The Power of Positivity: Clemson Football
The most recent College Football National Championship game was played between Clemson and LSU and as I was watching the game and in particular, Dabo Swinney, I was reminded of a story that didn’t get a ton of traction when it came out but that really stuck in my mind. In October of 2017, Clemson was ranked number two in the country and undefeated when it lost a game to unranked Syracuse, 27-24. On the surface, you could say it was tough loss and in most cases, coaches and players might try and offer up some type of “reason” why they didn’t win the game versus a team they were supposed to beat. But not this team, not this particular Dabo Swinney coached team. What happened almost immediately after that game and in the period after the game, is something important for us to reflect on as we look at our roles as coaches and leaders.
Following the loss, cameras caught coach Swinney saying “I’m so happy for you” to the opposing coach, Dino Babers. This goes above and beyond the typical “good game” or “you played great” or something similar that coaches say to each other at the end of the game, especially the losing coach. It’s a simple phrase, but in the throws of competition and after enduring disappointment, it tells us a lot about the type of coach that he is that he keeps the focus on the victor and understands the moment. It truly was a big win for Syracuse and for the coach, a victory that certainly helped his resume. By saying that he is “happy for him”, it’s a very meaningful way of giving praise at a time when it’s not common to do so. This very simple sentence says a lot about the coach and it was clear that many of his players share his values.
When we listen to the post game interviews, we often hear coaches and players talk about how they needed to play better, they needed to prepare more thoroughly, they need to limit mistakes……the focus is on what the team did wrong instead of what the other team did right. In the case of Dabo Swinney and this loss, we saw an example of a coach who didn’t use the same general terminology and boiler plate language we so often here. Following the game, he consistently said that he was out-coached and they were out-played. He continued by saying this story isn’t about Clemson losing, it was about Syracuse winning. He didn’t just say it in words, he made sure to put it into action by visiting the Syracuse team after the game and telling them how well they played and how they were the better team that night. Where you see this being so important is that the mentality that coach Swinney had in this situation and the culture they have built has really spread throughout the team. Following a loss that certainly had implications on the teams success the remainder of the season, Clemson players were heard mirroring the coaches sentiments that Syracuse simply were the better team on this night and they were outplayed. Again, this contradicts what we typically hear from players following a loss.
As I watched the game and watched coach Swinney laughing on the sidelines, constantly smiling, and clearly pushing his team with positive words and encouragement; I’m reminded of this story from 2017 that has stuck with me over the years because the power of positivity on the team culture and within a team dynamic can be incredible. That win was a big moment for Syracuse football and coach Swinney recognized that and instead of saying things to potentially diminish that moment, he embraced it and built it up even further.
Coach Swinney clearly embraces positivity in his coaching style and it reflects on the play on the field and the culture off it. I don’t think coaches need to not be who they are, but it’s important for us to understand what our role as coaches are and how it’s much bigger than wins and losses on the field or court. Coach Swinney showed us a great example of this in 2017 and it’s a great reminder of why sports can be a way to bring us together instead of be a reason to divide us.