St. Peters Brings Down Kentucky! The Little Engine That Could.

The Little Engine that Could, so he did!

Most of us learn the story of The Little Engine that Could from a young age. “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” Making his way up a steep mountain with hardly any steam left to get to the top, it took a mindset that Yoda from Star Wars teaches us: “Do or do not. There is no ‘try’.” The power of the human mind can be extraordinary. At its best, it leaves no room for failure or excuses. When the mind meets the will and becomes singular in their focus, achieving even the most unlikely of goals becomes more than just possible, but probable. Ted Lasso says, “BELIEVE,” and Yoda says, “DO.” The combination of those two entities is magical. Just ask that Little Engine who finally made it to the Top.

And for you sports fans out there, another “Little Engine” made history last night in the men’s basketball March Madness playoff games. Did you fill out a bracket? If so, it is likely that this little miracle team just unraveled some of your predictions.

But don’t worry, you are not alone. Of over 17 million submitted brackets to ESPN, only 743 of those brackets remain perfect after the first round. There were several upsets that destroyed people’s brackets, but none more than the virtually unknown team from Jersey City, NJ: the Saint Peter’s Peacocks. This #15 seed took down one of the most storied men’s basketball programs of all time: the University of Kentucky Wildcats, a power-packed #2 seed in the tournament.

I definitely had a special interest in this game because two of my favorite cousins played college softball at Saint Peter’s, so I certainly watched this one a little more closely (and felt a bit more excitement in their victory) than the average onlooker. But there are lessons to be learned for all of us competitors in watching these young men from Saint Peter’s, half the size of the Kentucky men, playing in a conference that is hardly known, and yet able to take down the Wildcats on the biggest stage of college basketball.

The main lesson is that you can achieve any goal that you allow your mind to imagine. However, it takes discipline to work tirelessly, sometimes for years on end, to be capable of executing under the highest stakes and under enormous pressure. The Saint Peter’s basketball players had to draw fouls, defend against a team who had more God-given talent, make 3-point shots from 10-15 feet beyond the arc, and knock down free throws at pivotal points within the game. After the game, Head Coach Shaheen Holloway of Saint Peter’s said: “Today, we were better. And it only took us being better on this day for it to matter and for us to be able to advance.” However, it wasn’t because Saint Peter’s was only good on that one day, even though if they were to play Kentucky ten more times, they might not win again. It was because they have worked hard individually and collectively for tens of thousands of days before this one to be prepared enough to perform at that level on the one day they got to try and realize their dream of many years.

My goal is to have eight of you pitch in a DI College World Series Championship. One Illinoisan on each team. Does that goal seem too big? I sure believe it’s just the right amount of big. I love wrapping my whole business at Practice Pro around. Together, we can do it. First, you have to want to. Second, you have to believe - really believe - it is possible. Third, you have to put in a daily disciplined effort to become elite. Discipline is different than motivation. Some days you won’t be motivated, but if you are disciplined, you’ll get up and do the work anyway. Then one day, several years down the road, I’ll be cheering you on in Oklahoma City, just like James Madison fans did last year with Odicci Alexander, as she took down the National Champions, Oklahoma.

Until then, Go Peacocks! I hope you continue to stun and inspire us all.