At 4:00 PM EST today, the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide battle for a right to play for the NCAA national football championship. The following were the leadership quotes and insights from ESPN’s College Gameday prior to the game.
These thoughts give leaders great insight into what is required to perform with excellence and at the highest level. Other quotes from great leaders are included as well.
- Maximize Potential – “There is a gold medal involved in this game. If you’re run 200 meters, are you thinking of winning the gold medal or running the best race you can? Run the race right.” – Alabama head coach Nick Saban
- Proper Self -Image – “Be who you are. You define the game. Don’t let the game define you.” – Saban
- Focus – “We have to focus on our jobs.” – Georgia head coach Mark Richt
- Embrace Reality – “If you watch Kent St. and Northern Illinois and you flip over and watch UCLA, you have to be honest with yourself.” – Kirk Herbstreit on Northern Illinois’ chance for getting into a BCS game.
- Leverage Experience – “You have to have great leadership. The seniors know how to keep it at an even keel.” – Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly
- Relational Intelligence – “Anytime you take a program over, your personality will come out…In our third year, those relationships were strong.” – Kelly
- Motivation – “I’ve been blessed with a second opportunity.” – UGA All-American Jarvis Jones on dealing with the grief of the death of his brother.
- Confidence – “He can’t be afraid to make on mistake.” – David Pollack on UGA quarterback Aaron Murray
- Perfection – “You coach against perfection, not the opponent.” – Lee Corso
- Future Legacy – “The future and legacy of this team will be determined by what happens ahead of them. Not what happened today or behind them.” – Saban after the Texas A&M loss.
- Embrace Change – “When people have an experience that is uncomfortable or they’re willing to change, prepare better, practice better, focus better, do all the things it takes to be successful on a consistent basis.” – Saban
- Manage Tension – “I’m nervous always leading up to the game…Once we start playing I’m not nervous at all. You’re focusing on the next down, the next situation.” – Saban
- Understand Recognition – “Stars like you don’t come to interview you when you’re going to the Independence Bowl.” – Saban to Tom Rinaldi
- Resist Entitlement – “There’s no continuum for success. There’s no ‘just because you have it you’re going to continue to have it’. It’s not the process begins, it’s ongoing and you’re going to have to focus on that to continue to be successful.” – Saban
I’m going out on a limb but I’m picking a UGA victory 21-13. What is your prediction?
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