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SEAL Evolution Complete

Sep. 13, 2012

Well, they made it!  I know from speaking to several of the guys before this week that there was some doubt as to whether they’d make it through the training this week.  Not only did our guys make it and not quit, but they excelled. They were leaders, they were committed, and they were winners.  My sense of pride in this team is off the charts.

As I sit at my desk now and try to get focused on work, I can’t help but get sad that it’s over.  I wish that Chief Stella could be with us all season.  I’m sure that most of our guys are sort of glad he can’t from a practice perspective, but from a leadership perspective he’s an incredible guy and we will miss him.  I’ve learned and absorbed more in 3 days from him and Instructor Justin than I have in all of my years coaching and leading. 

Chief Stella’s story and the story of his SEAL teammates also hit home and provided a stark reminder that while we are not at war officially, our brave men and women in uniform (many of which are the same age as our guys) are being the ultimate team players every day.  After everyone had gone and it was just Chief, Instructor Justin, and myself he mentioned that he was soon retiring (after more than 20 years in the Navy with most of them in the SEAL teams) because it was getting harder and harder to tell his 13 year old daughter that he might not make it back after each team deployment to Afghanistan or other hot zones.  His frank nature of the statement was stunning.  We hear about the losses our of brave men and women in battle on the news and while sad, there is some distance between us…a safe zone; but here the SEAL that we had worked with all week and that was no further than 2  feet away from me was telling me stories of how he’s seen teammates make the ultimate sacrifice and not make it home to their families. 

That experience just made me appreciate even more the 3 days that we got to spend learning from Chief Stella and his team.  If we have learned even 1% of his discipline, commitment to service, sacrifice, and humility then we are better men then we were last week. 

While Chief Stella won’t be watching and helping to correct our breakdowns in communication and attention to detail anymore; it does not mean that our emphasis on those things ends today.  In fact things don’t get any easier from here.  For us to be the team we have set our goals to be, we must find a way to continue the lessons we’ve learned this week: the work ethic, the communication, the attention to detail; throughout the rest of the fall and all throughout spring. 

To do that we’ve got to continue to be leaders, be committed, be warriors, and be winners.

That being said, I believe we have the men to make that happen.  Several individuals stood out during the training this week and their efforts combined with their commitment to the team and their technical ability deserves recognition.  Therefore, it is my pleasure to announce that for the 2012-2013 seasons, we have selected and announced our Team Captains and Boat Crew Leaders at the conclusion of this morning’s training.  (Part of our training going forward is going to involve a lot of small team activities and competition and instead of just calling them teams, we have decided to continue using the term “boat crew” that we picked up this week as just a subtle reminder of the lessons we’ve learned. )

Your 2012-2013 OU Lacrosse Team Captains are:

Dalton Gibson
Mason Moore
Pete Kitsos
Nate Dickey
Jay Stouffer

Your 2012-2013 OU Lacrosse Boat Crew Leaders are:

Nick Ierullo
Maddy Dye
Kyle Hendon
Jack Tighe

As I mentioned before; these men have earned these critical leadership positions by being among the very best mentally, technically, physically, and from a leadership standpoint. I have no doubt that they will lead this team from the front and help us to achieve our goals.

In closing this week has been one of struggle and triumph, discomfort and glory, emotion and pride.  I felt before this event that it would be team-changing and there is no doubt that our team is changed for the better! But this event has certainly changed my life and I look forward to translating those lessons, that hard work, and this week into the foundation of our championship year.

I Will Not Fail!