Raheem Says “Mentality Before Reality”
November 1st, 2010
Joe’s played on enough sports teams and lived enough of life to know the power of visualization and believing in one’s abilities.
If you don’t feel the goal, see yourself obtaining it in your head 1,000 times and attack it relentlessly, there’s little chance of success.
From Muhammad Ali, perhaps the best self-motivator of all time who was The Greatest before he was champion, to Deepak Chopra’s “field of all possibilities” and countless great sports coaches across America in between, they all harnessed and preached the power of visualization.
And that’s essentially what Raheem Morris is doing now by keeping his foot on the pedal of the “best in the NFC” chatter.
During his news conference today, Raheem explained further that he is pushing “mentality before reality.” When Joe heard of this one-liner, it drove Joe nuts because he recognized the mantra but couldn’t remember from where.
Via the magic of the Internet, Joe realized it came from Raheem himself, shortly after getting the Bucs job.
During the lead up to the 2009 Super Bowl, Lakeland Ledger Bucs beat writer Rick Brown wrote a feature about young Mike Tomlin coaching the Steelers and Raheem talked about his friend and mentor.
“His attention to detail,” really influenced me,” the new Bucs coach said. “The way we set up pretty much our lesson plans, the way we got our message across, (the) different teaching styles that he taught me.
“It’s always mentality before reality. Mike Tomlin has been coaching Super Bowls for years in his own mind. Right now, he just made it a reality for himself. We just believe in that. That’s what he instilled in me and, of course, he’s had it already, a little bit of that swagger we talked about before.”
Joe’s all in favor of what Raheem’s doing. It’s a personal development method that, from reading above, is obviously part of his core beliefs. And if you’re going to sell this kind of mindset to you team, you might as well put your balls on the table and take it to the media.
Joe’s just not sure Raheem will know precisely how to handle it effectively when/if the Bucs lose a game and are no longer the “best in the NFC.” That’s probably his next great challenge in the locker room.
As for the Falcons’ getting their jock straps all twisted over the Bucs being the “best in the NFC,” so writes Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, Joe thinks this is more of a distraction for Atlanta than a motivator. They should be far more worried about LeGarrette Blount and Josh Freeman.
Right now, Joe’s visualizing Rachel Watson joining him to watch Monday Night Football and asking to meet all of Joe’s halftime needs.
Mentality before reality.
November 1st, 2010 at 8:39 pm
“Right now, Joe’s visualizing Rachel Watson joining him to watch Monday Night Football and asking to meet all of Joe’s halftime needs.
Mentality before reality.”
Ha!
November 1st, 2010 at 8:44 pm
I think he’ll handle the loss very well. We all see him stumble and bumble through interviews and press conferences, but when you the behind the scenes, candid footage of Rah, he is a different guy. As a public speaker he struggles, as a coach, a mentor, and a leader of men he really excells.
I think the Glazers saw alot of Tony Dungy like qualities in Rah, and that’s why he is our coach today. He’s got alot to learn for sure, but all young coaches do. All I know is he has this team playing better than anyone expected. He has these guys believing, and on the field he has out coached Marvin Lewis, Ken Wisenhunt, Eric Mangini, John Fox, and Steve Spagnuola.
I think he’s got a bright future here in Tampa, and I’m really glad I’m not one of the morons that have been bashing him since day one. He may not be an “offensive genius” like Gruden, but he’s already shown he’s a better at coaching young men, building chemistry and confidence, and rebuilding a team. I think the guy deserves some praise, and I’m glad to see him get it.
November 1st, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Amen, J Double.
Well said.
I really love the attitude of mentality before reality.
I’ll admit it, I’m inspired by the guy.
November 1st, 2010 at 9:15 pm
I have to give the Bucs’ Brass some love today. They called me today about my weekly STH Game Survey. I told the young man that it is a real problem at the press conferences because you can never hear the reporter’s questions. I said please talk to Coach Rah, Grella or whomever and get the reporters mic’d up, or a boom mic, or tell them to yell their questions. Sometimes you can make out who Rah is referring to, but other times you can not. I reiterated this point to him again and said go march into Grella or Coach and make this happen, now, please. This has been a problem for a long time. When Rah came on at 4PM, you could finally hear the questions, loud and clear. So good job Grella, or Coach, or the young man that called me and made it happen. Press conferences are now more complete, if they keep it up. But this is the reporter’s responsibility to be heard and today they have been bailed out. These conferences are for the fans but for too long the reporters have thought it was just for and all about them with their week voices and whispering of questions. If they teach you anything in the Suck, it’s to speak loud, clear and make damn sure they hear you.
November 1st, 2010 at 9:27 pm
I will have to say that I never had a problem with Morris I just thought he was under qualified but he has shown me that he knows what he is doing and these guys love to play for him which will end up helping his progression even more in this league
November 1st, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Thats funny…my motto for my sales company is:
Mentality + Behavior = Results
Go Raheem!
November 1st, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Thanks Raheem for acknowledging that the front seven is far from finished and you definitely see the same things we see. Thats all we can ask from you! We can improve as the Bucs improve too.
November 1st, 2010 at 11:05 pm
“When we were 3-13 last year they showed up and those are the same people that are showing up this year. I’ll roll with them any day.” – Stylez
Hell yeah, Stylez, I’m with ya buddy
November 1st, 2010 at 11:21 pm
I agree 100% with JDouble that he will handle the loss very well, even though we see him stumble and bumble through interviews and press conferences, behind the scenes, he is a different guy. As a public speaker he struggles, as a coach, a mentor, and a leader of men he really excels. I think he’s got a bright future here in Tampa.
November 2nd, 2010 at 9:37 am
Why does everyone assume we’ll lose?
Isn’t this the same ATL team we almost beat last year, granted no Matt Ryan.
We are a FAR better team now than we were.
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:36 am
bucfanjeff:
Two things:
You sort of answered your own question with two comments you had.
1) Isn’t this the same ATL team we almost beat last year
2) granted no Matt Ryan.