HCGLC: From Community to Culture

Dear Crusaders, 

I hope this message finds you doing well. In a prior communication I touched upon the fact that two and a half years after the launch of the Holy Cross Gridiron Leadership Council in the fall of 2009, I see our collective efforts transitioning from merely building 'community' to establishing 'culture'. 

A community is a group that has shared interest. A culture is much more than that. A group that has a set of shared values, beliefs, and programs to promote them....that is culture!! That is what I see developing in and around the HCGLC as we work to fulfill our mission, stated as "committed to excellence in helping Holy Cross Football win on and off the field".    

Without readdressing our existing programs (Ring of Honor, Lifetime Achievement Awards, receptions, Career Nights, and more), I welcome sharing with you some new developments and programs that go straight to culture. What are they? 

Book Review: Fraternity, Ultimately a Love Story

From my blog, Sense on Cents,

In the process of navigating our economic landscape, we are perpetually encountering risks. These risks not only present themselves from the standpoint of the market and the economy but also on a much larger scale from a social, political, and personal perspective as well.

How do we learn to manage risks going forward? We are compelled to study and appreciate the lessons from the past.

To do just that, I strongly encourage people to read a recently published book which takes us back to the volatile days of the late 1960s. This literary masterpiece very personally details how a group of young African American students and the Jesuit mentor who recruited them to college took very real risks. What was the result of managing these great risks?

A foundation for long term and very real rewards. This fascinating book is Fraternity by Diane Brady. 

Save the Dates....and MUCH MORE!!

Fellow Crusaders, 

Happy New Year!! I hope you and your families had a beautiful Christmas season and that all good things lie ahead for you in 2012. Included in those good things we certainly expect there to be a healthy dose of Purple Passion and Pride!!  

With 2011 now in the rear view mirror, the HCGLC has a strong 2-plus years of foundation under our belt.  

In 2012 we look forward to further pursuing our mission, ("commitment to excellence in helping Holy Cross Football win on and off the field"). As we do so, we look to build upon the success of the HCGLC to date and transition our efforts "From Community to Culture". More on this later and throughout the year.

90 Wide Mentoring: The 3rd Edition

Fellow Crusaders, 

The mission of the Holy Cross Gridiron Leadership Council is succinctly stated as "committed to excellence in helping Holy Cross Football win on and off the field". 

Our pursuit of excellence in winning off the field is embodied in a number of initiatives but none greater than our 90-Wide Mentoring Program. 

We launched this formal mentoring program in December 2009. With two years of mentoring and relationship development under our belt, our foundation has been well established. With this message linking to the "90-Wide: The 3rd Edition" we are now well positioned to elevate our efforts and further establish a "culture of winning off the field". I thank everybody on this distribution who is helping us make that happen so we can far exceed any preconceived notions within our mission. 

Let's dare to be truly great!!    

Tom Gilmore: FINALIST for Coach of the Year

Last week I asked for your assistance in voting for Tom Gilmore as Liberty Mutual's Coach of the Year. You answered the call. 

On behalf of all those who love Holy Cross and Holy Cross Football, I thank you. 

Just yesterday, Tom Gilmore was named a FINALIST for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year. 

What are those involved in this process saying about Coach Gilmore?, 

Giving Thanks

Fellow Crusaders, 

All too often our nation, our business, our markets, our politics, and so many aspects of our lives focus on the very short term. Even our sports tend to focus on the short term as well. How many times do we seem to focus on and debate the outcome of yesterday's game without appreciating the efforts, the commitment, and the teamwork that are required to generate even a modicum of success. Dare I say the pride and passion of tradition are embodied much more in the latter than the former. 

Don't get me wrong, victories are critically important. Why else do they keep score? 

That said, as we gather together to celebrate our traditional Thanksgiving feasts, is there any doubt that our real sense of gratitude lies not in outcomes but much more in the effort expended and the relationships developed along the way. 

In that spirit and with the Holy Cross Football team having just completed its seventh straight winning season, I think there would be many on this distribution who would join me in thanking:

The Credit Goes To.....

Fellow Crusaders, 

What a world. 

With our global markets and economy continuing on a daily roller-coaster and events in the world of college athletics getting roiled by the unfolding travesty and tragedy at Penn State, where can one turn to receive a dose of meaningful integrity and admiration these days? Well, in my opinion, I think we need not look any further than the 23 seniors at Holy Cross who will take Fitton Field for the final time this coming Saturday vs Lafayette.