Insightful story by Steve Politi here about NY Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who the writer describes as "a quoting machine."Vince Lombardi. Confucius. The Dalai Lama. Coughlin is always starting team meetings with his memorable sayings from philosophers or athletes or whomever.
According to the article, "Coughlin has worked from the moment that improbable victory over the Patriots [early in the season] was in the books to keep this team from being satisfied."
He pulled out every motivational trick in the book to do that. He showed the team clips from the Chicago Bulls. He read passages from Vince Lombardi. He leaned on Wooden and former Yankees manager Joe Torre, calling both men during the offseason for advice.
Even last week, with this game against the Eagles approaching, the players were wearing T-shirts with the phrase "Cut if off" -- a reference to the movie "Men of Honor" that nobody could quite figure out. He doesn't need all of it to stick with each player. Just enough of it to get the message across.
Coughlin refused to let success become the downfall for this team. How many people work harder at their jobs after reaching the top of their profession? How many stay as passionate and keep pushing to get better when they reach the goal they spent a lifetime chasing?
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