The result of his coaching and motivating changed my life. He knew that even though I was only on one unit of special teams, that I was crucial to the Tigers winning the championship. He gave me the charge of making the most out of every second of practice. He wanted me to be involved in the game even if it were only cheering for my teammates. He wanted me completely involved and totally invested in our goal.
The credit for Orem High winning the state championship that year clearly goes to Coach Rabb and the great players that made the plays. Because of him and because of them I am a state champ and always will be. But way more important than being a state champ, Coach Rabb taught all of us the lesson, "If it's to be, it's up to me!"
This week is going to be awesome. I can't wait to see how Bronco inspires his team to fight like warriors. He is going to pull out of their hearts the fire and the determination to give battle and to be relentless as they get ready for their match up with the Seminoles. He is a great coach, and that is what great coaches do. They all do it differently and in their own way. His way has been incredibly successful over the years.
Turn your disappointment from that game into positive and strong energy. The milk has been spilled and there is no use crying about it. Don't give the negative feelings of last week voice as you go through this week. Don't give excuses life by incessantly talking about them. Don't dwell on the worst of that game, but look forward with excitement at the great challenge ahead. This week is all about moving forward and not looking back. This week is about strength not surrender. This hour for the coaching staff, players and fans is about having the resolve of a competitor and not packing up and quitting after one disappointing game.
Rise up was the call from President Abraham Lincoln. Rise up and fight will be the call of each coach on the BYU staff. The players will either buy into it and compete or they will quarrel, point fingers, and wilt. I know the BYU players. I know where they came from. I know what they are made of. I know they will batten down the hatches, put on their foul weather gear, and get ready to bring a hurricane of determination to Florida.
In the full spirit of Rising Up, may I encourage each one of you reading this, to rise up from your homes this week and get into the mountains so that you can see the changing colors of the leaves and breathe the beautiful fresh air. Pick any canyon along the Wasatch Front and drive up into the tops of the mountains and notice the beauty of the changing season. The leaves are turning from green to yellow and orange and red. Rise up and make the most of this beautiful land we live in.
The LDS people and BYU fans love nature. We don't worship it. We worship the Creator of the Universe who made it so beautiful. So beautiful that we can dive into it and clear our minds, forget about the last game, get ready for the next one, and face whatever challenge we have in front of us.
Let us arise and be up and doing!
(Photo Courtesy Bryan Oller, The Gazette)
