High Ten. Martin Rooney

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3 Brick Walls

As Brian walked the campus, different landmarks acted as muses. A statue reminded him of the day he got the head coaching job. The auditorium prompted thoughts of the days when his girls had graduated. The lakeside bench where Kelly would meet him for lunch made him wonder if she waited on a bench for him somewhere. Memory Lane ended at the stadium. After climbing the stairs, he smiled at the newly placed placard on his old office:

Marcus Chase

       Head Football Coach

      “Knock, knock,” called Brian. “Is the new head coach around?”

      “Hey, Coach!” exclaimed Marcus seated at his desk. “He's around, but he should be out recruiting.”

      As Brian removed his coat, he examined the new look of his old office.

      Marcus said, “Glad you're here, Coach. You're the first to see. What do you think?”

      Brian silently looked at photos, trophies, and rings from Marcus's career as a player and coach. The walls were filled with an impressive collection of his football history.

      “Looks like you wanna be somewhere else.”

      “What?” Marcus answered in surprise. “I put a lot of time into this.”

      “I'm sure – and more time into attaining these accomplishments. But how you've set up this room won't set up your team to win. Lemme sit down before you get worked up. I've got a present that'll help.”

Brian sat, opened his bag, and removed an object.

      “Merry Christmas, kid,” Brian said as he placed a gold-painted brick on Marcus's desk.

      “What's with the brick?”

      “It's not what's with it,” answered Brian. “It's what's on it. A brick's a brick. But this one's special. It was given to me when I got my first head coaching job. Now I'm giving it to you.”

      “Is it a doorstop?”

      “It's not a stop, it's a start. This brick's the cornerstone of what you'll build here. I brought this brick to remind you of two important questions, but after seeing your office, you'll have three questions to answer to turn this team around. Pick up the brick and I'll give you those questions.”

      “Do I have to hold it?” smiled Marcus.

      “Indulge me.”

      Marcus reluctantly picked up the golden brick and Brian continued, “Now you're ready. The first question is, ‘Am I knocking down the brick walls my players and coaches have built around themselves?' And the second is, ‘Am I the coach my people would run through a brick wall for?'”

      Marcus realized the challenges ahead.

      Brian continued, “This brick's to remind you before you build a strong offense here that it's more important to build strong relationships. Without them, your team'll be challenged to win, even with great players. To build those relationships, you'll need a special kind of glue. And that glue's what the third question's about.”

“I hear you,” replied Marcus, recognizing that aside from press conferences and a few introductions, he didn't know anyone there. “You're earning your T-shirt. The brick and questions are useful. What's the third one?”

      “I only used those two questions when I coached. But after touring the ‘Marcus Chase Memorial,' there's one more question you must ask before the other two. If you don't get that answer right, the other answers don't matter.”

      “The Marcus Chase Memorial? Ha! What's the question?”

      “Okay,” replied Brian. “The third question is, ‘Am I the best representative of our culture?'”

      “What's that mean?”

      “Look at the walls,” Brian began. “It's obvious you were a great football player. And this stuff proves you're a football coach too. But it's time to be a great culture coach. Like coaching requires you to be more excited about someone else than yourself, this СКАЧАТЬ