By Troy Vincent
NFL Player Engagement
As the New Year begins, now is a good time to look back on last year and how we can do better. There was a lot to like in 2013, but also some things we didn’t want to see, such as the Ohio State player making an obscene gesture to Michigan fans as he walked off the field after being ejected for fighting.
There simply is no place for actions like that in our game, and it reminded me of when I witnessed the same situation up close and personal.
When I played for the Miami Dolphins in the 1990s, teammate Bryan Cox famously gave the same gesture to Buffalo Bills fans, creating a firestorm that prompted the NFL to change the policy concerning this type of conduct.
Fans deserve more since they contribute so much to making our game great, so in 2014 we in the world of sports can do better when it comes to ethics and sportsmanship.
Even when it comes to the fiercest of rivalries, like that between the Buckeyes and Wolverines, we all need to be professional and respectful since controlling our emotions under pressure is what makes professional athletes – and those aspiring to be so – special.
But there were other incidents as well, from bullying and brawls, to Grambling forfeiting its football game, that make me wonder where we are as we begin 2014.
As always, authority still rules and athletes simply must respect those in charge.
Whether it’s coaches, administrators, or officials, these leaders set the tone for athletes who often mimic what they see and hear.
On the field, officials are the arbiters of the rules and demand ultimate respect, since a lack of respect for them is what leads to brawls and other bad behavior.
That deference to official authority also carries over to coaches and administrators, since referees need our support and not our scrutiny.
After all, if a coach doesn’t defer to officials, how will the players?
Although I myself am imperfect and fall short, I was fortunate to have fabulous coaches who taught me how to do things right.
At Pennsbury High School in Pennsylvania, Coach Jim Dundala preached that we treat people the way we want to be treated, respect and appreciate the fans who come out to watch you play, and even how to wear our uniforms so we all look alike since we were a team and not individuals. Adhering to this authority then led to us embracing the values of teamwork, integrity, and leadership.
At the University of Wisconsin, Coach Barry Alvarez told us that we were going to score, and when we got to the end zone, act like we have been there before. This was a wonderful life lesson in learning how to carry ourselves in all types of situations.
And yet another example of how the field of play is actually an institution of education, and like our locker rooms, represent a sacred school zone where players from various backgrounds can be taught how to care for their teammates, a precursor that may later lead to the type of workplace environment we all want.