Volosaurus rex
Doctorate in Volology
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2009
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In the months that Butch Jones has been our head coach, I have observed that there is tactical purpose behind everything that he does. Having stated that, I do not question his sincerity or motivations in the slightest. In another thread, I learned tonight that UT coach Butch Jones invited the seniors to his house for dinner Thursday night. It was the first time the seniors had dinner with a head coach. I was strangely reminded of an incident which occurred over 2300 years ago and, to me, has always represented the quintessence of leadership. In 329 BC, Alexander the Great was leading his troops back from India. They were in the process of crossing the brutal Gedrosian Desert, an area which straddles the border of modern Iran and Pakistan, and was the poorest and least hospitable of all the provinces of the Persian Empire.
Toward the end of the march, when officers and men alike had all but given up hope of escaping the desert alive, some scouts found a small spring with only enough water to fill a single helmet. The patrol was so thankful that they had found even this that they brought it before Alexander, who was as thirsty as anyone. As wretched as his own state was, however, he knew his men were suffering even more. Therefore, . . Alexander refused to drink when his army could not. He took the helmet of precious water and poured it on the ground in full view of his army. To the parched men, for the king to share in their suffering in this way meant more than the water soaking into the sand. They were so heartened, says Arrian, it was as if they had each drunk every drop that he poured on the ground (Alexander the Great by Phillip Freeman, pp. 292-294).
Now, I can hear the cynics in Vol Nation saying that there is no comparison whatsoever between what Alexander and his men experienced and the week-to-week, year-to-year tribulations of a football program. In large measure, I agree. However, this account, which was recorded by the ancient Greek historian Arrian, distills the essence of leadership. A leader of men asks no more of his men than he is willing to give of himself. The measure of a great leader is the degree to which he can inspire men to achieve more than they believe themselves capable. In Butch Jones we have found a superb leader!!
Toward the end of the march, when officers and men alike had all but given up hope of escaping the desert alive, some scouts found a small spring with only enough water to fill a single helmet. The patrol was so thankful that they had found even this that they brought it before Alexander, who was as thirsty as anyone. As wretched as his own state was, however, he knew his men were suffering even more. Therefore, . . Alexander refused to drink when his army could not. He took the helmet of precious water and poured it on the ground in full view of his army. To the parched men, for the king to share in their suffering in this way meant more than the water soaking into the sand. They were so heartened, says Arrian, it was as if they had each drunk every drop that he poured on the ground (Alexander the Great by Phillip Freeman, pp. 292-294).
Now, I can hear the cynics in Vol Nation saying that there is no comparison whatsoever between what Alexander and his men experienced and the week-to-week, year-to-year tribulations of a football program. In large measure, I agree. However, this account, which was recorded by the ancient Greek historian Arrian, distills the essence of leadership. A leader of men asks no more of his men than he is willing to give of himself. The measure of a great leader is the degree to which he can inspire men to achieve more than they believe themselves capable. In Butch Jones we have found a superb leader!!
