Leadership Is Influence
by aubtigerman on Jan 11, 2012 1:24 AM CST
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It's been a good week for Gene Chizik and Auburn with the hiring of Brian VanGorder for Defensive Coordinator. But the good news really started Sunday night when Phillip Lutzenkerchen, the team's offensive MVP, announced he would not be declaring for the NFL draft and would return for his senior year.
When Gene Chizik heard the news he remarked, " We're looking forward to Philip returning for his senior season ... (he) will help provide great leadership for our team in 2012."
The importance of the announcement is huge for Auburn's 2012 season. The Tigers' second team All-SEC Tight End was the lead blocker for the SEC's fourth best rushing attack, and led all Auburn receivers with seven touchdowns. He scored game winning catches in this year's South Carolina game as well as in last year's historic Iron Bowl.
However, the importance of Phillip's decision to return is far more important than just another skilled player being available to the offense. The real significance of his decision is the leadership that he brings to the field.
The truth is that every year there are a vast number of athletes that possess tremendous athletic ability but are lacking in the area of leadership. It's also true that not all great athletes are leaders (e.g. Mike Dyer). Lutzenkirchen on the other hand has proven himself as a selfless player who is willing to do whatever it takes for the good of the team.
Anyone who has ever seen Phillip play can attest not only to his natural ability but to his enthusiasm, his energy, and the inspiration he brings to the game.
Best selling author John Maxwell says that "Leadership is influence." If that maxim is true, and I believe it is, Lutz's influence will be vital to the success of the Tigers in 2012.
The Sports Illustrated All-American holds the school record for TD's by a tight end with 14 scores on 44 receptions. That's one touchdown for every 3rd reception. Impressive stats .Yet if he had not committed himself to the unselfish task of lead blocker out of the backfield this year, his personal numbers would be even higher. But with leaders it's not about personal glory, it's about the team.
There are a lot of intangibles to success in the game of football including talent, coaching, scheduling, and of course luck. But the most important ingredient may be having good leaders on the field. Players that inspire and influence the team to pull it off when times are tough.
Lutz told Phillip Marshall this week that he feels good about where the Auburn program is headed, "We are going to have another legitimate shot at getting to the national championship with so many people returning and another good recruiting class coming in."
Players like Phillip Lutzenkirchen , Emory Blake, and Onterio McCalebb, know what it's like to go to the mountain top and they are ready to lead the younger players back to that pinnacle. Lutz and company just might do that too, after all...
"Leadership is influence."
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I totally agree with the premise...
Leadership is influence….
but we are taking the shiney people pills again. I realize this could change on a dime depending on who Chizik hires as OC… (not to mention whom he has hired for DC)… but don’t look now… our recruiting is suffering.
Down from our preseason high of #6 to a low of #17…. and it may continue to drop. We need to finish on a high note to propel us into the spring.
This all depends on Chizik and his staff. I hope the man can fully right the ship. Because the handwritting is on the wall for AU if we want another championship I believe. It’s ours for the taking. I think Chizik sees this too.
LSU will be talented… but I suspect this team has severe emotional issues. And please note… we play them early.
bama won’t be the same team either. Not to mention there will be changes in the staff.
Who else is there? UGA. UF?
If Chizik’s man does his job on defense…. we won’t have a problem with the doggies. And I suspect UF will still have some growing to do.
That leaves Auburn. And with the talent we got…. and hope to get…. I think it’s highly probable that AU can clinch the SEC with a little luck and compete for yet another National Championship.
WDE
We don’t play Florida next year—-they got switched for Vandy….It’s not signing day, yet. These 17/18 year olds still have time to flippity flip.
"We see the door; we're here to knock it down"-Cam Newton
"I got moves like BADGER!"- LSU Jonno
by Tiger on the mountain on Jan 11, 2012 8:51 AM CST up reply actions
Oh.... I think they will.
Interesting to note… the top prospect in the state wasn’t TJ Yeldon… but J. Winston – 5 star QB. He was supposed to be on campus this weekend but now will not be. It is suspected the reason for his change in plans was because we didn’t have a coordinator. However, AU will have another opportunity to see him before signing day.
And I do realize we do not play Florida. I was simply looking at the competition.
Speaking for me, I certainly do not mind if we play USC in the SEC CC instead of a rematch with UGA or a game with UF. I figure we will still know USC pretty good.
WDE
Until we establish a solid QB..
… we won’t be competing for the West. Not to mention, there might only be one upper-classman starting on the o-line next year. I think AU can make some noise next year, but winning the west is a tall task.
Your recruiting “worries” are premature. Auburn would be much higher in the current rankings if they as many commitments as most of the schools above them. Lets pass judgement after signing day.
And I didn't mean to be negative here for all the shiney happy people....
Just pointing out we need to keep our eyes on the prize. And everything right now isn’t going our way. It’s better than what was going on in early December… but it could be much, much better depending on whom we hire as OC.
We gotta finish strong in recruiting. That is the major indicator of a program. Again…. its just an opinion. :)
WDE
Great to hear Lutzie will return
Now we just have to answer the QB question. Again. Anyone know of a badass JUCO looking to transfer?
by SEC Supremacist on Jan 11, 2012 8:30 AM CST reply actions
I like the leadership coming back next year.....
we’ll see steady improvement.
"We see the door; we're here to knock it down"-Cam Newton
"I got moves like BADGER!"- LSU Jonno
by Tiger on the mountain on Jan 11, 2012 8:51 AM CST reply actions
Another threadjack alert...
Two things, Brian VanGorder has been introduced as DC, and Zeke Pike is in Auburn filling out his enrollment paperwork.
WAR EAGLE!
Come and join me at http://trackemtigers.com
YAY!!!!
"We see the door; we're here to knock it down"-Cam Newton
"I got moves like BADGER!"- LSU Jonno
by Tiger on the mountain on Jan 11, 2012 11:43 AM CST up reply actions
I watched the introduction and you can too...
It’s on AU’s main atheletic page. Look for news conference @ 1030AM.
Let me tell you…. I am stoked out our outlook on DEFENSE. This guy looks and sounds MEAN.
GRRRRRR
I am guessing when he is “teaching” he is an animated dude. Not Muschamp animated… a more controlled kind.
This guy looks REAL. And I likee! Now if we can only get our OC!!!!
Come on CHIZ!!!!
WDE
Oh BVG is the real deal.
Dawg fan has been crying the blues ever since he left and lamenting the loss of fire and attitude that the defense had under his watch. He was considered Richts enforcer, the guy who made folks toe the line. You WILL play like your hair is on fire for BVG or you won’t play….he puts up with no BS….and he has the frame and physicality to back it up.
I know this, if you are playing for BVG AND CGC….you better bring you hardhat, lunchpail and blue collar work ethic or else you might as well go home because you aren’t going to enjoy your time on the Plains.
I love the smell of Auburn in the autumn.....it smells like....victory.
Guys...
I have to express disappointment…
Why don’t we have another thread on Van Gorder yet?
It's Auburn against the world. Good luck world.
I plan to do something a little later ...
If one of the other editors doesn’t get to it sooner. Jay’s thread on Monday gave a place for members to discuss the hire. And I would expect to see something about him in KB’s Friday Ramblings.
AubTigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
by aubtigerman on Jan 11, 2012 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
Cool!
By the way, Vicodin Diaries return this week. I just haven’t had the ability to write since my friend passed. His memorial service was finished with a great big War Eagle!
It's Auburn against the world. Good luck world.
Know what you mean Sparkey
I have gone through the same thing of late. Wish the best for you and your friend’s family.
AubTigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
by aubtigerman on Jan 11, 2012 12:08 PM CST up reply actions
I am thrilled at who Chizik brought in to DC...
I also think we will have another HUGE grab on offense. That said, it does hurt recruiting. Period. There’s no way it doesn’t. That’s the facts but that doesn’t mean I think Chizik is wrong. However, we will only finish in the top 10 at best by the top recruiting sites. After a national championship, I’m really disappointed. We are having a class equal to Chizik’s first year. Honestly, I think it comes directly back to the coordinators not being named. I am thrilled with what Chizik did, but you have to take the good with the bad. It cost us recruits. That’s life. Still, we are definitely in good hands. War Eagle everybody!
It's Auburn against the world. Good luck world.
Agree but ...
You have to wait sometimes to get the guy you want. Chizik could not announce anything about VanGorder till after the Falcons’ season was over. As frustrated as we may have been waiting on the announcements, it has to be tougher on Chiz and crew.
AubTigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
by aubtigerman on Jan 11, 2012 12:05 PM CST up reply actions
I know...
and like I said I don’t disagree with Chizik. I’m just saying it most certainly did hurt is in recruiting. The schools negatively recruited us and they are more negatively recruiting us on the offensive side of the ball than they ever have. So, it is going to cost us some 4 or 5 star talent.
It's Auburn against the world. Good luck world.
I think we just learned with Dyer...
That getting the big splashy recruit isn’t as important as getting guys that will come in, work hard, become leaders and stay through their Senior year.
As much as Cam did for us last year, it was those Senior leaders, like Kodi Burns that really carried this team. Some of those guys came in as heralded recruits and others didn’t. There is no doubt that if you want to win a national championship you have to recruit the top talent year in and year out but they still have to be good kids and not some piece of meat with 4Stars next to their name. We will survive having a down year….especially if BVG comes in and really brings that tough, attacking defense he had while he was at UGA…we will just to really rake some talent next year. But one or two guys that can shore up an area of need will really turn things around for us.
I love the smell of Auburn in the autumn.....it smells like....victory.
Kodi Burns is a perfect example of the Leadership that is needed on the team.
His selfless example, determination, and ‘team’ attitude had a lot to do with the success of 2010. Thanks for bringing up his name.
AubTigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT
I actually just looked at our commitments....
and we should be fine. We have some stud LB’s and CB’s coming in. A big stud running back and QB. A 4* OL and WR, a couple of developmental TE’s and few more lineman that have the frame to develop into starters on both sides of the ball. And thats with only 15 commits. We still have room to have a helluva class. What we need is a stud Defensive tackle, a big hitting safety, and a couple more developmental lineman.
I would be nice to have 25 recruits that are all 4 or 5 stars but its you only have so many open spots each year and sometimes those recruits become the most disappointing because they don’t feel they need to work hard if they aren’t starters.
I love the smell of Auburn in the autumn.....it smells like....victory.
Big weekend....
coming up. We have some big names coming. And we have had some big names bow out. Still – I think we have time.
WDE
Okay...
First of all, it’s not about the X’s and the O’s, it’s about the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s. If don’t have the recruiting, you don’t play for the championship.
I’m glad you just looked at our commitments. If you were like me, you would have been keeping up with it since February of last year and you would know that recruits who had Auburn leading have been picking other schools right and left. The latest example was Deon Bush who inexplicably went to Miami. Why in the world any kid would go there is beyond me. They very well might get the death penalty. LSU and Alabama and Auburn for that matter have been dominating recruiting these last three years. Auburn must keep the players rolling in to stay up with those two in our division. Kirby Smart and John Chavis are as good as you get X’s and O’s wise as well so you’ve got to be pulling in top talent at all 25 spots and accepting anything less than that will make us have what we had last season where Tubberville left us with nothing.
It's Auburn against the world. Good luck world.
But even BVG said...
it was an EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL PROCESS.
He even was overly complimentary saying that AU didn’t have to sell anything. He thought it was obvious how excited he was for the opportunity to be at AU.
My concern is the OC.
And right now it appears that AU and UA are competing for the same guy – Koetting or the guy from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
WDE
Not to threadjack, again...
But I just saw on the twitterz and Dirk Koetter is interviewing at Bama today (via Adam Shefter and @coachingsearch)……….
"We see the door; we're here to knock it down"-Cam Newton
"I got moves like BADGER!"- LSU Jonno
by Tiger on the mountain on Jan 11, 2012 3:13 PM CST reply actions
The biggest thing about being a leader...
….is doing the right things, even when it’s hard. Great leaders have that ability to be unmoved, even in the face of criticism. You can talk all you want about demanding this or that, or accountability. Real leaders walk the walk first.
…..This is why we are fired up about Lutzenkirchen and McCalebb coming back. They’ve dug into the tough stuff, and done the unpleasant things without complaint. You’re a sure-fire NFL tight end, but you’re asked to play lead-blocker fullback. Done. You’re asked to pick up the blitz with a 170-pound body against an SEC linebacker. Done.
......Drowning in cool elixir.
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