Indianapolis, and Indiana as a whole, are a little more than a week removed from their surreal Super Bowl victory, and the random stories from the Colts' championship season continue to pour out.
The most intriguing story, however, is the coaching method of Tony Dungy. As a very religious man who doesn't use intimidation and fear to get his players to be the best they can, Dungy has shown respect can be earned through non-Army-like methods.
I had the pleasure of meeting the Dungy family one night while working at the Marriott in Indianapolis, and they are everything the media makes them out to be. Respectful and courteous only begin to describe them. Normally, when someone of that celebrity status pulled into the hotel, everyone was on guard to be treated like a lower-class citizen, but not with the Dungy's.
Quick side story: The worst celebrity type person that I ever had to valet for was hands down NCAA President Miles Brand. The Marriott had us leave his car up on the ramp in the "special spot," which is reserved for important people. We took care of Brand incredibly well, and the guy, who makes a few hundred thousand a year, comes out and tips us $5. Then he asks for $4 back. Very classy.
Anyway, this does have a point. If Dungy can win over 53 mean and gritty egomaniacs without fear and intimidation, then professors should be able to do the same with students.
It shouldn't be that difficult, we are only 18 to 22 year-old college kids who, for the most part, are too tired to think most of the time or are hung over. It shouldn't be that difficult to win us over and gain respect.
I would've done this lesson in a cheesy PowerPoint presentation that has some cool looking background that keeps your attention for two seconds, but since this is print, that's obviously not going to happen. So follow along professors, take some notes and only sleep if you can still make it look like you're writing something down.
Lesson 1: Be a little lighthearted. I'm not saying crack jokes and do crude stand-up comedy in place of class, but a little more joking around and being less serious every now and then wouldn't hurt. My favorite professors so far that students intently listen to and connect with include casual jokes or funny anecdotal stories in their teaching.
Lesson 2: Be a little lenient from time to time. This doesn't mean let kids walk all over you, miss class every other day and be late by 20 minutes, but if Muncie Indiana Transit System never comes (MITS: We'll be there to pick you up unless it's raining, snowing or partly cloudy) and you're late for a quiz because you had to walk to class, well, then show some compassion. There's a huge difference between compassion and weakness.
Lesson 3: Have fun. If I see you're enjoying your job and what you teach, then it's easier for me to be into the class.
This wasn't supposed to be an arrogant, whiny attempt to make classes easier, because the last thing I want to do in college is skate through it. That's not what college is about. College is about the learning experience. When students work hard and still fail because of a professor who decides the fear of failing will make a student better, then that experience is lost and nothing is really learned.
If a Super Bowl champion coach can incite his pupils by being himself, then anyone can.
Write to Ryan at bsurjsmith@gmail.com
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