Two articles received my attention in the June
21, 2015 edition of The New York Times. One article dealt with the declining
death rate among cardiac patients, while the other had to do with being nice in
the workplace. For example, research shows that when individuals experience
intermittent stressors too long or too often their immune systems pay the price
with cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and ulcers. These intermittent
stressors elevate levels of the hormone like cortisol which lead to problems of
increased appetite and obesity. A 2012 study tracked women for 10 years and
concluded that stressful jobs increased the risk of a cardiovascular issue by
38%.
In these particular studies, they listed a number of rude behaviors
by bosses that fell within their definition of uncivility. A few of these
characteristics included: 1. Neglects employing or saying please or thank you.
2. Talks down to people. 3. Swears. 4. Puts down others. After reading the
article, I instantly thought of Bo Schembechler and his treatment of his
University of Michigan football players. More to follow later.
But first, let me tell you
the good news. Even though there have been no significantly new medical
discoveries; no radical new technologies; and apparently no payment incentives,
there has been a 38% decrease in the death rate within the last 10 years.
Simply put, researchers looked at those hospitals [per Medicare statistics]
that had outstanding times-the time it took to open up patient arteries. What
they found were that these hospitals such as the Mayo Clinic, New York
Presbyterian Hospital, etc. statistically could in 50 minutes from the time the
paramedic who ran an EEG to the time a cardiologist threaded a balloon into the
blocked artery that then allowed the flow of blood --a success. By streamlining
the hospital and doctor procedures, they got that heart pumping efficiently,
thus reducing death and stroke. Some hospitals, previously took over 150
minutes to accomplish the same. With a more streamlined procedure stroke has
now fallen to 5 as a major killer.
Back to Bo. On the practice football field from 1969 and for the
next 20 years, Bo Schembechler was an authoritarian dictator. Gen. George
Patton, Woody Hayes would fit that category as well. Bo had no trouble in
ordering his players around. The only time that came close to this was dealing
with quarterback Jim Betts. On a previous practice, Bo kicked Betts in the ass
and verbally abused him because Betts fumbled the snap from center.
Embarrassed, hurt and angry Betts did something about it. The next day before
practice, Jim Betts met with Bo Schembechler privately. Jim was clear and
precise, and in no uncertain terms directed his coach not to treat him that way
again. Then in the afternoon practice, Jim again fumbled the snap from center.
This time, coach Schembechler came up to Betts and asked him civilly to run the
play again.
Bo Schembechler had no problem berating, putting the player down for
making an apparent mistake and even yelling and swearing at the player. One
example happened when Bo was having his team work on punting drills since a
punt was blocked in the previous game. Cocky Bo told his squad that he would
give $10 to any player that blocked a punt during the drills [Bo was not going
to pay anyone $10-he was confident]. Then of course, a punt got blocked and
coach ran down the playing field after Jim Brandstatter believing that this offensive
tackle missed his block and was responsible for the blocked punt. He caught up
to this huge offensive tackle, and started yelling, screaming, swearing and
hitting Jim. Line position coach Jerry Hanlon ran up to Bo telling him it
wasn’t Jim-he made his block. Bo’s response was not “I’m sorry or mistaken” but
“he needed it anyway.”
In a series of research studies [it’s not clear what the population
was, but certainly it was not a random sample], various researchers found that
when giving negative or uncivil feedback, their population performed worse on
anagram word puzzles, and were less creative during brainstorming sessions. In
fact, even if the group witnessed negative interactions, their cognitive
ability was lessened. Just think if any of these subjects had been on the
practice field with Coach Bo Schembechler.
Was Bo successful? The University of Michigan from 1969 through
1971, was victorious in 24 of 25 regular-season games. Obviously, Bo was
uncivil in his treatment of players on the practice field and it did not
interfere with their large motor activity. I don’t know if it interfered with
their solving puzzles, but they all
graduated. In fact, Jim
Brandstatter is moving his Inside Michigan Football radio program to WXYZ on Mondays. Jim Harbaugh will be on the
show with Jim Brandstatter. Coach Harbaugh played for Bo and has a similar
character structure. Jim Harbaugh has a reputation that suggests that he might
not be a good manager in the business world. But I’ll wager, that he’ll get
results on the football field. Will Jim ask his players or quarterback “Please
run that play again”; “Would you mind catching that ball”; “Thank you for
tackling that player” and “Do you think you could run a little faster?” Jim
Harbaugh’s father was a head football coach, and Jim learned as early as 10
years of age about how Bo talked to his players. The cliché “an apple doesn’t
fall far from the tree” fits here.
It’s more probable than not that these professors did not use a “random”
sample for their research. The keyword is random, which means that everyone in
the universe had an opportunity to be selected for the research. As a result, a
random just doesn’t happen. And because of that, we question their ability to
generalize with their results. Were there perhaps other variables not dealt
with, that might influence the findings? In any event, it’s clear that Bo’s
players, including Jim Harbaugh, are mentally tough, could and did take it from
their coach. That’s not to say that first they grumbled, incorporated the abuse
and finally, during the process wound up loving coach. Could the individuals in these studies take
it from Bo Schembechler, probably not? What do you believe?
Let’s be clear, Coach Jim Harbaugh’s going to bring mental and
physical toughness to his Michigan Wolverines. Those players that can’t take it
will not be starters. I’ll bet on that.
Let me add that Fritz
Seyferth, Reggie McKenzie, Frank Gusich, Jim Brandstatter, Tom Curtis, Thom Darden,
Mike Keller and Jim Betts all prospered in their other life. If you don’t
believe me, see for yourself and join us in Ann Arbor on September 17, 2015 at Sesi
Motors from 6- 8 PM for a Bo’s Warriors book signing.
Go Blue!
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