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on November 26, 2023 in Explaining

You cannot plan for a miracle but you can prepare for one.  If you or your organization needs a miracle, the November 25, 2023 Iron Bowl matchup between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers gave us a template on how to potentially receive one.

Let me paint the picture.

Trailing 24-20, Alabama had driven to a first down on the Auburn 6 yard line with hopes of a scoring a last-minute game-winning touchdown.  However, after three negative plays, the team now faced a 4th and goal situation from Auburn’s 31 yard line, 25 yards from the original starting point.  With only 43 seconds remaining, not only was the game on the line but so was the team’s pursuit of a national championship.  Even if Alabama won the SEC Championship against the Georgia Bulldogs one week later, the two-loss Crimson Tide would surely not be invited to the four-team championship play-off.

Alabama needed a miracle.  Then the following took place:

Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe took the snap, dropped back, surveyed the field, and threw the winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Isaiah Bond.  Afterwards, both Milroe and head coach Nick Saban spoke with CBS Sports reporter Jenny Dell which you can see below.

When asked about the Tide winning the game, Milroe said, “Never give up.  Always fall back to your level of training.  It’s all about mental toughness.  That’s what going to get you through a game… It’s all about finishing.  That’s all it was about.  Finishing, executing the play.”

For a deeper dive on mental toughness, read 12 Leadership Lessons from Coach Nick Saban’s Definition of Mental Toughness.

We learn seven lessons from Milroe’s comments and this article from The Athletic on the play now known as “Gravedigger” about how to get a miracle:

Persevere Through Tough Times

Milroe said, “Never give up.”  Many times the person who gets a miracle is the one who simply does not quit.  They have the mental toughness to keep getting back up.  Sylvester Stallone’s character Rocky Balboa famously said, “It’s not about how hard you hit.  It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

Someone reading this article may be on the precipice of a miracle if you simply do not quit.  Remember, it is always darkest before the dawn.

Practice For Miracles

Milroe added, “Always fall back to your level of training.”  As previously mentioned, you cannot plan for a miracle but you can prepare for one.

Alabama practices a version of the “Gravedigger” play each Friday.  The team gets in a five-wide receiver set and runs various routes towards the end zone.  It got its name because it is intended to put opponents to sleep for good.

Hard work works.

Remove Pressure

Coach Saban told Milroe, “You tell him they’re only going to rush three guys, sometimes two.  He’s going to have plenty of time, and he has to pick the guy he thinks has the best chance to catch it.  (Bond) got good position on the ball, and Jalen did a good job throwing it.”

Pressure can be a gift.  It makes diamonds.  But it also crushes rocks and can prevent you from seeing all your options and opportunities.  Because Auburn rushed so few players, Milroe had no pressure.  He was freed up and given the time to pick out the most open of his five receivers.

To receive a miracle in your life, you should free yourself up from mental, emotional, time, or financial pressures.  The removal of pressure provides the ability to do the following:

Develop Multiple Options

Options are often a leader’s best friend.  Milroe had five receivers and could have attempted to run if none were available.  That is six options he had for the team’s final play.

Bond was not Milroe’s primary target.  In fact, he may have been the last option.  This was first time he had ever run the route in either practice or a game.  But he was an option and many times miracles will come from the most unlikely places.

That is part of what makes it a miracle so accumulate as many options as possible.

Position For Success

There is a difference between sensing opportunity and seizing it.  You cannot plan for a miracle, but you can position yourself for one.

As the ball traveled in the air, Bond reflected, “I kind of set (the defensive back) up. I  saw the ball, he was trailing me, so I leaned into him and then faded late, which basically made that play.  I knew as soon as he threw it, it was a catchable ball; I just knew I had to be in the best spot to make a play.”

He was the best spot to make the play.

Have you put yourself in the best spot relationally, professionally, spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially to experience a miracle?

Develop Trust

When you think about the miracles which have happened in your life, there is almost always someone else involved in receiving it.  Relationships help make miracles happens.  This is why building trust with others is so important.

Milroe pointed out, “It’s all about trust, it’s all about never giving up.  That was the biggest thing throughout the game, and with that play the biggest thing was trust.”

The Role Of Luck

Let’s be honest, a little good fortune is needed for a miracle to happen.  Coach Saban acknowledged, “I must admit that I think you have to be a little lucky for it to work.  But I’ll take it.”

So would you and I.

Conclusion

After a miracle happens, we celebrate it but quickly realize life still goes on.  Coach Saban told Dell, “When you don’t play well and you win, that might not be a good thing.”

We will take whatever good luck comes our way.  But Coach Saban reminds us that bad luck periodically comes our way as well.  Smart leaders much plan, prepare, and position for it also.

To receive more leadership insights from Coach Saban, click HERE or on the image to the left for my new ebook The Leadership Of Nick Saban: Timeless Truths From The Incomparable Head Coach Of The Alabama Crimson Tide.  This is an invaluable resource for both sports fans or anyone interested in organizational leadership.  Enjoy!

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