Matthew Osborne
A lot of people received friend requests on Facebook from Raiders coach Benji Harrison over the weekend. Perhaps they thought he was in need of some new friends after some of these games have gone lately.
In fact, it was just your basic Facebook hack that has happened to us all. That inconvenience served as an extra annoyance to a coach who is putting everything he can into turning the Raiders around after three losses in four games. (Note: Sorry about the teaser box on the front page that said three straight losses. It’s been a rough couple of weeks for all of us.)
But what to do next? I have coached on a smaller scale than Harrison and his staff, and I definitely did not always have the answers on how to motivate my players after tough losses.
And where would I turn, you ask? If you have ever talked to me or read this column, you know there is only one place to find answers.
Movies.
I have to start with one of my favorite films of all time, Rocky Balboa, where the Italian Stallion makes an impassioned speech to his son that is applicable in all walks of life.
“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are. It will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!”
The Raiders know they can be better. They know they are better. There are some talented young men in that locker room, and they know a 2-4 record does not determine their worth.
But it’s time to find that extra gear. It’s time to find out what they are made of, and they have a week to think about it before traveling to City Park to face Gainesville on Oct. 14.
Often, I turn to another movie motivator in Mr. Miyagi, who told his pupil Daniel-san, “Your best karate is still inside you. Now (is the) time to let it out.”
No time like the present.
Matthew Osborne is the editor of The Northeast Georgian. Next week, we’ll do Herb Brooks from Miracle.