In fact, on one occasion, the
offensive team was doing a punting drill. Bo said that he would give $10 to any
defensive player that blocked the punt. As it happened, the punt got blocked
and there goes offensive tackle Jim Brandstatter running down field to make the
tackle. Bo becomes irate and runs down field after Brandstatter thinking he
missed his block, which resulted in the blocked punt. He finally catches up to
Jim and starts berating him. Quickly, one of the coaches, Jerry Hanlon, runs up
to Bo telling him that Jim made his block. Do you think that Bo apologized for
his mistake? Instead, Bo said something
to the effect “he needed it.” Doesn’t
that remark sound so much like Bo?
Bo knew that expectancy of
success has a positive incentive value. Further, that expectancy of failure can
affect the achievement motive as well; such as the motive to avoid failure. He
knew that leadership, bonding, social pressure, and wanting to please could be
nurtured in a group setting. He also knew that the players would bond around
Jim Brandstatter and that Jim could take the verbal abuse.
Coach Schembechler understood
that purposive behavior /positive valence goals gave meaning to these young
curious competitive minds. He knew that aversive stimulation or negative
reinforcement worked too especially and more so back then. He also knew about
intrinsic motivation (desire to practice in order to become a better football
player) and extrinsic motivation (a team win over OSU and MSU red letter
games), as powerful motivators. Schembechler made it clear to his troops “do it
my way, or the Highway; do it right the first time.” His communications were
clear, not ambiguous. He knew how to communicate with his guys.
In essence, Coach Schembechler knew how to
increase motivation, so that his players would put out maximum effort. He
realized that expectation of success (winning regular and red letter games) and
expectation of failure (had to be avoided). He also was cognizant that success
has a positive incentive value (important for the team, important for the
coaches, important for the University, important for the tradition) increased
motivation and behaviors associated with achieving the goal. He also knew that
achievement, competitiveness, were in the psychological DNA of the exceptional
group of men that he was leading. He knew they would avoid failure at any cost.
They knew the importance of winning this OSU game.
Another significant and an
important part of Bo’s psychological genius was related to conditioning. Bo
Schembechler had an understanding that being in top physical condition resulted
in not only intellectual growth but development in mental toughness as well (it
ain’t just toughness). These young warriors realized that if they could survive
Bo’s practices during the spring and fall, the game on Saturday would likely be
a break/reward and/or relief.
Coach Bo’s most significant
contribution to success was his ability to get the most out of his young
players by changing their thought process. He did that by challenging them,
getting them to believe that the impossible was possible. In other words, these
young men began to believe in Bo, in the team and in themselves. The team
mindset changed, barriers and obstacles overcome and on the field performance
reached new heights. They no longer sold themselves short because their concept
of self was raised beyond what they originally thought. As these young man began to fulfill their
football potential, their confidence soared and now the sky became their limit.
This team could and did achieve anything they set their collective minds to
accomplishing.
Bo utilized the achievement model
of motivation. He knew that goals were
related to involvement of the task (which the main goal is to improve and
increase one’s skills through practice, drill and more drill). Achievement
goals are also related to ego involvement with the goal to demonstrate superior
ability or out achieving-outperforming others. And that these high achievers
will gain such things as approval and acclaim within the group. In other words,
he knew that mastery within the sport and high-performance was paramount for
team success. Bo was a master social psychologist, teacher/sage/ mentor to this
collection of physically and mentally exceptionally gifted young men.
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