04/24/24
September 11, 2003
Things not to say to former teammates you might be chatting to during warm-ups: "I'll see you guys after this practice."
I doubt that comment made a difference. Dom Capers is a master of putting together great game plans when he has unlimited time. That's why the Texans won; not because of some pregame jawing. For anyone who plays sports, can you imagine being able play any harder because of a comment like that? I'm sure these guys were already motivated since it was the first game of the season. But the "practice" comment makes a good story so it makes the news.
posted by Mike McD at 12:45 PM on September 11, 2003
Why would words help like this? Because that's the way human nature works, the mysteriously missing 11th position on the volume dial.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:46 PM on September 11, 2003
You know that rush of adrenaline you feel if you see your ex-girl with someother dude while playing a pick up game on the block? No? Bear with me. I bet you'll play alot more energetically, though not necessarily effectively, even though the lovely new couple was just walking by. Imagine if the guy was on the opposing team. You may have wanted to win before, but now its a matter of life and death, or however serious a pick up game can be.
posted by garfield at 01:00 PM on September 11, 2003
I think it triggers a pride response. Sure, you want to win before but something like that adds another facet to the regular "I wanna win" motivation.
posted by gspm at 01:15 PM on September 11, 2003
Down in Texas, Mack Brown is motivating his team by posting a picture of Arkansas coach Houston Nutt flashing an upside-down hook'em horns sign during the 2000 Cotton Bowl, which Arkansas won. From the reaction of some UT fans, you'd think that Nutt had singlehandedly slaughtered every 2 year old in a Longhorns bib, or worse, let the air out of their truck tires.
posted by mbd1 at 02:56 PM on September 11, 2003
Garfield, I understand what you're saying but I think you actually illustrate why the comment was probably inconsequential. As opposed to a pickup game where you might not be going all out, these guys are professional athletes playing the first game of the season. I seriously question whether they could get any more up for a game. You've just trained all off season and gone through hell in training camp. These guys are already foaming at the mouth ... I doubt there can be any incremental rush of adreneline that would influence the outcome of the game.
posted by Mike McD at 04:47 PM on September 11, 2003
Assuming one always plays to win, a slight of any kind may not influence the out come of the game, but it certainly can influence how that game is played. Players losing their cool is an example of the desired effect from the taunter, while taking it to the taunter and making him pay for his unwise words is the counter example. I'm not saying it IS the reason the Texans won, and I know next to nothing about Dom Capers, but I think its reasonable to say it possibly gave the Texan locker room a rallying cry, which is usually a very dangerous thing to give an opponent. Along similar lines, ex-Jets and ex-Pats displayed this week what the extra motivation of 'proving' to your old team made they mistake by letting you go. Those teams had excellent game plans as well, but the execution of said plan could've been aided by those players getting extra pumped. And if you think this ex-team rivalry thing is a figment of the media's collective imagination, check this out-Best Quotes #1
posted by garfield at 08:53 AM on September 12, 2003
See, here's something I don't get...saying something like that, and then the other guys saying things like "Thats extra motivation, and now we want to beat the snot out of 'em!" Why wouldn't they want to do that anyway? I mean, when you're getting ready to play a game, you should already be at a mindset that you're going to win. Why would words help like this? It just seems like people who say that it gives extra motivation aren't motivated to begin with.