Pete Thamel took a look deeper into the Florida Gators football team when new coach, Urban Meyer, was hired and discovered a remarkable change occurring within the players. Florida’s athletic director, Jeremy Foley, described Meyer as having zero tolerance when the issue of discipline arose. Meyer relied on a layered system of discipline that focused on peer pressure, involvement of the coaching staff in players’ lives, and a reward system. For peer pressure, coach would tell certain players that the weekend was on them. That meant if any player got in trouble that weekend, they did too. The players became accountable for each other like a brotherhood. Coaches got so involved that they took on the role of second parents. The involvement is shown by saying that “it was the coaches’ responsibility to know their players’ cellphone numbers by heart, their girlfriends’ names, and to stay in contact with their families” (Thamel). Urban Meyer rewards successful players by inducting them into the Meyer’s Championship Club. Membership is based on off-field behavior, attendance, and on-field effort. Forty-eight players belonged to the club when the article was written. Those in the club benefited by receiving special gear and their own banquet.
Urban Meyer coming in to coach Florida football had a huge impact on the team in my opinion. His concentration on the players’ behavior outside the field reflects his passion for the team on the field. The fact that he took the time to care shows you that the Gators team really meant something to him. He wanted more than a bunch of convicts who were good at playing football. He wanted to impact their lives in more way than one. He stepped into that coaching position with the goal to make more than a football team but instead a group well rounded football players. Someone that cares that much obviously wants the best for his team. He instilled a new sense of pride in these players. With a coach that cares, players feel obliged to do things right. He built that team up. It was only a matter of time until they showed him what all they had. They were determined to bring Urban Meyer that trophy.
Thamel, Pete. "Meyer Uses Behavior Modification for Florida Players." New York Times 24 July 2005: Web. 15 Mar 2010.
My hyperlink will absolutely not show up, but here is the link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/24/sports/ncaafootball/24gators.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=meyer%20uses%20player%20modification&st=cse
