7 Days of Manly Superbowl Stuff – Day 6 (Mike Tomlin Day)

January 30, 2009 by  
Filed under Sports

Only 2 days left until THE BIG DAY!  (Go Steelers!)  Superbowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals.

Mike TomlinBefore you read this post, please check out this clip of Steelers Head Coach, Mike Tomlin, at one of his Superbowl Press Conferences this week.  CLICK HERE FOR THE MIKE TOMLIN VIDEO.  (Notice specifically the video segment 0:45-1:36 – as he speaks about “the game plan”).  Sorry I wasn’t able to embed it in this post.

What stands out to me in this clip is the attitude that Coach has.  This is the youngest head coach in NFL history to ever take a team to the Superbowl.  He’s constantly telling his players to be humble, play hard and to not underestimate their opponents.  He sets the example of cool-calm-and-collected.  He realizes that their team isn’t perfect, while at the same time continuing to shoot for perfection.  His positive and optimistic outlook guides the Steelers towards greatness.

One of the reporters asks him about his “game plan” and if getting to the Superbowl was in his plan.  He answers this (somewhat ridiculous) question by saying “of course it was my plan.  It’s every coach’s plan, and it will always be my plan as long as I am coaching.”  Liken this to our goals in life.  If we go into our “season” without a game plan, without a set of plays and without the playbook, we’ll easily be defeated.  (Note: our “season” is our life.  The “game plan” is our daily plan of how we’re going to grow closer to Christ.  The “set of plays” are our everyday prayers, actions, choices and the Mass and our “playbook” is Sacred Scripture.)  If we set a goal of achieving the title of “champion” (heaven), we’re much more likely to be granted that salvation than if we never decide to shoot for anything in life.  Set your goal towards God.

Man up!