The video almost speaks for itself. Almost. Watch this 2 minute clip from Emmitt Smith’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech in which he talks about his friend Daryl Johnston. Johnston and Smith were teammates with the Dallas Cowboys for ten seasons from 1990-99. For those ten years, Smith was becoming the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, while Johnston was running face first into linebackers to make room for Emmitt to run. Earlier in his speech, Smith thanks many of his other teammates — including fellow HOFers Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin, and every one of his offensive linemen gets mentioned by name. But he saves his most powerful thanks for Johnston. Daryl Johnston is not in the Hall of Fame. He will never be in the Hall of Fame. (Not that we need to feel sorry for him, he seems to be doing well for himself as a broadcaster on FOX.) But what’s beautiful about this 2-minute clip is that Emmitt Smith recognizes the sacrifice of his teammate and friend; a sacrifice that allowed him to enjoy the success that he did.
Joe Ehrmann writes that Smith’s speech “epitomizes the transformative power of community. Johnston liberated Smith literally and figuratively on and off the field. And I am sure Johnston would say the same of Smith. African American Emmitt Smith from Pensacola, Florida pronouncing his love and affection for white Daryl Johnston from Youngstown, New York.” It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it?
Smith and Johnston shared a backfield for a decade, and a meaningful, lifelong friendship resulted. As coaches, we have an opportunity to help our players develop these types of relationships. Obviously our players aren’t going to play together on our team for 10 years, and we can’t force any of them to become lifelong buddies. But we certainly can do two things. First, we can provide an environment in which we give young people the chance to connect. Encourage them get to know each other beyond the athletic field, and provide a time and place for that to happen when possible. Secondly and maybe more importantly, we can, through words and actions, demonstrate that the development of healthy, edifying relationships is a high priority for us and members of our program. It might begin with something as simple as sharing an expectation or hope that players on your team will make a new friend this season with one of their teammates.
I don’t know exactly what this will look like for you on your team or in your area of influence. But helping boys and girls become men and women who have a well-developed capacity to give and receive love is infinitely more valuable than all the championship rings in the world.
80’s Lyric