The Players
College Football
  Scores/Schedules
  Rankings
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries
  Message Board
  Teams
  Recruiting
Sport Sections

 
Thursday, November 16
Who do you play the game for?
By John D. Hunter
ESPN.com

The resignations of Mike DuBose at Alabama and Bob Simmons at Oklahoma State, effective at the end of the season, brings about an interesting topic of conversation -- how do the athletes play for a lame-duck coach?

In this week's ESPN.com The Players interactive feature, we expanded on that topic and asked our pool of college football student-athletes who they play the game for and where do they draw their motivation. We also asked them to put themselves in the shoes of the Crimson Tide and Cowboy players and reveal how they would react to a coach on his way out or rumored to be moving on.

Interesting responses. Check them out.

Playing for a lame duck

"I don't know. That is a tough one to answer. I don't think any of us can know what a coach goes through until we do that job. I know people cannot possibly understand what players go through unless they've played. I suppose, if I was a coach on the hot seat I would just try to stay focused on the job at hand. I know the players would have a hard time concentrating if the coaches are not on their game."
Dan Morgan, Miami

"If my coach was in a bad situation it might make me play a bit harder because I'm sure it's a bad feeling to leave some place a loser and I don't think his last memory should be losing. The coaches status would only make me play harder."
Dylen Smith, Kansas

"If my coach was leaving, I don't think it would affect my play. There's always going to be changes especially these days in college football. It can be a distraction but you have to try to remain focused. Changes are a part of life."
Jashon Sykes, Colorado

"If he was still involved in the program and concerned with us, I'd still play hard for him. But if he were more concerned with himself and his next move, I'd probably play more for my teammates."
Chris Palic, Arizona

"I think if I were in that situation, it would make going to practice everyday very difficult. It would be hard to be focused with all the distraction of wondering how long the coach was going to be around or if he was even going to actually leave. I think it would be hard to concentrate on the task at hand with all those worries going through your mind."
Romaro Miller, Mississippi

"It would be easy to say that it wouldn't affect the way we, as players, play and that we can put the game face on every Saturday and forget the periphery stuff. But that's not the case. It is easiest to play when everything is status quo, and when things become abnormal it can be difficult to focus on the task at hand every weekend."
Travis Dorsch, Purdue

Romaro Miller, quarterback Mississippi
"I know I chose to go to Ole Miss because of who the coaches were, but once you get to school and are out there playing, it does not really matter who the coaches are. You are going out there to win. Each coach has the job of deciding who to put on the field to make plays. Then it is up to us as players to go out and make the plays.

"So naturally, if the coach is going to have enough faith in me to put me on the field, then I am going to do my best to go out there and prove to him that he made a good decision. Personally, I play for my teammates. We are all in this together. We put it on the line for each other each and every game. Those are the guys I shed blood, sweat and tears with. They are my motivation.

Chris Palic, punter Arizona
. "I think our team has a lot to play for in our head coach (Dick Tomey) because he motivates us so well. He really makes himself available to us and relates to us so well. He's earned our respect. He's like a second father to us, and you never want to disappoint your father.

"I play for for my teammates because being a punter has a big impact on field position. I try to help them out with each kick. But I also play for myself. I've set some goals for myself and I'm here living out a dream."

Dan Morgan, linebacker Miami
"There's definitely some motivation to play for Coach Butch Davis. He's a big reason why a lot of us are at Miami and we've all taken some heat in the past when things weren't going well. So it's nice to see credit being thrown back to him now that we are where we are (in the rankings).

Me, personally, I play for myself and for my teammates, along with our coaches. That's one of the things I like most about football - it's a real group thing. So, to answer the question, I play for myself and a lot of people. Several people motivate me. Most of all, my teammates."

Jashon Sykes, linebacker Colorado
"I play to win. To play to win you have to play as a team. Honestly, I play for the thrill of walking off that field as a winner. I don't play for one person."

Travis Dorsch, kicker Purdue
"I don't think I ever really play for a coach at all. Winning is a product of coaches and players striving for common goals, but I don't think a player should ever play simply FOR a coach.

"As athletes, we have to first play for ourselves. Being a Division I athlete is a full-time job, and if you are not enjoying what you are doing, just like in anything else, it is hard to come to work every day motivated."

Dylen Smith, quarterback Kansas
"I play for a lot of things not just for the head coach. He is one of the reasons why I get motivated to play but I also play for the team, for the seniors and I play for myself."

Marques Tuiasosopo, QB Washington
"I definitely like playing for a head coach that has the same kind of mental approach to the game, a coach who wants to win. But my main motivation is to play for my teammates. I feel that God has blessed me with some athletic ability and I have been able to play on it, so I also play for God. I play for God and my teammates, those are probably my biggest motivations."







ALSO SEE
Week 1: The first game

Week 2: The stunning upset

Week 3: Effective coaching

Week 4: Road trip!!

Week 5: Ouch!

Week 6: Media frenzy

Week 7: Women in sports

Week 8: College football polls

Week 9: The ups and downs




ESPN.com: HELP | ADVERTISER INFO | CONTACT US | TOOLS | SITE MAP
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Click here for a list of employment opportunities at ESPN.com.