In a botched attempt to motivate his team before its Class 6A state semifinal against Loyola in 1993, former Libertyville football coach Dale Christensen faked his shooting in the school cafeteria. The ploy led to his resignation.
Earlier this month, Maine South coach Dave Inserra was suspended for the Hawks’ homecoming game for posting a saying that was used by the Nazis at World War II concentration camps. Inserra, who later apologized, thought the quote, “Hard work will set you free” was a motivational saying the Jews used to survive their oppressive conditions.
With teams on the Road to Champaign, three area coaches have found less controversial approaches of steering their teams toward success in this one-loss-and-you’re-done playoff drive.
The psychologist
“I’m not Ozzy Osbourne, I’m not going to bite the head off a chicken.”
Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling takes a slightly more cerebral approach to his job than the former front man for Black Sabbath did.
“I tend to overthink things to a fault,” the Saxons’ second-year coach said. “When I give our kids motivational speeches I try to make it (a) directive.”
Stilling, 32, is the psychologist at Schaumburg High School. And as head coach of the football team, he uses repetition to embed the “Saxon Pride” message into the players’ psyche.
“`Saxon Pride’ just means doing the right thing on and off the field,” said senior linebacker Josh Von Schaumburg. “We trust that [Stilling] is always going to lead us in the right direction.”
Stilling’s leadership style doesn’t rely on morale-lifting quotes or delivering Knute Rockne “Let’s win one for the Gipper!” speeches.
A “Countdown Clock” in the weight room is a motivational tool that provides the players with a “sense of urgency,” Stilling said. The digital readout presents a visual reminder as it ticks off the days, hours, minutes and seconds until kickoff.
“Every Saturday we put up the team name of our next opponent,” Von Schaumburg said. “We always keep our eye on it.”
And the techniques Stilling has introduced allowed the Saxons (6-4) to reach their first playoff game since 2001–a 28-20 loss to Fremd in Class 8A on Friday night.
The alum
USC coach Pete Carroll tossed a dummy off a building. Former Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill had his players watch as a bull was castrated before a game against Texas. St. Rita coach Todd Kuska doesn’t play these mind games.
“You can have all the gimmicks in the world, but kids are smart, they’re not going to believe that,” Kuska said. “Kids get a lot when they believe you’re speaking from the heart.”
And Kuska, a 1990 graduate and two-time letter-winner at St. Rita, speaks from experience as he prepares his team.
“So many (of the football staff) can relate to what the players are going through,” said Kuska, whose staff includes all but one St. Rita grad.
The Mustangs (9-1), who defeated O’Fallon 45-20 on Friday in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs, are single-minded in their motivation when the season starts.
“Our No. 1 goal every year is to win the (Catholic League Blue) conference,” Kuska said.
But following a 19-17 loss to Fenwick in Week 3, Kuska knew the Mustangs had to run the rest of their schedule. “There was no more room for slip-ups,” he said.
And in the next six weeks, St. Rita outscored its opponents 199-67 and responded with six consecutive wins, including a 7-6 victory on Oct. 13 against rival and then No. 2-ranked Mt. Carmel in a much-hyped matchup at Cronin Field.
Said Kuska: “I just told the guys, `You never know what could happen in the state playoffs or the seeding process. This could be your last home game as St. Rita. How do you want to be remembered?'”
The former pro
He caught passes from Brett Favre, shared a locker room with Reggie White and chased down Leon Lett in one of the most unforgettable moments in Super Bowl history.
Don Beebe’s NFL experiences and behind-the-scenes stories could motivate any high school player looking to emulate his career.
But the third-year Aurora Christian coach recently found his most effective motivational tool, and it had nothing to do with his 3,416 receiving yards or his Super Bowl appearances with the Bills and Packers.
For the last several weeks, Beebe has ended practice 20 to 30 minutes early so the team can break into smaller groups that spread across the football field.
These discussions don’t revolve around offensive sets or identifying weak spots in their next opponent’s defense.
The team prays and gets to know each other.
Beebe recently saw the trailer for “Facing the Giants,” and was so inspired by the parallels between the on-screen Shiloh Eagles and his own Eagles, that he contacted the producers of the film, and within a day received a FedEx with a DVD copy.
“When [the film] first started, I didn’t know what to think,” said senior captain Jake Fessler, who joined teammates at Beebe’s house on a Friday night. “Before we watched the film, we weren’t playing for God.”
The Eagles (6-4), who lost to Westmont 34-24 Saturday in the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs, played “inspired ball.”
“We’re doing it for the right reasons,” Beebe said. “There is no better motivation.”
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mbeardmore@tribune.com
