At Cornell University, in Coach David Archer’s Football Program, the two words that we try and use with our players most frequently are “Opportunity and Toughness.” They are the bedrock to the foundation that we have been building. We all know what an opportunity is and we define toughness here as being able to do your job know matter how you feel. Or, as Coach David Cutcliffe puts it, “The Man’s Rule”: be where you’re supposed to be, doing what you’re supposed to be doing, when you’re supposed to be doing it.” Opportunity and toughness are applied to everything that we do and their most consistent implementation is through the constant statement: “Be tough enough to seize every opportunity.” Our Program Mission Statement and #1 Team Rule each year is to “be a positive influence” in every interaction with a student-athlete. We apply the question of being a positive influence to each action that is evaluated and reviewed. These concepts are hollow unless they are coupled with actually doing things. This blog is to share some of the things that Coach Archer organizes here for our teams each year to do for others in order to display opportunity and toughness through being a positive influence. Events and community service that the players have engaged in are listed below and it is at the forefront of what we are doing as February holds two of the major events. It goes without saying that when you serve you always end up receiving more than you give and it is not different here. Many pieces to the program that we provide to the players are, in fact, almost solely designed to benefit the players but it is the kids who end up benefiting others and the program.
A Few Examples:
-In February we do our annual phone-a-thon where the players take two nights and systematically call our football donors in order to encourage donations to and participation in the program. Each year the players end up beating the number they had the year before and engaging with even more friends of the program.
-Also in February we do a “bowl for kids sake” where the players give their own money and raise money from friends and family to donate to local kids in need. This is centered around an intra-team bowling tournament and party.
-In April, we do our annual Career Weekend where alumni and others interested in the program come back and speak to the players about various topics toward their future (careers). Invariably our players benefit but it is the speakers who always end up getting much more out of interacting with the players and connecting with the program.
-In the fall, on an almost weekly basis, our players go read to local school children through our “Big Red Readers” program. This has been an awesome experience for everyone involved.
-Also in the fall, in past seasons the players have organized into groups and have taken “to the streets” to connect with the community and hand-out tickets, flyers, etc. in order to promote interest.
Hopefully, some of these ideas can help you all as you plan your yearly calendar toward encouraging service in your players and program in order to display your core values and what you are all about.