Читать книгу A Legacy Unrivaled. The Story of John Gagliardi онлайн

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Mark Smith was an Academic All-American defensive back in 1995 and had this to say about John’s high expectations: “He was able to capture the true meaning behind playing sports and used football as a vehicle that guided so many young men into being successful husbands, fathers, and ‘professionals’ in the truest sense of the word. He demanded excellence through setting the bar high and convinced all those who played that excellence was the only option. His expectations of nothing short of perfection stand out to me.”

John’s high expectations were evident in how he handled himself during games. He remained stoic—even when the team was playing very well. Looking at his facial expression, it would be tough to know if the team was in a dogfight or up by fifty points. He expected success, so when it happened, he was not surprised. As Mark said, “He also is a master at making what would be exceptional to most teams as being ordinary everyday occurrences. I can remember him guiding young players to harness their enthusiasm after big plays so that they could make more big plays. A one-handed catch, a big hit, and a touchdown were all plays that you should make. There was nothing special about it.”