The Beast : Sports Psychology 101

For those who haven’t figured it out yet, Al Golden is an educated man. The opposite of Randy Shannon when it comes to mastering the English language. I kid you not, there will be times when I need to look up words he uses up in the dictionary.

In the world of football, Coach Golden may be the smartest man in the room – and don’t think he doesn’t know it.

Golden was pre-law at Penn State and he earned his masters in sports psychology from Virginia. He also worked with Dr. Bob Rotella, who’s widely considered the world’s leading sports psychologist. Golden is not your typical football coach that has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and a masters in physical education.

I like smart people. I like academics and intellects. I like Al. For all of the times that I may complain about the way UM handles the media aspect of things, that doesn’t translate to my feelings about the head coach.

I usually say ‘hogwash’ to people that live their lives based on catch phrases and motivational nonsense. Still, a football team is like the military and whatever it takes to get a group of individuals to buy-in is fine with me. Even if most of it seems hokey to the outsider.

There’s only so many times I care to hear “next man in” or “bring your training to the game” but then again, Coach Golden doesn’t have to get me to gain an extra yard or make the right read on an option play.  Everyone is motivated differently and I’m sure with his expertise in the world of sports psychology he understands how to motivate much better than I do.

This week Coach Golden truly unleashed his true motivational skills. He’d used the media to help fire up his players and being someone in the media, I admit I’m selfish and I like it when there’s good fodder to work with.

The Miami head coach was more than outspoken on Monday when he criticized the left tackle play and immediately he’d created great material.

Anyone paying attention saw Golden’s words for what they were; an attempt to light a fire under junior Brandon Washington. Take coach’s words and combine it with the move of Seantrel Henderson back to left tackle and you instantly have a whole boatload of legitimate motivation.

Yes, Washington had some trouble with North Carolina’s Qunton Coples, but so would Bryant McKinnie. Coples is slated to be one of the top defensive linemen in next spring’s NFL Draft.

Washington has the talent to be the most talented player on the offensive line, even if he’s truly playing out of position at offensive tackle and not his natural spot of offensive guard.

Right now Miami needs Washington to bring his best, despite being out of position and despite the fact he’s playing hurt (re: hand).

Brandon is a sensitive and emotional kid and I have to admit, I like him. He’s probably been the most honest player to talk to this year and is quickly becoming one of those go-to players for the media, just as Brett Romberg or Joaquin Gonzalez were a decade ago.

Anyone within earshot could’ve seen and heard that Washington was taken aback by Coach Golden’s comments. That said, when you see the precision at which Golden operates, you had to know that’d be the case and that Washington would use it to fuel his fire.

All reports are that Washington has stepped up his game since and if that’s the case, than Golden’s message was heard and received loud and clear.

Maybe I’m reading too much into all of this, but after getting a feel for how Golden operates, it’s a safe assumption that he’s smarter than the majority of us. Every move is calculated and have to believe that he’s handled the Washington situation the way he has for a reason.

IN OTHER NEWS : It wasn’t surprising to see running back Lamar Miller wearing number 1.6 at practice the other day, either. Pretty close to his yards-per-carry average at North Carolina. Of course there was offensive line coach Art Kehoe interrupting a media session with the words, “nice game Lamar” directed towards Miller. I guess Golden isn’t the only coach on staff who likes to push buttons with motivational tactics.

– Regarding the Micanor Regis situation, I could spend hours of radio time talking about the situation but I won’t take up too much time.

I know dirty stuff happens in piles, but it wasn’t just one incident for Regis. During the same game he jammed his hands into a Tar Heel’s manhood he also purposely stomped on another player’s hand.

There was also another event earlier in the year that I’m not at liberty to discuss, but if you see some in the media acting less-than-surprised about Regis’ behavior it’s because last Saturday wasn’t an isolated incident.

I really hope Regis has learned from this incident. Yes, football can be a dirty game, but you don’t want to be the type of player who develops that type of reputation.

– While dining at The Titanic with Mr. allCanes Harry Rothwell earlier today, I noticed a new email in my Inbox and it was from head women’s basketball coach Katie Meier. Coach Meier wrote to personally thank me for my support of her, her girls and her program.

In all my years covering athletics at UM I’ve never received a personalized email from a coach. (Butch Davis did send me some Omaha Steaks back in the day, but that’s neither here nor there.)

Coach Meier’s email meant a lot and I can’t tell you how much I believe in both her and her team. They’re picked to finish first in the ACC and Shenise Johnson was picked as the conference player of the year, but aside from the accolades, I can’t think of a better group of coaches and players to be around.

All of you know how much I did with the women’s team last year and it’s getting revved up again this season. They might just go some pretty special places and we’re going to be there every step of the way.

Do yourself a favor. Next Wednesday is the women’s team’s fantasy camp and they’ve invited all of you to go play hoops with them for a night. I was there last year and it’s a great event. Take the family down to The U and have some fun with a great bunch of girls. I guarantee you after you’re around Katie and her group for a few minutes, you too will be a believer. For more information call 305-284-5801.

Speaking of hoops, it’s Miami Madness Thursday night at the BankUnited Center. We’ll be doing our show live from the ‘Canes version of midnight madness.

Doors at the BUC open at 7:30 and the event starts at 8pm. Make a point to be there.

– Lastly, join us for another edition of allCanes Radio this Thursday night. Former Cane Lance Hurdle will be joining us for the show as well as Platon from ProCanes.com. I also have a great interview with Tommy Streeter and Canes pitcher Eric Erickson to get to. It’s going to be a great show, and I’ll hope you join us live at the BUC.

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