18 Leadership Quotes and Lessons From The New Disney+ Movie Safety

Last evening I watched the new Disney+ movie Safety.  If you are looking for a relaxing, easily digestible, no cussing, no sex, family friendly movie in true Disney style, Safety fits the bill.  If you like football, that is just a bonus.

Safety tells the story of Clemson freshman safety Ray McElrathbey, played by Jay Reeves.  Jay has all the struggles of a freshman student-athlete such as balancing 18 hours, getting to practice and class on time, impressing coaches and girls, earning the respect of upperclassman, and figuring out laundry.  However, things back home have reached a crisis level.

His mother, who has struggled with drug addiction, is forced to go into rehab.  As a result, Ray is forced to figure out a way to hide his brother Fahmarr in his dorm or watch him go into the foster care system.  Ray brings him to the Clemson campus and then the fun (or not so fun) begins.

Whether intended or not, Safety also makes a great infomercial for the Clemson football program and its family culture.  What started with head coach Tommy Bowden has became the epitome of a family, “focus on the person more than the player”, culture under Dabo Swinney.  For more on their program, click 30 Reasons Dabo Swinney Created Such A Successful And Healthy Culture At Clemson University.

As a side note, I once asked a championship high school who had players attend both Alabama and Clemson what was the difference between the two schools.  He said, “Brian, if you want to go to a football factory and play in the pros, go to Alabama.  If you want to be part of a family and also play in the pros, go to Clemson.”  This movie illustrates that point.

The following are 18 Leadership Quotes and Lessons From The New Disney+ Movie Safety:

1. Coach Bowden told the team in its opening practice, “What does sacrifice mean to you?  To me, it means putting it all on the line.  It means being selfless.”
2. He added, “We can’t be satisfied.  There’s no room for comfortable.”
3. Coach Bowden concluded, “It is through sacrifice we find honor and rich tradition.”
4. Everyone wants the perks of leadership.  Few are willing to pay the price of leadership.  The coach concluded by saying, “If you’re not going to give me 110%, keep your filthy hands off it (Howard’s Rock).”
5. Every new level has a new devil.  When Ray arrived at his first practice, the players were bigger and faster.  The coaches were more intense.  The stakes were higher.
6. Coach Brad Simmons, Ray’s position coach played by James Badge Dale, told him when he was late for a practice, “Time management.  The faster you learn that the faster you can get on the field.”
7. Lack Of Focus Leads To Poor Performance – As Ray was trying to hide his brother, take him to school, and all the logistics involved with that, he was often late to practice and class.
8. Great Leaders Speak Life Into Others – Ray made Fahmarr say repeatedly, “I am a winner.”
9. To truly understand someone you must hear their story and also walk in their shoes.  What helped the relationship between Ray and Coach Simmons was Simmons grew up in poverty as well.  This allowed him to have compassion on Ray and search for solutions to his dilemma.
10. Kaycee Stone, played by Corinne Foxx (Jamie’s daughter), told Ray, “We all have baggage but taking care of your family is something we all need to know about.”
11. If they don’t trust you in the classroom they won’t trust you on the field.  One of the things which caused the coaches to have increased confidence in Ray was his understanding of the scheme and his knowledge of opponents’ game film.
12. Coach Simmons told Ray, “Everyone’s family here.”
13. Clemson Is A 5-Star Culture – Coach Simmons told a Clemson official, “He’s not just one player to me.  He’s part of the family.”
14. You have the right to make choices.  You just do not have the right to choose the consequences.  Drugs have horrific consequences.  Because of the impact of drugs in her life, Ray’s mother had to sign over custody of Fahmarr to him.  In essence, the choice to do drugs forced her to choose to give up custody of her youngest child.
15. Ray told the NCAA Infractions Committee, “Clemson taught me it’s OK to open your heart and accept help.  Everyone needs that a little once in awhile.”
16. Ray continued, “Clemson gave me an opportunity to change my life.”
17. All In Means Something At Clemson – Ray continued, “There’s no going back for me.”
18. Leaders Have To Make VERY Hard Decisions – Ray concluded his time with the NCAA by saying, “Don’t make me leave one family (Clemson) to care for another (his brother).”

Once again,  Safety is a heartwarming movie.  You will enjoy it this holiday season.

During the 2019 college football season, fans were given a gift when legendary coach Urban Meyer joined Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff preview show as a studio analyst.  As a three-time national championship head coach, Coach Meyer’s ability to deliver complex leadership principles with brevity and concise terminology created a compelling experience for educated and “smart” fans.  Throughout the season, I captured Coach Meyer’s best leadership quotes from this weekly show.  I wanted to make them available to you in this new complimentary resource Urban Meyer 2019 Fox Sports Big Noon Kickoff Ebook.  

The contents includes Winning Cultures, 3 Types of Teams, Strategy and Competition, Recruiting, Rivalry Games, Personal Performance, and much, much more.  Click HERE to get your complimentary copy today!  Trust me – this resource will make you a better leader.