Those Who Stay Will Become Champions
Those Who Stay Will Become Champions
This is a sign that hung in my college football weight room. It meant a lot to me. It's what motivated me to put in extra work and ultimately become a scholarship athlete and starting offensive guard on the football team.
It wasn't always like that though. My life could have been drastically different - and not for the better.
Here's how it began...
My dream to play college football started after a disappointing senior year of high school. We started 4-1 and then proceeded to lose 5 straight games because half of our team thought partying was more important than winning games.
After my last high school game I decided I did not want to end it like that. I wanted to play college football at a Division 2 level school where I could earn a scholarship and also be a starter. I picked Mankato State, a Division 2 school here in Minnesota because they played in what was arguably the toughest D2 conference in the country. This made it even more challenging since I was undersized and I wasn't being recruited for a scholarship.
So I decided to walk on. This meant I was the low man on the totem pole and had to truly earn my way up. I would practice with the team and be cannon fodder for the older players to practice hitting. I was being given the chance to play football which was what I wanted to do and it excited me to go for something big.
I was going to be a starter and earn a scholarship.
The dream began with me diving in head first. I began working out like crazy and dialing into the practice regimen and team workouts. While my roommates spent their time partying, I spent my time doing extra workouts (which even included running in the rain with these goofy strength shoes listening to my boom box.) I was happy to be there because I really believed I would be a starter on scholarship. I really believed in myself.
I had endured countless brutal practices where I took massive amounts of physical punishment and humiliation as sometimes the coaches would have us 'walk ons" lay on the ground and be dummies to run over. I watched as my roommates left to go fishing and hang out at the beach as I trudged up the hill to workouts.
I felt I was outworking many of the scholarship players and it felt like no matter what I did I would never get a chance.
Things had not been going my way. I was discouraged and beat-up so I called my coach and told him I was done. I felt like a loser as I called my parents to tell them I was quitting college football. I didn't think I was a quitter but I was tired of chasing my dream and felt it was time to just throw in the towel.
I had hit the wall. But after I called my coach I had an epiphany moment. I realized I had dedicated 3 years to this program and we had spring football coming up where I could showcase my skills - so why stop now?
I made a deal with myself to keep going through spring football and if nothing changed then I'd be done.
When the smoke cleared after spring ball I was called up to the coaches office and they offered me a scholarship.
Goal #1 was complete. I had new life.
Another break happened when we got a new position coach.
Coach Muss had played the position I played and taught me how to be technically sound. Even though I was smaller than the other lineman, I developed great footwork and speed off the ball as well as "dirty tricks" that were effective against opponents.
He also taught me how to play with attitude and pride. Coach Muss spoke life and encouragement into me and gave me confidence. Turns out I needed that as the more talented player in front of me went down with a knee injury early in the season. I was thrust into action and responded to the call.
I played out of my head. The moment I had waited for had come- not how I had planned it - but it was here. I was the starter for the rest of the season and all the way through my senior year. I held the position even though the player I had replaced came back.
Along the way there were certain players and coaches that didn't think a former walk on should be there. They even made some derogatory comments. In fact, one of the seniors cornered me at the bar after one of our games to tell me he felt he deserved to start more because he was a senior. I let him rant knowing that he spent summers drinking beer and getting fatter and more out of shape while I had worked my butt off. I wasn't buying what he was selling.
We finished our last game by obliterating one of our conference rivals 54-7. As I reflected on the way home to Mankato I was sad it was over, but felt a sense of pride that I had seen this through despite all the trials and tribulations that happened.
I had stayed and I had become a Champion.
This experience has been the #1 experience that has shaped me for success in everything I do. I learned 4 important lessons:
Hard work and discipline beat talent any day. Hang in there - it WILL pay off!
Having a well defined and clear vision will keep you on course no matter what happens
To have success you need a good guide or coach to help you stay on course
The sweetest victories come with the most challenging obstacles
To this day when I get into tough situations, I revert back to that experience and how I made it through.
That old football mindset kicks in and helps me tackle challenges I face as a business owner, dad, husband, minister, and friend.
If I would have quit I would be a completely different person today.
So no matter what you are facing or going through - don't quit.
Stay and be a champion!
Dedicated to your success,
Erik Peacock
