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

53 страница из 56

Noel Meyer was a defensive lineman on the 2006–09 teams. Initially a reserve, he recalled that, during his junior year when the All-American in front of him was injured, John pulled him aside. “He told me he had watched film from the previous year, and that he had no doubt that I was ready to start. This affirmation gave me much more confidence in the weeks ahead, and his encouragement did not end with that point. Take a look at John sometime during pregame stretches. While most other head coaches are in the middle of the field talking with their own coaches, opposing coaches, or the referees, John is making his way up and down the sea of red or white jerseys, shaking every player’s hand. Although he isn’t one for a ton of words to get you ‘hyped up,’ when he looks you in the eye and shakes your hand, you know that it is time to play.”

John exudes confidence in front of his 1954 Chevy Bel Air. Courtesy of Gagliardi family.

Noel continued. “John isn’t big on motivational speeches or hooting and hollering. Instead, he usually ends his pregame speech with, ‘Let’s go out there and just do it. We’ve done it in practices and games all year, and now is your time to do it again.’”