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. 

HCGLC Suggestion Box

Holy Cross Gridiron Leadership Council Mission: committed to excellence in helping the Holy Cross Crusaders win on and off the field. 

Fellow Crusaders, 

I hope this communication finds you and yours all doing well. As I write, our Crusaders are riding the crest of a two game winning streak and poised for a huge league matchup this Saturday at Fitton Field against the resurgent Georgetown Hoyas. With every game from here on in effectively a 'playoff' game let's give the men a huge home field advantage on Saturday at Fitton for Family Day. 

Please bring your pride, your passion, and your immediate and extended families to Fitton this Saturday. Give another Hoiah and a Chu Chu rah rah.....LET'S WIN!!   

Other notes of importance include: 

"I Hate Losing..."

Fellow Crusaders,

Who doesn't hate losing? But then who is willing to put in the requisite effort and has the ability to lead a team to success? 

There is a quote in a newspaper today which address losing. There is another quote highlighted just below and captured in an interview almost eight years ago which addresses effort. 

"We have to begin this process by outworking other people in all areas.  A great work ethic can solve a lot of problems, but we also have to improve on other fronts .......

"I believe that Holy Cross will climb back to the top of the Patriot League ........." 

Talk about keeping one's word. Tom Gilmore and our Crusaders have put in huge effort over the years. 

This year's contingent will look to rebound tomorrow at Fitton Field against the Big Green of Dartmouth on Kid's Day. Bring your own kids and all their buddies. 

What does Coach Gilmore have to say about tomorrow's game? From today's Worcester Telegram, 

"I hate losing, maybe more than anyone in the world..."