Coach’s Corner: With Michael Lotief

For teams to be great, they obviously need great players. But they also need great role players, who do the little things to help their team peak at it's highest level. In this week's edition of "Coach's Corner," UL co-head softball coach Michael Lotief writes about the attributes great role players possess, with his "Look Into The Heart Of Your Teammate-What Do You See?" blog. View this week's segment, below.

LOOK INTO THE HEART OF YOUR TEAMMATE – WHAT DO YOU SEE?

“ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS WINNING”, is a criticism often directed at competitive coaches and players.  I am sure there are many of you who are competitive and put your heart and soul into all of your endeavors, and because of your intensity, outsiders question your motives and perceive that “winning is the only thing” you care about.  If you are a competitor, then remember that most people only SEE YOU or get to interact with you at the competition.  Outsiders see only the appearances and the outcomes or a stat line, but teammates LOOK into each other’s hearts. 

In my view, everyone should aspire to be the best.  Everyone should pursue excellence.  Everyone should want to finish in FIRST PLACE.   BUT, part of the journey is ALSO using your time and talents to make a difference.  Part of the process is to help the people around you to become better.  In the end, the real measure of success is whether you made your team and your teammates and your community better with your presence, your attitude, your effort and your HEART.  It is a journey in which REAL WINS are measured not by the scoreboard but by the progress we make as people in search of learning about ourselves and growing everyday AND also understanding that you are stronger if you are together and united and supporting each other (flock of geese).    

What you give (care and concern for others) sometimes is much more important than what you get (victory or a trophy).  All of us have hopes and goals and dreams that we want to achieve.  But “completing” on another is every much a part of the journey as “competing” with one another.

When kids come here fresh out of high school, ALL they care about and say is, “I just want to PLAY”.  That’s the “recreational sports” mentality.  It is ok for individuals to want to play (pursue what is best for just them), but part of the process of being on a TEAM is understanding that there is value in being a role player too, and that you can make a huge difference in others’ attitude and effort when you yourself “go all out” and remain positive even though you are not getting your way.

The movie, RUDY, is the perfect example of the point I am trying to make.  Rudy Ruettiger harbored a dream to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, despite being merely 5'5" and 165 pounds.  Rudy walked on and earned a place on the scout team (the 3^rd string defense or practice squad whose function is to prepare the varsity team for games).   In the movie, Rudy was a defensive end – basically a human blocking dummy for the offensive linemen.  But because of his passion and drive and sense of TEAM and pride, he became an inspiration to the entire team.  My take on the movie is this.  Rudy had PURE MOTIVES.  He wasn’t on the scout team because he believed that he would eventually be the starting defensive end.  He wasn’t going through all of this to be an All-American.  He didn’t do it because of the fame and notoriety you get from getting your clocked cleaned every practice.  He did it because he loved Notre Dame; he loved the competition; he enjoyed the fellowship; and along the way he seized the opportunity to make HIS TEAM and HIS TEAMMATES the best they could be by doing the best he could do, day after day after day.  Throughout the movie, no matter how hard he got hit, he got back up and gave his best effort on the next play.  If the offensive lineman that was assigned to block him did not give his best effort, then Rudy challenged him by either making the tackle (showing him up) or encouraging him to keep giving 100% by going all out himself every snap.  If you were a starter (or given more physical talent; 6’4” – 300 lbs, with strength and quick feet) and you witnessed a 3^rd string back-up (5’5” – 165 lbs) out performing you; out hustling you; out fighting you; out willing you because of his HEART and EFFORT and DESIRE, don’t you think it would force you to give a better effort?  If I had a teammate giving that kind of effort and having that kind of enthusiasm, and I knew that he was doing it just to make me better because he was NOT even going to be able to dress out for the real games or even get a chance to play in the games, it surely would motivate and encourage me to do my very best. 

“5’ foot nothin’.  100 & nothin’.  And you have nearly a speck of athletic ability.  And you have hung in there with the best college football team in the land for 2 years.  And you’re getting a degree from the University of Notre Dame.  In this life, you don’t have to prove nothin’ to nobody but yourself”.  Line from the movie by the heads grounds keeper.

In Rudy's last game, he was rewarded and finally chosen to dress out.  In the movie, Coach Devine had to be convinced to let Rudy dress for the last game by the players who all turned in their jerseys in protest when he wasn’t on the game list.  BUT THE TRUTH IS – Coach Devine made the announcement that Rudy would dress at Thursday’s practice and the whole team cheered.  It was the COACH’s idea.  And in the film, Coach Devine is urged to let Rudy play by the fans and players chanting RU-DY, RU-DY, but again, THE TRUTH IS that it was Coach Devine’s idea not only to dress Rudy for the final game of his college career but also it was the COACH’s decision to play him.  The movie makes it seem like all the coach cares about is winning, but in reality it was REALLY THE COACH who knew and appreciated what a special kid Rudy was.  Coaches love that “RUDY” attitude and effort and they know that a role player or scout team player with a “RUDY” HEART will make the TEAM better; and deep down, every coach wants to see a “RUDY” rewarded by the GAME.  If not, we know they will WIN in life. 

At the end of the game, on November 8, 1975 against Georgia Tech, Rudy enterend the game at defensive end and on the final play of Ruettiger's senior season with the Fighting Irish, he recorded a sack.  Rudy was carried off the field by his teammates following the game.

“ALL HE DID” was play in one game and made one tackle his whole career.  Think about it?  If your read his stat line, that’s what you see.  Outsiders see the appearances and the outcomes, but teammates LOOK into each other’s HEARTS.  The reason his teammates carried him off the field was because he EARNED their respect.  He illustrated to them and taught them about the power of the human spirit.  His inspirattion to his teammates was his ATTITUDE and EFFORT. 

“RUDY” is someone who has pure motives.  Who plays for the love of the game and the fellowship of the competition.  Someone who is persistent and relentless.  Who has DESIRE and DETERMINATION.  Someone who is committed to their dreams.  Someone who brings their BEST effort everyday regardless of their role.  Who has HEART and FIGHT.  Someone who is a TEAM player.  Who makes others around them better.

I know this may surprise a lot of you, but in sports, I was NOT a great athlete.  I know that is shocking, especially considering my massive build (155 lbs. Soaking wet) and blazing speed (they called me SLOW-tief in high school).  I like to tell the story of playing a grand total of about 2 minutes combined in a 30 game season in high school basketball.  Growing up, I only played on ONE winning team (the JETS, 12 year old football team; we won the City/Parish Championship); otherwise, my teams very often were the cellar dwellers and most probably because of my direct contribution to the losing cause.  Nonetheless, I was fortunate to play for coaches who required that we practice, who pushed us to be the best, who did not tolerate bad attitudes nor lack of effort and who were truly interested in developing us and teaching us the importance of competition.  And growing up with 4 brothers (and a daddy named RUDY) and a neighborhood full of boys around my same age, I remember that EVERYDAY there was a COMPETITION at our house.  Whether it was shooting marbles or tackle football or a game of H-O-R-S-E or a full fledge baseball game or a go-cart race or a foosball game or ATAIRA or something.  EVERYDAY.  Until the sun went down.  COMPETITING.  Pushing to WIN!  I learned to compete in those neighborhood battles – with Anthony, Stephen, Cecil, Gerald, Kevin, Mark, Gregory, Dwayne, Scott, Chucky, Chris, Charles, Tony, Joe, Nick, Tracy, Rene, John, Phillip, Troy, Herman.  Trust me, growing up, I always wanted to WIN and did my best to try and win, but more times than not, I DID NOT.  Win or lose, my buddies always included me and always let me play in the competition and always pushed me and always allowed me to share in the experience.  They all made the decision that friendship was more important than just winning.  Guess what, as a result, I made them better too and inspired them with my fighting attitude and my willingness to lay it on the line no matter what; I always pushed them to believe in themselves and play to their God-given potential and talents; and no matter what, we chased after our dreams; and we are all better for it. 

During my time at UL, I can unequivocally say that the HEART AND SOUL of our teams have been the UNSUNG HEREOS.  While the spotlight has always shone on the home run hitter or the strike out queen or on any of the numerous selective high profile moments, I always remember the remarkably noble, self-sacrificing, generous players who made the decision to be great teammates even when they were not playing or forced into being a role player.  Even though each of them were GREAT ATHLETES and very decorated in their prep careers, they showed the unique qualities of being selfless; they put the importance of team ahead of there very self.  They understood and got great satisfaction out of helping a teammate get better. 

Our role players or walk-ons understood what “US” meant or “holding onto the rope”.  They always chose to have great attitudes (no whining, no complaining or moaning, no negative comments, no display of apathy or a noninvolved attitude – instead, they were WHATEVER kids, whether throwing batting practice or catching in the bull pen or pinch running or carrying equipment or filming during the games; they would do whatever to help the TEAM and their teammates be better).  AND, along the way, the GAME (the journey) rewarded them because by SHARING in the experience, they were members not only of championship teams but more importantly, a “sisterhood”, a “sorority”, a community where they were appreciated and cared about. 

I will always cherish the memories of kids who have come through this program who for whatever reason had a brief stat line but who nonetheless, had the HEART and the FIGHT and inspired others around them to have a better attitude or give greater effort and helped their team and their teammates realize their potential.  I love the kid who has to overcome being 5’5 and a 100 and nothin’ (or whatever other adversity they have to face) in order to PURSUE THEIR DREAMS.  Rudy was the oldest of 14, worked in a plant, enlisted in the Navy, went to a Junior College and worked as a groundskeeper to support himself.  There are so many kids who have the drive and the determination to achieve and who find WHATEVER means to accomplish what they want to do.  In truth, IF YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED BEING PART OF A REAL TEAM then you understand that allowing a “RUDY” the opportunity to chase their dreams by being on the team is not really a favor to that person; it’s a benefit to the TEAM.  It is the TEAM that gets better and stronger and more unified.  People with that kind of HEART and fight and relentlessness understand the importance of helping a friend get up when they fall, because they know what real struggle is all about.  They will always take time out from the pursuit of their own goals to help someone else in need, because they themselves remember and are forever appreciative for those who helped them along their way.  Their experiences give them the attributes to have empathy for those going through hard times and show true compassion for the less fortunate.  They have HEART and they truly understand what making a difference means because they have faced and overcome those very obstacles themselves in their journey to achieve.  What really matters in the end is not your stat line but your HEART and how you influence the people around you. 

You don't have to be a winner in the eyes of the world to be a winner to those closest to you.  The outside world may question WHY would you go through “all of that” (the running and conditioning, the grueling practices, the physical grind on your body) for a stat line that may only read – one tackle or one inning pitched or only one game dressed out, but trust me, those closest to you know WHY and they know what’s in your heart.  YOU are the TRUE WINNER BECAUSE YOUR HEART IS PURE.  You may not have the MVP trophy or the extensive stat line to prove it, but I sincerely believe that you have FRIENDS and TEAMMATES who know your heart and remember you for taking the time to make a difference in their lives by bringing out their very best.  You were the HEART & SOUL of all those great teams.  You EARNED all of our respect.  You illustrated to us and taught us about the power of the human spirit.   And I betcha, you are still making a difference TODAY because you have the HEART OF A CHAMPION!!!

GAME/PRACTICE NOTES:  The 10 day break is over.  The girls practiced and worked extremely hard.  Now, it’s time to PLAY BALL!!!

GOOD TIMES: A LOOK BACK

Here is a list of my ALL “RUDY” TEAM.  Players who played during our 11 years and who were basically non-starters for more than one season (a couple eventually became starters); who finished their playing careers as a RAGIN’ CAJUN and graduated from UL, who had PURE HEARTS and did their very best everyday and as a result made US all better:  Heather Bertrand (1998-2001), Tiffany Hebert (2002-2005), DR. Rachel Reese (2002-2003), Erica Enright (2000-2002), Desi Chatman (2004-2007), Shari Sigur (2007-2010), Amanda Hill (2007-2010), Jessica Dupont (2007-2010), Kelly Cormier (2007-2010), Courtney Trahan (2007-2010); candidates on this year’s team (no freshmen meet the criteria yet) include: Paige Cormier, Megan Granger, Paige Cavallan, Megan Waterman and Callie Philen.  I’m sure I left somebody off (old age is creeping in and the mind is starting to falter), but the beauty of the internet is that you can copy and paste and delete and edit!!! 

GEAUX CAJUNS!!!