The Mental Edge; Attacking Doubt

Penn State is often referred to as “Linebacker U,” but through the years they have been blessed with a bevy of great running backs. Lenny Moore, Franco Harris, Lydell Mitchell, John Cappelletti, Curt Warner, Booker Moore, Matt Suey, Steve Smith, Tim Manoa, DJ Dozier, Ritchie Anderson, Leroy Thompson, Sam Gash, Gary Brown, Kijana Carter and most recently Saquon Barkley — just to name a few.

In my third year I witnessed one of the great ones have a mental breakthrough that I have never forgotten. His name was Blair Thomas.

As a junior in 1987, Blair rushed for 1,414 yards on 268 carries and 11 touchdowns. He was certainly well on his way to an illustrious career to extend the long line of greatness at the position. He was quiet and likeable but also a fierce competitor who was respected and loved by his teammates. Unfortunately Blair experienced a devasting knee injury and he was lost for the entire 1988 campaign. Blair was without question one of the hardest workers that I have ever been around. He rehabilitated like crazy and set his sights on a full recovery with his extraordinary skill level intact.

Blair returned to action in the fall of 1989. The reconstructive surgery in that decade was a lot more invasive than they are today. Many athletes returned to the field of play never regaining the mobility they once possessed. Blair was extremely quick, elusive and fast. His lateral quickness was exceptional and best described as explosive because of the violent, low to the ground cuts he would make to avoid tacklers. It was absolutely impossible for one defender to tackle him in the open field.

Now Blair had to wear a brace on his surgically repaired knee. We could all see his frustration in not being able to do the same things he was accustomed to doing on the field. It wore on him for a number weeks at the start of the season.

I was coaching the quarterbacks at Penn State during that time and we always wanted to set the tone by being the first guys on the practice field and the last ones to leave. After putting the QB’s through their paces and debriefing the practice we walked out of Holuba Hall, our indoor practice facility complex. Blair had also begun staying out after practice to work on the small details of his craft trying to get back to normal.

One of the challenging things about the sport of football is the high rate of injury. Although most of the injuries do not require surgery, many of them do. The difficulty of coming back from an injury is a traumatic experience. The rehabilitation process is a physically grueling, time intensive, mentally draining endeavor which takes a toll on your psyche. Even after the doctors, physical therapist and trainers release you with a clean bill of health and sign off on a return to action the mental battled rages on.

Although the knee is completely repaired, healed and in most cases after surgery, stronger than it has ever been. Convincing yourself that you can’t hurt it again is an internal struggle which often lasts an extended period of time post surgery.

One evening after practice, I had walked with the quarterbacks across the parking lot into the locker room, showered, changed my clothes and then I remember I left my 7on7 cards in Holuba. Tom Venturino, who supervised the facility, had dimmed the lights and there appeared to be no one around. I walked in an noticed a silhouette in the distance. It was Blair!

He was running through a bag drill that Coach Fran Ganter used as a staple to perfect the ability to cut and avoid defenders. I stood in the hallway and watched Blair. He ran through the bags, once, twice, three times and you could see he was not pleased with his performance. Then I saw the breakthrough! He stopped ripped the knee brace off in disgust, threw it to the ground, tucked the football under his arm and attacked the bag drill with the violent, slashing, cutting like the Blair of old.

Blair finished the season rushing for over 100 yards in 6 consecutive games, gaining 1,341 yards in 264 carries and 5 touchdowns. He earned All-American honors and selected 2nd overall by the New York Jets in the 1990 NFL draft. In order to unleash his physical gifts and regain a foothold on greatness, Blair had to throw caution to the wind and conquer his fears.

At some point in our lives we will fail, get rejected, suffer an injury or experience a critical major medical event. We will have to fight our way back. There will be a crossroad where you will have to make a decision to attack or succumb to your fears. When that moment arrives, I encourage you to use Blair’s example as a source of inspiration and Attack Doubt.