Be Where Your Feet Are
What football teaches us about relevance, presence, and the moment we’re in
I’ve been thinking a lot about one word lately.
Relevance.
It showed up for me this weekend while calling the Navy All-American Game on NBC—a game I didn’t expect to be on my calendar, but one that came together in a way life can’t quite script.
It was a whirlwind of preparation as 100 of the nation’s best high school players shined on a massive stage. Once the clock struck :00, most made their way to the airport and onto a flight toward the next chapter of their lives—college.
As I watched six USC signees board my flight back to Los Angeles, I thought about how that trip west would be a transition in more ways than just time zones. I thought about the many chapters and iterations we all experience, especially when our calendars mirror a season—like football.
On the flight home, my mind kept drifting back to that word: relevance.
It was easy to think about the 4 and 5-star recruits. Over the weekend, they were as relevant as they had ever been—closing out their high school careers, heading to major programs, and likely earning the largest paycheck of their lives once the semester begins.
I also thought about coaches—many of them friends—who were recently fired. How one day they were the most relevant person on campus, and the next, they were out of a job.
I scrolled through the list of quarterbacks in the transfer portal and imagined how, just weeks earlier, many were signing autographs. Today, some may not even have a locker room to call home.
I watched the Panthers lose to the Rams, with both teams becoming the story of the day within a span of 90 seconds.
Again, that word.
Relevance.
What is it about sports that keeps bringing it back into focus?
Do we get a taste of it at an early age—as a youth sports star—and never want to let it go?
The adrenaline rush after a touchdown in front of 100,000 fans?
The exhale and fist pump after calling the perfect red-zone play as a coordinator?
It might be all of it.
I live it, too.
As a broadcaster, there’s a magic to walking into a booth at the 50-yard line and knowing you’re representing something far bigger than just a job. You’re representing a game, a crew of 50–100 people, a fan base, and more.
It’s a rush—one I’ve fallen in love with.
Is it the same for players and coaches? Have they, too, fallen in love with relevance and everything that comes with it?
I think so.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve tested this word out with other coaches—some employed, some not. Every one of them agreed, each with their own story and perspective.
Last week, a dear friend recommended I watch Jay Kelly on Netflix. It follows an older actor reflecting on his life, regrets, and legacy. To me, the film explores relevance from multiple angles—fatherhood, friendship, family, and career.
When it ended, I found myself thinking about how I might someday talk to my two sons about this word—and what I would say. I don’t have that answer nailed down yet, but I’m thinking about it.
At 30,000 feet, I think it comes back to Chasing What Matters—finding true clarity around the people, pursuits, and values that matter most. Owning that answer. Giving ourselves the grace to adjust. And having the discipline to live by it.
And maybe doing it again and again, year after year.
As the College Football Playoff comes to a close next Monday night, with the Canes hosting the Hoosiers, I find myself thinking about the relevance of both teams—this week and years from now. And if I were asked to offer them advice, I might just suggest they listen to their own.
Both teams have repeated the same phrase all season long:
Connect to the magic of the moment. Lean into relevance when it’s there—and maybe, when it’s all said and done, learn how to let it go.
Thanks for reading today’s newsletter and for considering a subscription to Y-Option. It’s become a place where I truly love expressing my thoughts on college football, leadership and life through the lens of where my feet are.
Much love, and stay steady,
Yogi