2008 Woodie Awards
Selflessness of Aggies is a good sign these days
By: Jack Molitor
Issue date: 8/29/07 Section: Sports
Athletes, and society in general, are moving toward selfishness. Everybody wants stardom, and they want it now. The alarming increase in the primacy of money in sports has added fuel to the fire.
Offensive standouts on the Texas A&M football team offer a contrast with the priorities of many sports stars today.
"I would break bones for Stephen McGee," said A&M senior lineman Kirk Elder. "Of course I would expect the same from anyone else on the team, but I don't want to take a selfish point of view of making my needs and wants more important than someone else's."
McGee shared the sentiment. Going into spring practices and heading out of summer camps, the Aggies have tried to keep a theme of teamwork and leadership. The best leaders work for the needs of others and put the greater good ahead, and this A&M team is full of leaders.
This could be attributed to Head Coach Dennis Franchione's redshirting of numerous players in his first year. Many of those players are now key members of the team and are on the leadership council. They have had more time to mature and grow together, and now they are willing to help each other to the top.
"Those selfless words spoken by Kirk Elder earlier, that attitude is really not uncommon on this team," said Defensive Coordinator Gary Darnell. "It is uncommon for most players nowadays."
Professional Teams that look for players who set aside their own needs for the good of the team instead of signing superstars have been experiencing success. In the NBA, the Pistons and Spursalong with the Patriots in the NFL and the Tigers in MLB have all been to championships recently without big star power.
If the Aggies continue to work towards the good of the team, and not themselves, they could be bringing some impressive hardware back to College Station in the winter.
Offensive standouts on the Texas A&M football team offer a contrast with the priorities of many sports stars today.
"I would break bones for Stephen McGee," said A&M senior lineman Kirk Elder. "Of course I would expect the same from anyone else on the team, but I don't want to take a selfish point of view of making my needs and wants more important than someone else's."
McGee shared the sentiment. Going into spring practices and heading out of summer camps, the Aggies have tried to keep a theme of teamwork and leadership. The best leaders work for the needs of others and put the greater good ahead, and this A&M team is full of leaders.
This could be attributed to Head Coach Dennis Franchione's redshirting of numerous players in his first year. Many of those players are now key members of the team and are on the leadership council. They have had more time to mature and grow together, and now they are willing to help each other to the top.
"Those selfless words spoken by Kirk Elder earlier, that attitude is really not uncommon on this team," said Defensive Coordinator Gary Darnell. "It is uncommon for most players nowadays."
Professional Teams that look for players who set aside their own needs for the good of the team instead of signing superstars have been experiencing success. In the NBA, the Pistons and Spursalong with the Patriots in the NFL and the Tigers in MLB have all been to championships recently without big star power.
If the Aggies continue to work towards the good of the team, and not themselves, they could be bringing some impressive hardware back to College Station in the winter.
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