University of Kentucky Football: The Motivation of a Community
When we think of football we think of tailgating, men, beer, celebration, strength, players, and a general atmosphere of pride filled fans cheering on their team of choice. When I think of football, my preconceptions are the same as everyone else’s. However, my preconceptions are blinded by a lack of knowledge about football. I go to the game and watch the game, but I really don’t pay attention. I see the players trying to get the ball from one end zone to the next to get points but I really have no clue as to the real meaning of football. However, I do enjoy the pregame atmosphere exerted and the competition. Before each game a fan will prepare his or herself for the excitement and action about to be witnessed. The staff, players, and coaches go through routine schedules to ensure that everybody is fully prepared to take on that week’s opponent. Saturday now has a new meaning; it is no longer a day of the week, it is known as game day for the rest of the season. It is a never ending cycle that fans, staff, coaches, and players alike will continue to cherish as the tradition progresses. For the University of Kentucky Football Organization this tradition has persisted since 1881. However, what is the story behind the general perceived atmosphere? Is there more to football than what I really even understand or perceive? As I have researched the University of Kentucky Football Organization, I have discovered that the answers to these two questions are yes. Game day is hidden by this ever lingering façade that hinders a fan or observer from understanding the true motivation of the organization on an individual level as well as a whole. There is more to the atmosphere and more to the game than what we can simply see by observing; if we take a step back and analyze the entire football organization, its meaning, and purpose we may be able to discover the true motivation of a uniquely bonded community.
A community is defined as “a unified body of individuals as: a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community?show=0&t=1289947425). The University of Kentucky Football Organization is only a small subdivision of the University of Kentucky (UK). However, like many athletic organizations, preconceived notices reveal that being a part of this community requires a lot of time, motivation, and applied learning in order to be successful on an individual level and as a whole. As a whole, this paper will analyze the University of Kentucky Football Organization and how this organization can be classified as a community by identifying the common motivation throughout it. I am going to discuss how my preconceptions have been effaced by focusing on the motivation within the organization as a whole, within an interpersonal level among the individuals within the organization, and how the fan’s provide a motivational influence on the organization.
An Organization’s Motivation
The University of Kentucky Football Organization has received a lot of recognition as it has continued to grow into a well established athletic organization and this is easy to preconceive without knowing much about football. This organization has had many notable firsts and accomplishments as well as a few notable coaches and players throughout the years. For example, the University of Kentucky was the first school in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to win the College Football Association Academic Achievement Award (http://www.secsportsfan.com/kentucky-wildcats-football-history.html). The University of Kentucky is also noted to have had “the best all-time SEC football coach,” Paul “Bear” Bryant (1946-1953) (http://www.secsportsfan.com/kentucky-wildcats-football-history.html). Overall, the organization has gained an irrefutable reputation that staff, coaches, and players are driven to maintain.
Source of Motivation
According to Zach Taylor, the running back manager of the University of Kentucky Football Team, the organization’s motivation as a whole this year is to help build off the success of Coach Brooks and to help Coach Phillips continue the football program (personal communication, November 1, 2010). In order to assure that the reputation is upheld, a central theme of “oneness” has been established by first season head coach, Joker Phillips. Oneness is defined as “the quality or state or fact of being one as: singleness: integrity, wholeness: harmony: sameness, identity: unity, union” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oneness). An image used to associate oneness to the integrity of the football organization has been the heart. The heart beats as one within the body thus signifying how the Kentucky Football Organization should become one in order to be effective. Before every game, the players of the University of Kentucky become motivated by the inspiration of “oneness” by clapping the “lub-dub” sound the heart makes. During K Week at the University of Kentucky, I was able to see how this concept of “oneness” is effective by participating in the continuum of clapping the sounds of the heart. It was during K Week that the entire freshmen Class of 2014 at the University of Kentucky were lead by two of the football players to make us realize this sense of “oneness” and how this is a true motivational factor. “Oneness” can also be applied to the University of Kentucky Football Organization as a whole in regards to its motivation be successful. Once a foundation has been established, there are expectations of growing and regrouping. Majority of the University of Kentucky Football Organization’s motivation has been carved by previous seasons. However, its success is determined by the individuals within the organization coming together with a sense of “oneness” in order to achieve accomplishments. Since 1881, football at the University of Kentucky has developed into a rich program with many accomplishments. Each member of the University of Kentucky Football Organization has worked individually to maintain tradition and build upon the foundation that has already been laid; by coming together as a motivated whole, the program is sure to continue its success. As stated by Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success” (http://wilderdom.com/teambuilding/Quotes.html). The organization has come together but the individual’s within the organization are who need to work to keep it together.
Individual Motivation
There are many preconceived notices about the Kentucky Football Organization from observing the community during games in regards to the individual motivation. A person can easily identify that the University of Kentucky Football Organization has a lot of motivation. However, the true source of the individual motivation is not easily identified. This is because of the façade that preconceived notices exert. For example, when I think about a football player, I think of a hefty man who is obviously motivated to exert a tremendous amount of power to tackle the opposing player because he can. However, I soon discovered that in order to efface some of my preconceptions as well as others, the source of individual motivation has to be discovered through interaction and analysis.
Becoming the Best
Imagine the strength you have to exert in order to tackle somebody who may be twice your size; the amount of force each player exerts is incredible. Sometimes it is not just a tackle; it is strength so powerful that the person sends the opposing player flying backwards through the air. What is the drive that allows a player of the University of Kentucky Football Organization to play to their full potential? Becoming the best to beat the best was an evident theme during a group interview with a few of the University of Kentucky football players (Chris, Toba, Lionel, personal communication, November 7, 2010.) Each player discussed what they felt was their motivation and a commonality of becoming the best was present. Even during an interview with Zach Taylor, the running back manager of the University of Kentucky Football Team, he stated that his motivation is to do his best because whatever he is going to put into something, he is going to get out of it (personal communication, November 1, 2010). Because of this commonality among two very different components of the organization, an inference of unity is depicted and the sense of “oneness” within the University of Kentucky Football Organization is supported.
Overcoming Diversity
Football in general is about teamwork and when you have a team working together with the same goals and motivation, success is evident regardless of individual diversity. When a Quarterback is present in the offensive line of scrimmage, he relies on his offensive linemen to protect him while he tries to make an offensive play in order to achieve a first down or touchdown. For the University of Kentucky Football Organization, diversity makes each individual unique but each individual is an important key to the success of the organization. Regardless of race, color, location, etc, the football team will work together to be successful. There are individuals that are a part of the organization from all around the United States coming together to be a part of this organization and make it a success. In order to be a part of this organization, you have to put aside everything and create “oneness” to determine its success. You experience everything together whether that is a win, a loss, or a personal experience. Your personal contribution is significant regardless of everything that may make you unique. “As you get better as an individual, you get better as a team” (Zach Taylor, personal communication, November 1, 2010). Therefore, a family-like bond is present in order to develop trust with one another, putting their differences aside for the sake of the team, strengthening the individual motivation as well as the team’s motivation.
A Fan’s Motivational Influence
Until you have been directly involved in athletics, a person may not understand the motivational influence its fans. I have always known that the fans can create a huge motivational factor; this is because I was a part of high school varsity athletics and the fans helped to motivate my team to help us achieve a victory. However, the University of Kentucky Football Organization has a large fan base that has continued to grow with the organization’s success. The fan base has also been a part of the community’s success with its ongoing support during the football season.
Motivation on the Organization
The University of Kentucky Football Organization has several fan communities of which play a large part in the motivation of the organization. Without the motivation of its fans, the organization may not be as successful as a whole. An athletic team uses the energy supplied by the fans for individual and team motivation. While at a University of Kentucky football game I can easily observe that when the fans are on their feet cheering on the team, more energy is seemingly exerted by the players. The players feel a sense of pride and motivation to please the fans, thus leading to a more successful team. However, when the fans are not partaking in the motivation of the athletes, a lacking of energy is evident. Fans are a key factor in the physical motivation of the team and organization.
However, a fan’s motivation does not just affect the way a game is played. A fan can determine the success of the organization as a whole from a financial perspective. Without the monies to support an organization, the organization would not be successful. As stated by Mitch Barnhart, the athletic director of the University of Kentucky during an interview at the University of Kentucky’s Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) worship service, between the money for tickets and concession, the University of Kentucky Football Organization earns about 2 million dollars a game (personal communication, November 18, 2010). Therefore, the fans play a major part in the organization’s motivation that will contribute to the success of the organization as a whole both physically and financially.
Motivation Leads to Success
Overall, the motivation of the University of Kentucky Football Organization is founded within itself, its reputation, and its fans. While the stereotypical preconceptions of the organizations motivation lingers, the true motivation is evident within the depths of the organization. The organization can be defined as a community on many different levels. However, the definition of the University of Kentucky Football Organization can be interpreted as a sense of “oneness” that fuels the motivation of its continued success. Throughout the research process and interviews, I have been able to understand what it is truly like to experience “oneness.” Instead of going to the games and just watching them, I now know to take in account each underlying factor, dissecting the motivation and the success of the organization.
The University of Kentucky has always been known for its basketball program. However, President Todd stated in response to hiring new staff for the football organization in 2003 during an athletic booster meeting that “last year (2002) was proof that Kentucky can be more than a one-sport state” (Piecoro.,2003.) Although that day has not come yet, the University of Kentucky Football Organization is still working to establish that title for its university. The organization is highly motivated to continue its success in several different ways and on several different levels. The success of the organization is discovered through the analysis of its motivation, which is proven to be very strong through the organization’s sense of “oneness.”
In conclusion, football for me is not the same as it once was. I look past the preconceived notices to discover what the University of Kentucky Football Organization’s motivation is. Like the heart is deep to the skin, the true motivation is deep to this community’s façade.
References
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Piecoro. J.J. (2003). Minutes. Proceedings of the University of Kentucky athletic association board of directors meeting,
