The standard is the standard.
We hear it all the time in sports.
There may be no greater illustration of it in college football than the Indiana Hoosiers.
That’s where I was Saturday, calling the game at Memorial Stadium, otherwise known as The Rock. Curt Cignetti is leading his team in year three, this time as the defending national champions. As we’ve talked about many times on the Y-Option podcast, IU is not going anywhere.
And neither are clichés. Dan Hicks and I joked this weekend in the booth that they’re clichés for a reason: they work! They’re also everywhere in sports, from the defending champs to my sons’ 11-year-old flag football team. And there is some truth to them on many levels. Some of my favorite Cignetti-isms:
Fast, Physical, Relentless
Each play has a Life and History of its own
Stalking Complacency
Production over Potential
Humble and Hungry
You get what you demand
Thinking back to my childhood, our dad had a few as well:
Love many, trust few, and always be sure to paddle your own canoe
Knowledge is no burden to carry
A penny saved is a penny earned
You get it. Clichés often get an eye-roll, but they often leave an imprint.
Over the last few weeks, one word has left a major imprint on me: conviction. I’ve enjoyed asking coaches what they are most convicted about and how that has shown up on film and in the facility. It often leads to a conversation about what’s at their core as a leader. I’d bet it’s at their core as a husband, father and human as well.
Quarterbacks need to play with conviction too. Meeting Josh Hoover, then calling his game on NBC, confirmed that he has the tools and mentality to thrive for the Hoosiers. He wasn’t perfect, and he didn’t seem to meet his own standard or Coach Cignetti’s, but if I had to guess, he knew that walking off the field.
His head coach knew it too, but the way in which Coach Cignetti sets and upholds that standard is what has me inspired today. Many coaches who use that phrase can beat down their players and lead heavy-handed. Not Cignetti.
Rather, he maintains levity and builds confidence with the little things.
After the game, our sideline reporter, Caroline Pineda, asked him about his star quarterback. With a grin, he reminded her that everybody wants to talk about Josh, but there are 104 other players on that team.
It was a great reminder for all of us.
Chasing perfection is brutal and unrealistic. When that’s the goal, it can overwhelm all of us. But when the leader is in touch with reality while setting a standard, that is when potential can be maximized. Which is why I think Josh Hoover will thrive as a player this fall for IU.
Before I dive into preparation for Notre Dame at Purdue this weekend, I’m spending the day with my family, hitting the sauna and getting in three minutes in the cold plunge. It’s a huge part of my recovery, and it’s a reason we partnered with Recovery for Athletes here at Y-Option. Recovery for Athletes is the #1 online retailer for athlete recovery and wellness products, and they have it all. From saunas and cold plunges to nutritional supplements and fitness equipment, they’re the one-stop shop for all the best brands in the game. When I’m traveling across the country, recovery comes before film study, every time, on both the front end and the back end of the week. Be sure to check them out at RecoveryForAthletes.com.
Speaking of home, today is a fun day as I turn 45. In our home there is a tradition, or standard, on birthdays. We go to the beach, paddle into a few waves, and then talk about the previous 365 days and set goals for the next 365.
I hope today’s newsletter serves as a reminder for all of us that standards are great, but if we don’t have joy, don’t have fun, and don’t celebrate with the people who matter most, we are missing the entire point.
Much love and stay steady,
Yogi