Many years ago, Gordon Thomas was a senior at a small college in Pennsylvainia. He had been on the school’s football team for 4 years, but had never played one down. His coach liked having him around because Gordon was the ultimate team player. Gordon was always the first player to practice and the last to leave. Gordon was always “up” always encouraging everyone. As the coach said “Gordon is the glue that holds this team together.”

It was the Monday before the last game of the season, Gordon’s last game as a senior, when Coach got the tragic news that Gordon’s father had died from a sudden heart attack over the weekend. Coach called Gordon at home. Gordon rose above the tears to thank the coach for calling. “Gordon is there anything that I can do for you?”

After a long pause, Gordon said “coach I won’t be able to e at the game on Saturday. I need to stay home with Mom and my sisters, do you think the team could say a prayer for my dad before the game?” Coach promised that they would.

Now it was the day of the big game. Two hours before kickoff, the coach was in his office and there was a knock on the door. In walked Gordon in his uniform. “Why aren’t you home with your family?” the coach asked. “Coach I just had to be here today. Is the team still going to say a prayer for my dad?” Of coarse we will,” the coach said.

The Gordon looked up and said , “Coach, could you please do me one favor?”

“Sure son, anything.”

“Coach I want to start today.”

“Start? You’ve never played a down in 4 years,” the coach blurted out. Then he realized the promise he had just made. Who knows why, but the coach had a soft spot in his heart for the kid who had just lost his dad. He figured that he’d put Gordon in for a couple of plays for the first set of downs and then take him out.

The coach kept his two promises. The team said the prayer and Gordon started.

The second play of the game, the quarterback made a mistake and gave Gordon the ball. He ran 12 yards. The next play, Gordon got the ball again. He raced for 8 more yards.

Gordon played so well that the coach never took him out. He had the type of game that football players dream about. He rushed for almost 200 yards and scored 3 touchdowns. He single-handedly won the game for his team.

Gordon was carried off the field on his teammate’s shoulders. What an amazing story! Gordon’s last game was his first game- and it was his best game.

One of the assistant coaches asked Gordon to see the head coach.

“Coach thanks for putting me in today!” Gordon said. “Gordon I never dreamed that you would play so well. What happened to you out there?”

After a long pause Gordon asked, “Coach did you ever meet my Dad?” “No son I never had the pleasure.”

“Coach the reason that you never met my Dad was because he never came to any of our games. My Dad was blind. And I believe that today was the first time that he ever saw me play!”

What changed for Gordon? His talent and conditioning were the same (not good enough to be a starter.) The system, team code, player personnel and coaching staff ( things put in place to help him be his best) were the same also.

What changed for Gordon was inside him, what he believed. As leaders or coaches we can have everything "in place" but miss the prime motivator... the INNER GAME. What are your players thinking, focusing-on, believing?

From "Read this book tonight to help you win tomorrow," Championship Performance 2006 Charlotte NC USA Dr. Rob Gilbert