Hawkins Blogging

Dan Hawkins posted an entry on The NCAA Football Blog this week. He's a great inspirational speaker, and his approach to the game transcends football. I recommend it highly if you're up for a pump-up session, or if you just enjoy motivational speeches.

UPDATED October 14, 2006: Should I write about why I loved playing for Coach Hawk?

Allow me a bit of self-indulgence here. The reason I avidly follow Coach Hawkins, and will be a life long fan regardless of where he is coaching, is because I spent a couple of years playing for him way back at Willamette. I had just finished three frustrating years at Montana State, where I started at tailback as a true freshman, redshirted the next year, and was moved to receiver by the coaches for season 3. I wasn't happy there, for sure.

I loved football. Ever since I was a rugrat, really, I loved to play football. I grew up around it, my mom being the secretary for the Montana Grizzly coaching staff. But when I got to MSU, I ran into a coach who had a very negative philosophy and coaching style. Whereas Coach Hawkins is famous for his "Hawk Love". Hysell was famous for something else.

“Don’t fuck up.”

“Gulick, you’re a fucking idiot. You here me, Gulick? A fucking idiot.”

“Steiny, you’re not studying to be a doctor are ya? Good. Cause I sure as shit wouldn’t want you operatin’ on me.”

Those are just a few of his choice and uplifting quotes that stand out in my mind to this day. We laughed about it then, and in some ways it was funny, but really it wasn’t funny. I mean, you have nearly exclusive concentration on the negative. No matter how positive a person you are, that type of attitude and approach starts rubbing off on you. I noticed it happening to me. I wasn’t playing for fun any more. I wasn’t playing fearlessly, going for it all out. No, a little demon had crept into my brain, the little voice of fear. Fear of failure.

And eventually, the tension was too much. After three seasons of it, I was miserable, as was the rest of the team. Nobody was having fun. And the coaches pointed out the least helpful things to the team. “Don’t drop the ball.” “Don’t fumble.” “Don’t lose.” Most people playing the game have a grasp on those fundamental concepts. And of course, with the negative attitude and direction from the top, we weren’t winning many games.

At any rate, a player from Washington (Marvin or Martin Harris) brought in an article about an NAIA football team that focused entirely on having fun, cooperation, and camaraderie. And they were very successful. The article wasn't about Hawkins and WU, although he was mentioned in the article. It was about PLU, and Coach Frosty. I had never heard of the NAIA, and that was part of the appeal. No pressure, no distractions. Just college kids playing football for fun. So I called all the coaches in the conference. I wanted to get back to the roots. Playing football for the sheer joy of playing. I decided to quit MSU football.

The above picture is one of my happiest days - my last moments ever as a Bobcat. I'm with my high school teammate/role model/hero, Kelly Stensrud. The decision to leave was a good one - it allowed me to experience playing for a truly legendary coach. I didn't know that at the time, but it really worked out better than I ever dared to imagine. I remember saying, I'll smile big, and in time nobody will remember which team won the game. At the very least, I made a winning decision.

I called Coach Hawkins and asked for his spiel. He finished with, “And that’s my spiel. I hope I don’t sound like too much of used car salesman.” I was into it. I talked to Chris Prange’s mom, a high school friend who was playing for Hawk, to make sure she felt, from a mother’s perspective, the situation was positive. I knew Hawk was the coach for me the moment I stepped into his office and saw his bookshelf. Lao Tsu? A stack of self-improvement books? We talked a little about football and a little about philosophy. And I knew I was headed to WU. And I knew Hawkins wouldn't be at WU forever. He was destined for great things.

Playing for him was incredible. So positive. The change, the difference between MSU and WU was palpable. Letting go of fear, and playing all out regardless of the consequences. Not paying attention to the scoreboard. Teamwork and cooperation. Fun. Hawkins really knew how to put the fun into the tedious repetitive tasks that are necessary to improve basic skills, and stay in peak physical shape. He pumped us up with a positive approach that left us all on a good heading for success in life. He inspired all of us to get the best out of ourselves, and the best out of each other.

And he excelled where so many good coaches stumble; the hardest thing for most football coaches is staying positive during hard times. And that's where Hawkins is at his strongest. He doesn't yell, curse or point the finger. He learns from the situation, and improves upon it. That’s why there’s no worry that Colorado’s current slump will tarnish Hawkins successful reputation. There is no question that Colorado will eventually dominate under Hawkins. And even those players who are there right now, enduring all these losses, they are learning valuable, positive life lessons. I'm sure they'd be the first to tell you that.

For Hawkins, it’s not just about football. He loves football, there’s no doubt about it. But he sees beyond it. And that’s why, at least in this humble former player’s mind, he’s the greatest football coach of all time.