Blog

Lessons from the Penn State Situation

Posted: Wednesday, November 23rd Filed in: General

Lessons from the Penn State Situation

Lately, you can’t go anywhere without hearing about the scandal that has rocked not only Penn State, NCAA athletics, but society as whole.  

Through all of this, it has reinforced that we are not just judged only on who we are and what we do, but we are also judged by the company we keep.  As member of a team, program or profession, it is important to surround yourself with people who will help make you better.  You cannot turn a blind eye to a situation and deem it as someone else’s problem or just not care because it doesn’t affect you at that moment.

All of this has a broader scope, though. It can be something as simple as understanding that your effort and attitude at practice or how you treat a teammate will affect everyone else and even more importantly, what is YOUR obligation to the success of a group or the success of society as a whole?

As a coach, I have seen first hand people ignoring destructive behaviors in teammates and letting it go to the point where it is too late.  I have also witness situations of personal greatness as teammates have come to the aid of someone in need or stood up for what they felt was right not just for themselves, but for the team and for a program.  It seems there is a lost art of caring for and about others in today’s world of just trying to get what you can get for yourself.

Whether is it buying into your role on a team or helping someone in need from somebody else or, often times, themselves, your actions and reactions can speak louder than anything said or written.

When the day is done, you truly never know another’s secrets.  That’s why they are kept hidden.  But when these things come to light you must do what is right, not what is just easy.  

It is very easy to second guess the decisions of others after we know the outcome of the path chosen, but don’t be afraid to be a leader and demand the best not only of yourself, but also of those around you.

See you at the rink,

Coach Dan