Texas Tech University Athletics
Player's Blog: Winning Takes Talent
March 10, 2017 | Softball
When I was asked to write this blog, I racked my brain for a good while on what I could possibly say. Anyone that knows me knows I am no stranger to simplicity. When I looked down at my computer after 24 hours, I had written six words: leading a team is so cool.
Well that was just a terrible start considering the amount of time and effort I had put into it. Although somehow I was mentally exhausted, I realized that those six words were common knowledge amongst the public. Being a leader is attractive. It is all made up of glorious moments. It gives credit where credit is due. Everyone wants to be a leader…. Right?
I would dare to disagree. Wanting to be a leader, and living to lead are two very, very different concepts. Simply put, average people strive to be leaders, leaders strive to be champions.
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So where does that put Texas Tech softball? Right in the big middle of it. My team works tirelessly. We go when we believe we cannot, we believe when odds show we shouldn't. Our bodies are put through the relentless grind of the game and we thrive on those moments. There are nights we do not sleep and days we do not eat. Yet, we wake up. We lace up. We set out to win. It isn't always glorious. Sometimes I think we add another three hours to our 24-hour day somehow to get in extra work. Even with that, still comes failure.
Coach G told us the other day that with heart, comes vulnerability. If I could frame that and put it in the leadership repertoire I would. Leaders put so much into the game that it becomes our heart. It's almost an unbearable pain when failures arise. At that moment, though, you find a true leader. It is then when it becomes clear who has the grit and resiliency to be at the top of the team. Who will jump in head first to any situation that has the even the slightest possible outcome of winning? Who will be your champion?
Â
This year we have the best leadership I have seen in my career at Tech. The other eight seniors and I set a standard for upcoming classes to live up to. Classes below us help make sure that happens. To say the only leaders on the team are seniors, is an ignorant statement. Our team sees them consistently from the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes as well.
It'll be fun to watch the leaders come to action this weekend in Tulsa. I encourage all of you to play a game of "eye spy" and find the formed and upcoming leaders of our program. It can be a thankless job at times, but boy is it fun to ride the highs.
Â
Come to think of it, leading a team is so cool.
Guns Up!
Susan Welborn
Well that was just a terrible start considering the amount of time and effort I had put into it. Although somehow I was mentally exhausted, I realized that those six words were common knowledge amongst the public. Being a leader is attractive. It is all made up of glorious moments. It gives credit where credit is due. Everyone wants to be a leader…. Right?
I would dare to disagree. Wanting to be a leader, and living to lead are two very, very different concepts. Simply put, average people strive to be leaders, leaders strive to be champions.
Â
So where does that put Texas Tech softball? Right in the big middle of it. My team works tirelessly. We go when we believe we cannot, we believe when odds show we shouldn't. Our bodies are put through the relentless grind of the game and we thrive on those moments. There are nights we do not sleep and days we do not eat. Yet, we wake up. We lace up. We set out to win. It isn't always glorious. Sometimes I think we add another three hours to our 24-hour day somehow to get in extra work. Even with that, still comes failure.
Coach G told us the other day that with heart, comes vulnerability. If I could frame that and put it in the leadership repertoire I would. Leaders put so much into the game that it becomes our heart. It's almost an unbearable pain when failures arise. At that moment, though, you find a true leader. It is then when it becomes clear who has the grit and resiliency to be at the top of the team. Who will jump in head first to any situation that has the even the slightest possible outcome of winning? Who will be your champion?
Â
This year we have the best leadership I have seen in my career at Tech. The other eight seniors and I set a standard for upcoming classes to live up to. Classes below us help make sure that happens. To say the only leaders on the team are seniors, is an ignorant statement. Our team sees them consistently from the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes as well.
It'll be fun to watch the leaders come to action this weekend in Tulsa. I encourage all of you to play a game of "eye spy" and find the formed and upcoming leaders of our program. It can be a thankless job at times, but boy is it fun to ride the highs.
Â
Come to think of it, leading a team is so cool.
Guns Up!
Susan Welborn
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