Character Essay: Quiet Strength By Tony Dungy

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The novel Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy, one of the most successful football coaches ever in the National Football League. From reading the novel I have attained many valuable life lessons that I could carry with me for the rest of my life. The lessons I have been taught are overcoming adversity, striving for you goals, and what it takes to become a champion. The book Quiet Strength is about a coach that had to overcome many situations because of his race and size. Coach Dungy started his college football career playing for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers being a successful defensive end. He further went on to play three seasons in the National Football League. Dungy played for the Pittsburg Steelers and the San …show more content…
He said in the novel, “When you don’t achieve your goals it doesn’t mean you have failed, you only fail when you don’t try” (Dungy 219). What he wanted in a player was a man who was willing to put in the 110 percent. He didn’t care if you screw up as long as you are giving it your absolute all. At practice he would always say you better be working like a dog. He credits the players for all their hard work during the 2007 Super Bowl season. He thought that they weren’t the fastest, strongest, or best team, but he always thought they were the hardest working team. Most coaches have many philosophies when it comes to football, but Dundy expects you to be respectful to your family, friends, coaches, teammates, and the organization you play for. He had taught me that my character doesn’t just affect me, yet it affects my family, my team, and my city that I should all set a good example of good character. Dungy didn’t just teach his men the game of football, yet he taught them many important aspects on life and how to be a better person everyday. Since I have read this novel I strive so my character represents my team, family, friends, and my city in a better way every …show more content…
Tony believes there are two types of champions, one is how a good of person one is, and the other is one who wins championships on the field. Tony believes that you should judge a person on how they are as a person, not how successful they’re in a sport. Dungy said, “Everyday I strive to be a better man than I was the day before” (Dungy 304). Tony is a strong believer in God and Jesus Christ and they push travels often with his wife Lauren. Since his retirement from being a NFL coach he has been living a blithe life. As a coach Dungy knows what it takes to be a champion. Being a champion takes a lot of extra hours studying game film, extra practices, and coaching meetings to discuss the most successful way to win a game. Dungy elaborated a little bit in the novel on how much behind the scenes work is done as a football coach. He has to have individual meetings with most of his players every week to discus his expectation from them. Tony is an ardent coach. Tony Dungy is inducted into the NFL’s Hall of Fame, which is the biggest honor as an athlete. There are many reasons why coach Dungy is a champion on and off the football

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