This season, the Indianapolis Colts have been the class of the NFL. After their 13-0 start, the talking heads and prognosticators came out of the woodwork to assess their chances of making a run at the ’72 Dolphins perfect season. Although they stumbled through their final three games (going 1-2), the Colts still clinched home field throughout the playoffs and are given 50% odds by Vegas to win the Super Bowl.
But a few weeks ago, the team was rocked with tragedy: James Dungy, the son of Colts head coach Tony Dungy, was found dead in his Florida apartment on Dec. 22, the result of an apparent suicide. Dungy took time away from his team’s storybook season to tend to the immediate and urgent needs of his family. This week’s ESPN The Magazine shares an article about how this coach and his team have dealt with this tragedy. Gary Brackett, the team’s starting middle linebacker, comments on the calm demeanor he’s come to expect from his coach. Brackett says, “We met with Coach Dungy before the funeral in a side room of the church, and that’s when most of us knew everything would be okay. He walked in with this big smile. That surprised us. Oh, the relief. He was so happy to see us, so grateful for the support. I know that when life knocks you off balance, you fall back on what you are at your core, and Coach Dungy was so full of strength and faith that it inspired many of us. It really did.”
Brackett goes on to describe the funeral ceremony. At one point during the service, Dungy approached the podium and spoke about “cherishing your loved ones and your life, about not taking anything for granted.” In life, nothing is guaranteed, the Coach said. Dungy spoke earnestly, calmly, from a place of strength. In fact, from the front of the church, Dungy was doing what he does best. He was coaching. To be sure, the opponent on this day was much more intimidating than any on-field competition. But in the midst of such tragedy and loss, Coach Dungy exhibited the same strength and poise that has become the hallmark of his team. It was a catharsis for coaches and players alike when Dungy re-joined the Colts for their final regular season tune-up before the playoffs began.
I don’t know how the Colts will finish up this season. They’ll no doubt face some formidable foes if they’re to make it to Detroit for the Big Game on Feb. 5th. But this much is certain: Tony Dungy has done so much more than educate his team about the X’s and O’s of football. He’s coached his team through a much greater game this season. And no matter how their season ends up, that makes Dungy a winner in my book. Class of the NFL, indeed.
already & not yet 
Refreshing, isn’t it, to see a good coach who instills good, moral qualities in his players. Right on man.
A great example of what “faith in the workplace” should look like. I have no firm NFL allegiances, but for this year, count me a Colts’ man. Thanks for the encouraging post.
100% agree that Coach Dungy is a class act. The Super Bowl seems quite trivial after something like this, but I hope they’re able to pull it together and win it. That would shut the mouths of a lot of critics of both Dungy and Peyton.Sorry I left you hanging last week on my desire to talk baseball. I just read that Gossage is ripping the voters for failing to put him and others like Rice, Dawson and Blyleven in. He has more saves, wins and K’s than Sutter but doesn’t get the votes?? His time for getting in may be up – voters will forget about these guys when the big names start coming up over the next few years.Also, was Johnny Damon a big waste of money for the Yanks, or is it just me? I love Damon and what he brings to the game, but last time I checked, scoring runs was not the problem the Yankees had. It was keeping other people from scoring runs. Considering how the Yankees could make no wrong moves in the 90s, they are really making up for it this decade. The best thing Damon does for them is keep him from leading off for their biggest rival. Also, like Samson, his strength is in the hair. He’s powerless as a Yankee. Hopefully, this will keep them out of the Series once again! (but Farnsworth was a good signing, unless you need him to hold a 5 run lead in a division series against one of the weakest offenses in baseball, then he’s toast.)
I’ll comment about Gossage & Sutter & the other Hall guys in my next post. As for Damon, he’s a classic Yankee signing: someone who will fill their immediate needs next season, but by the end of his contract, he’ll be yet another salary albatross. I didn’t think it was possible to acquire a center fielder with a worse throwing arm than Bernie Williams, but I was wrong. I love what he does to their offense; they’ll pretty much go Damon, Jeter, A-Rod, Sheff, Matsui, Giambi, Posada, B Will, & Cano, which could be the best lineup top to bottom any of us have ever seen. But their pitching will continue to be their weakness. For the life of me, I can’t understand why they didn’t go out and pay top dollar for AJ Burnett. You’re just not going to win any playoff series with Shawn Chacon as your #3 starter. This sounds crazy, but I think the Blue Jays may be the best team in the AL East right now. I like the moves they’ve made, even though they’ve overpaid for nearly everyone they’ve brought in. But I think they have a legit shot at winning the East. We’ll see.