The beauty of a team isn’t about the numbers on the win-loss column. Though, the beauty is proliferated when a common belief and culture of hard work, courage, determination and resolve is manifested. These mental characteristics will allow a team to display a performance that undoubtedly shows that they are leaving everything in the field of competition. A unified team can overcome any challenge that the great barrier of adversity may present. To produce consistent success saturated with humility, a team always leaves room for improvement and to set higher goals. Mental discipline and accountability by a mass group of athletes is incomplete without prime and effective leadership from a coach. This leadership will allow the athletes to buy into the coach’s plan of action, which they believe in and play for. A combination of these tools will allow the win-loss column to take care of itself.
This system of a team is evident and exemplified right here on campus. While many students are taking post-class naps, eating lunch or hanging out with friends in the early afternoons, the team I speak of is continually building on this foundation in Stopher Gymnasium. The success the men’s basketball team is experiencing surely comes as a surprise to everyone but the 20 players and staff. If one witnesses this team play, one cannot deny their intense hustle, heart and determination.
Despite not being the biggest team, nor the most athletic team, the Colonels possess the greatest equalizer to any adversity in the realm of sports and even reality; they have resolve. These characteristics, which cannot be measured have allowed the Colonels to win four straight Southland Conference games and has provided near victories over Tulane, Mississippi State, and Louisiana State University. Despite the wins, the Colonels also possess a Goliath type of mentality that allows them to hunger for constant improvement and to not be a victim of complacency.
Coach J.P Piper and his staff have implemented a system from a drawing board that the team has believed in and metamorphisized it into existence with a touch of dedication.
I believe that the sport can be a metaphor of life. The tools that the Colonel players are using as student-athletes to make them victorious on the court can also make them victorious in life. The resolve and courageous character they use as athletes allows them to be prepared when they must beat a full court press of any obstacle the game of life may throw at them.
Moreover, leadership and direction is necessary for upkeep of a mass group. This is the same for a president of a country, or simply a parent of children. Sheep are strong because of a strong shepherd and the coaching and direction that leads this team has aided this strong band of resolve produced by the Colonels.
Nonetheless, these specifics are what make a true team. Having these tools make success an unlimited potential that a team decides to reach. This is a potential of a team even Nostradamus can’t determine.
