By now, everyone in Lincoln Parish should be aware of Ruston High’s recent state championship in football. There have been numerous articles, interviews, and celebrations. I can’t give justice to what many have already written from firsthand experience, but any time an organization or team achieves something so noteworthy, there are no doubt key takeaways for all of us to learn from if we just take the time.
Ruston High has talented players and very capable coaches. They have the support of the school administration and the entire community. Those facts are awesome, but they are not enough to win state championships. To achieve something as noteworthy as a championship against the top competition in the state, it takes more than talent and support. There are other teams equally talented with their local support.
Whether we are talking Bearcat football, business success, or personal achievement, there are a few other key elements to success that were evident Saturday night in the Superdome.
Purpose: There was no doubt that losing in the championship last year left the Bearcat team with plenty of motivation to work hard in the off-season and do everything possible for a return trip. However, if you listen to Coach Baugh, the players mean more to him than a championship. As important as it was to win that game, the purpose of the Ruston program seems to go much deeper than the goal of winning a state championship.
Life Lesson #1: Goals are great to have, but they need to support an overriding purpose and that purpose should be people based!
Strategy: The Bearcat coaching staff did more than just put together a game plan for Saturday night, they had a strategy for the entire season. As in prior years, they assembled a very challenging schedule that gave them an opportunity to play teams with different styles of play that would prepare the Bearcats for whatever they would face in the playoffs. Not only did the schedule prepare them for what they would encounter on the field, but making a trip to New Orleans earlier in the year provided travel experience to ensure they were ready to play when they arrived.
Life Lesson #2: A well thought out strategy will ensure that the individual/organization is focused on the right things.
Adjustments: If you have followed the Bearcats the last few years, you know they rely heavily on running the tailback off-tackle. However, Zachry completely took that option away from the Bearcats. Rather than just keep pounding that off-tackle play under the premise of “persistence pays off”, the Bearcat coaching staff came out in the second half throwing the ball and running the quarterback.
Life Lesson #3: There will be variables and uncertainty in life. Those individuals and organizations that can recognize the challenges, maintain flexibility, and make adjustments in a timely manner will navigate the peaks and valleys of life more effectively.
Humility: The Bearcat team has its share of outstanding players. The unique thing is that it seems like a different player has stepped up at different points of the season to make game changing plays. Saturday night in the state championships game was no different. As the game plan changed, and the nature of the game dictated different issues, different players rose to more prominent roles.
Life Lesson #4: Organizations that are comprised of people that don’t care who’s right, who gets the credit, or who gets the best assignment will always achieve more.
Amazing that a high school football team can teach so many life lessons that apply to individuals, teams, or organizations of all types. So, congratulate the Bearcat team and thank them for teaching so many key lessons!
