Post by marinersmedia on Jul 9, 2010 7:43:14 GMT -5
Coach Simpson Talks about the Team's Confidence Level and its “Swag”
BALTIMORE, MD (July 9, 2010) - “Get your Swag on”. Being from the “old school”, I wasn’t quite sure how to take that terminology when players talked about it. Over time, I have come to embrace its meaning. It’s not about arrogance or egotistical thinking. It’s about how a player and team carry itself. It’s about confidence in their ability to perform.
“A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.” Vince Lombardi knew a thing, or two, about getting your swag on.
I have written all season about focus, dedication, attitude and preparation as essential tools to achieving success on the field. That hasn’t changed nor has our way of doing things going into the Eastern Conference Championship.
We did not set out to simply get into the playoffs. We set out to win a championship. Who we play Saturday is not as important as how we play. Winning that contest is the next step to achieving our goal of winning the AIFA Championship. We have to get to the game in order to win the game.
I stayed up late last night and watched the Super Bowl special on the 2000 Baltimore Ravens on the NFL Network. What amazed me about this was not the individual play or the fact that their defense carried the team for most of the season. What amazed me was the fact that each player believed that the team could win the Super Bowl at the beginning of training camp. Every team has that goal at the beginning of each season. However, you could see that belief in their eyes and how they communicated. They had that certain swagger about them but, they also knew that each week would be a challenge and they met every challenge head on.
JFK once stated, “We choose to go...not because [it is] easy, but because [it is] hard, because that goal will serve to measure and organize the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”
People can think what they want but, it really never mattered to us who we would face in the Eastern Conference Championship. We set out with one purpose this season and we understood the challenges and we met each one head on. Saturday will not be an easy task however we look forward to the challenge. And, like every game we have prepared for, we intend to win. Arrogant and cocky? Not so much so. It’s about the belief and confidence this team has built over the season from being tested and being successful. If that is called “Getting your Swag on” then I’m all for it.
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.
BALTIMORE, MD (July 9, 2010) - “Get your Swag on”. Being from the “old school”, I wasn’t quite sure how to take that terminology when players talked about it. Over time, I have come to embrace its meaning. It’s not about arrogance or egotistical thinking. It’s about how a player and team carry itself. It’s about confidence in their ability to perform.
“A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.” Vince Lombardi knew a thing, or two, about getting your swag on.
I have written all season about focus, dedication, attitude and preparation as essential tools to achieving success on the field. That hasn’t changed nor has our way of doing things going into the Eastern Conference Championship.
We did not set out to simply get into the playoffs. We set out to win a championship. Who we play Saturday is not as important as how we play. Winning that contest is the next step to achieving our goal of winning the AIFA Championship. We have to get to the game in order to win the game.
I stayed up late last night and watched the Super Bowl special on the 2000 Baltimore Ravens on the NFL Network. What amazed me about this was not the individual play or the fact that their defense carried the team for most of the season. What amazed me was the fact that each player believed that the team could win the Super Bowl at the beginning of training camp. Every team has that goal at the beginning of each season. However, you could see that belief in their eyes and how they communicated. They had that certain swagger about them but, they also knew that each week would be a challenge and they met every challenge head on.
JFK once stated, “We choose to go...not because [it is] easy, but because [it is] hard, because that goal will serve to measure and organize the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”
People can think what they want but, it really never mattered to us who we would face in the Eastern Conference Championship. We set out with one purpose this season and we understood the challenges and we met each one head on. Saturday will not be an easy task however we look forward to the challenge. And, like every game we have prepared for, we intend to win. Arrogant and cocky? Not so much so. It’s about the belief and confidence this team has built over the season from being tested and being successful. If that is called “Getting your Swag on” then I’m all for it.
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.