PSU takes Maryland down

PSU football had a great game against Maryland yesterday!  I was concerned after the tough win against Pitt two weeks prior, but they played phenomenally.

Everything I hear about James Franklin's leadership tells me he is the right man for PSU football.  Each week in Franklin’s pre- and postgame interviews I gather more knowledge about this outstanding man.  I believe his values are the bedrock driving PSU's football program.  Many businesses could benefit from emulating Franklin’s values and style.

Some points that I see are the following:

• Last year he mentioned a book called Legacy which I believe is a central part of his philosophy.  This book is about a rugby team called the All Blacks.  The All Blacks are world renowned for their success. The first chapter is called Sweeping the Sheds.  In it, the author talks about the players being responsible for cleaning up their own locker rooms.  This minimized the "class stratification" that often comes in any organization and drives the point that everyone is responsible for themselves and no one is better than the whole.  It reminds me of the 1980 Olympic hockey team coach, Herb Brooks, who said “I’m not looking for the best players. I’m looking for the right ones.”
• Franklin extensively vets his players.  He wants them from good families who have instilled the right values.  This has nothing to do with economic or social class and everything to do with good, hard working and respectful players.  Recent events with Antonio Brown underscore the importance of vetting.
• After one game, one player blew off shaking hands with the opposing team.  Franklin saw this and was on that player so fast that it would make your head spin.  He let the player know that "that behavior IS NOT who we are!"  You can't let these types of things go or you end up with growing problems.  He doesn't care how good the player is in these circumstances.  Respect for your opponent is part of the fabric of PSU football and no one is above it.   One of Lou Holtz rules for his teams was "The do right rule".  Franklin stands by this rule.
• In the Maryland game, he rotated many second, third and fourth string players into the game.  Playing time gives these young men confidence and it also enforces the point that PSU football is a TEAM effort.  This confidence will serve him well in the tough games to come.
• Franklin clearly has great rapport with his players.  I'm sure there are issues, but minimizing those issues by creating close relationships re-enforces the code - we are a team.  Every organization has issues but by constantly enforcing the team of "One", his leadership minimizes the inevitable issues.
• He makes sure that the players attend classes and he keeps close tabs on their academic performance.  A very small portion of players will go on to the NFL. One of his primary goals is to build respectful young men who will succeed in their relationships, their professions and, in general, their lives.
• In this video, he speaks of balancing time off for their personal lives and time dedicated to the team.  A refreshed athlete has much greater probability to reaching their maximum potential if this balance is there.  Furthermore, this balance is not just for his players, but includes his coaches as well.  Franklin just gets it!
• In the attached video, he also speaks about the belief that young kids believe if they work hard they will be rewarded.  Franklin knows that isn't always the case in life and clearly says it.  The reward is in the hard work.  No one can take that from the person who put in the hard work.

Franklin is doing the right things and demonstrating a role model for his kids to emulate. 

The butterfly effect can have significant effects.  Make it positive!