<\/p>\n
Midway through the second half of a close and pivotal game against Texas Southern during the 1967 football season, Coach Eddie Robinson\u2019s Grambling team mounted a drive. It ended abruptly when Grambling\u2019s center threw a forearm at the nose tackle who had been dominating him. A referee penalized Grambling and ejected the center from the game.<\/p>\n
When the center, Thomas Ross, reached the sideline, Robinson was waiting. Yet he did not strike Ross. He did not curse him. He did not even shout at him. Instead, in controlled, staccato bursts, he delivered a lesson about character and teamwork.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have satisfied yourself,\u201d\u009d Robinson said. \u201cYou got him back. But we told you about stability and self-control. Now you think about us. We don\u2019t have a center, and we got to play the rest of the game.\u201d\u009d Robinson motioned to the other players, standing on the sideline or sitting on the bench. \u201cLook at what you did. Look at the people you let down.\u201d\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n