January 11, 2016
Economics Prof. Paul Zak in Forbes on how Clemson’s football coach uses stories to inspire his players
After the Clemson Tigers came from behind to win a regular season game, coach Dabo Swinney said, “Our team believes. I tell them ‘you’ve got greatness in you, but you’ve got to make a decision to be great’ and they made a decision to be great today.” If this line sounds like it’s out of a movie, it very well might be. According to this Wall Street Journal article, while most coaches are breaking down game film on the night before a game, Swinney’s players are watching cinematic movies. By doing so the players— who face Alabama in the 2016 national championship game— draw inspiration from the characters, their struggles and their successes.