This past Saturday evening with 71,330 in attendance, the Clemson Tigers beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 29-23 in the Fiesta Bowl earning a trip to the national championship game against the LSU Tigers. It was a classic football game – arguably the two best programs in college football, incredible coaching, immense pride, dozens of future NFL players on the field, the top two 2017 high school quarterback recruits in the country, some controversy, and great plays made by great players in a high-stakes, high-pressure environment. This is why football is the king of sports in this country. It is a shame someone had to lose the game.
Afterwards, USA Today writer Brent Schrotenboer analyzed Clemson’s final touchdown drive of the game. You can read his full article by clicking HERE. As I read Brent’s thoughts, I realized the incredible applications to leadership those moments had.
Whether you lead a church, business, non-profit, educational, or athletic organization, the following are 11 Reasons Clemson Beat Ohio State (and how any leader can apply these lessens to their organization):
- Great Leaders Must Have Great Belief – It is often said the four most important words in leadership are, “I believe in you.” A team feeds off the belief of its leader. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said, “There was never one second that I did not think we were not going to win the game. That’s the honest answer.”
- Lasting Leaders Have Learned How To Have Fun – Fun relieves pressure. Fun makes the journey worthwhile. Fun helps you continue forward when things get tough. Fun is the glue that holds teams together. Swinney added, “Trevor (Lawrence) and I talked about it on the sideline: `Man, is this fun or what?”
- Great Leaders Make Great Memories By Embracing The Moment – I attended a funeral recently and heard the following story about the deceased: He and a friend were repelling 300 feet off a mountain to a 3-foot ledge on the mountain’s side. He looked at his friend and said, “Well, we might die but when we get down to that ledge we’re going to have a memory and be able to tell a story no one else can.” His friend was still telling that story to this very day. Coach Swinney concluded with Lawrence, “I’m not real sure how we’re going to win this thing, but we’re going to win the game, and it is going to be an epic thing.’”
- Successful Leaders Have Confidence In Their Team – Clemson running back Travis Etienne said, “Trevor had total confidence in us.” Lawrence’s confidence paid off when he threw a 34-yard pop pass over the middle to Etienne. who score the go-ahead touchdown with 1:49 remaining.
- Today’s Leaders Must Lead With Love To Succeed – Leaders must genuinely care about their people and their interests. Otherwise, why should they care about yours? They will eventually leave and find someone who does care about them if you don’t. Just before throwing the go-ahead pass, Etienne said of Lawrence, “He just came into the huddle and said, `I love you guys.”’
- What Separates Good Leaders From Great Leaders – Execute Well Under Pressure – Tom Brady said in the NFL special The Brady 6, “To me what separates really good players from great players – executive well under pressure. The biggest game. The biggest stage. That’s what playing quarterback is all about.” Etienne said Lawrence added, “and ‘Let’s go out here and make plays.’ And that’s kind of what we did… Trev threw a total dart.” Lawrence executed well under pressure.
- Great Leaders Embrace Coaching – Everyone gets better with a coach. Coach Swinney said, “I actually went over and met with him right before the last drive there, and we talked about two or three things that I felt like we had set up. And one of them was the play to Travis.”
- Wise Leaders Redshirt Ideas – We often talk about redshirting players. Taking that year allows a young athlete to mature emotionally and physically while working on their craft. A redshirt year helps you better prepare for when your opportunity eventually comes. Sometimes ideas should be reshirted as well. Just because you have a good thought does not mean it is ready to be implemented. Some thoughts need to mature and be fully-fleshed out before sharing with the public at large. Etienne said afterward, “That was the first time running it this season.”
- Great Leaders Value Great Preparation – Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said, “It was something that we’ve been working on for this game plan in particular. We just felt there was a pretty good probability with a particular formation that you could dictate coverage.”
- Play The Game And See The Game In Your Mind First – This is part of great preparation. Coach Swinney said, “I wrote two things down on my call sheet this morning. I wrote down `quarterback run’ and `running back pass.’ And as it turns out, Trevor had 107 yards rushing. Travis Etienne had three catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns receiving. It is just amazing how it all kind of came together like I hoped it would.” Whenever I see a confused leader, I know the leader has not properly played the game (or moment) and seen the game (or moment) in their mind first.
- The Most Successful Leaders Always Respect Their Rival And Respect The Process – The most successful leaders take nothing for granted. They respect preparation. They respect the process. They respect their rival. Finally, they then respect whatever outcome may come. Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins said, “That’s what we talk about all the time. Show respect in order to get respect, you know? And that’s what we were able to do.”
Great Belief, Have Fun, Embrace The Moment, Have Confidence In Your Team, Love Them, Execute All Under Pressure, Embrace Coaching, Redshirt Ideas, Great Preparation, Play The Game In Your Mind First, and Respect Your Rivals and Process. Which of these 11 things is something you can work on as a leader to get better?
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