91猫先生

From the desk of Wally Dawkins, Athletic Director:

Back in the 80鈥檚, there was a popular commercial run by Fram Oil Filters.聽The general premise of the commercial was to recommend to car owners the need to change your car鈥檚 oil and oil filter on a regular basis while paying a nominal fee, or be negligent in servicing the engine and face a much larger charge down the road.

Do you remember the Fram Oil Filter commercial?聽It was 鈥淧ay me now or pay me later鈥�!聽In other words, pay a little as you go or cough up the family farm in the end.

I consider longtime Whitehouse Basketball Coach C.L. Nix to be a mentor of mine.聽 Coach Nix had the game of basketball鈥�and life figured out.聽 He had a great saying that he would use when dealing with athletes attempting to influence their actions.聽Coach would look the player eyeball to eyeball and simply say this:聽鈥淵ou make choices, and I鈥檒l make choices.鈥�

Coach Nix would use this approach as a way of telling an athlete, “listen, you make decisions鈥�you do things鈥�and then I will make a decision based on your action.”

It was a brilliant strategy.聽 It made the athlete feel like he was in control, but recognizing that having the ability to make a choice would also create a response.聽 Psychologically, it made the athlete realize that with making a decision, responsibility suddenly came into play.聽 Ownership!

The athlete had the freedom to make a choice鈥�a decision, while Coach Nix would respond based upon what the athlete decided to do.聽Simple; 鈥淵ou make a choice (athlete), and I鈥檒l make choice (coach).聽And rest assured; Coach Nix allowed his players to make choices, and he would respond鈥�accordingly.聽The players knew the drill鈥�or learned the drill, and it worked鈥�beautifully.

Now, as you can see鈥�this is in direct conflict with the 鈥渉ave your cake and eat it too鈥� phenomenon that sometimes tends to be prevalent in our society today.聽 The 鈥渃ake and eat it too鈥� mentality basically speaks to the idea that an athlete鈥�a child鈥�an adult for that fact, can do whatever they would like, and there will be no repercussions. No consequences or price to pay.

No consequences for actions鈥�or lack of action.聽This strategy on the other hand鈥�is very dangerous when dealing with children, students, and athletes.聽The 鈥渃ake and eat it too syndrome鈥� if used by parents, coaches, or others can lead to dire consequences.聽Children, athletes and adults聽have to know that when they make a choice or decision, a consequence will follow.聽To think otherwise is folly.聽 To practice this with kids is actually setting them up to fail miserably.

At 91猫先生, our coaches constantly mentor and invest in the lives of our student athletes, understanding that these young men and women will one day be faced with making choices that will certainly bring about聽consequences.聽 Preparing them for life鈥檚 decisions is a mission that the 91猫先生 coaching staff believes in.聽 It鈥檚 what we do.

Currently, many of our student athletes are choosing to workout 4 days a week with 91猫先生 Coaches.聽Next fall, a staff of over 20 full-time, Christian men and women will greet all of our student athletes, welcoming them to Guard Country.

It brings to mind this famous quote by John Wooden:聽 鈥淭here are two athletes practicing.聽 And when they meet, the one who is best prepared鈥�will win鈥�!

Choose to prepare.聽 Choose to train.聽 Choose to practice.

Remember the wise words of Coach C.L. Nix!聽Or鈥︹�漰ay me now鈥�or pay me later鈥�!

And that鈥檚 another reason to be 鈥淎LL ORANGE鈥濃��All The Time!