This article is not meant to bash the NCAA. Running intercollegiate athletics is an extremely hard task. The organization must be fair, swift, and profitable, all while placing the student-athletes first. It is unfortunate, however, that they have had to make some of the decisions like they did this weekend. Again, this is much more about the leadership displayed by the school than the decision by the NCAA. Here is what happened:
The NC State Wolfpack started off their run at the Louisiana Tech regional where they went 3-0 and scored 30 runs. Then they went on to face the number one team in the nation (Arkansas) at their place in the super regionals. A win in game three advanced them to the College World Series. In the CWS they beat Stanford and Vanderbilt to advance to the bracket final (one game away from the CWS finals).
Friday comes and neither team is in the dugout with minutes to go before game time. Turns out NC State had players test positive for COVID. They are left with 13 eligible players for the game. State can either forfeit the game or play it with almost nobody.
They decide to play and lose a tight game 3-1 against the best pitcher in the country. Then to follow all of that up, the NCAA releases a statement around 1:00 AM CT saying that NC State must DROP OUT OF THE CWS. I am still shocked. Let’s look at some of the takeaways from a leadership perspective.
Leaders invite a challenge.
NC State could have easily said, “there is no way we are playing with 13 guys against Vanderbilt and Kumar Rocker.” Rather than take the loss and move on to the next game, they chose to fight with one arm. It was an admirable fight, too. The pitcher that started at first base got two base hits in the game. The final score was a tight one and they were in striking distance the whole game.
I had this discussion with a third-grade student of mine, once. If you are playing a game that is truly unfair towards one side, would you rather:
A) Win 10 times in a row on the side that is better.
OR
B) Lose 9 times but win once on the side that is worse.
A lot of us want to win, but the feeling isn’t the same if it is handed to us. Leaders like a challenge and invite it.
Leaders do not place blame.
Once we have accepted the challenge, we need to accept the results. It could have been easy for head coach Elliott Avent to say, “eff this, this is BS, we got hosed.” I would have been thinking the same thing with him. But he didn’t. He said this, instead:
“This is a heartbreaking situation and I’m gutted for everyone involved and for all those that were captivated by the heart and fight of the team. Our medical staff and our players have been incredible this season with all they have done to keep us safe and get us ready to play day-in and day-out. I love this team and this past month, many people that got to watch them, fell in love as well. Although we’re all heart broken, this team will never be forgotten and will in the hearts of Wolfpack and baseball fans forever.”
I am sure inside he is steaming with anger. On the outside, he is sturdy and understanding. The players were hurting and pointing the finger wasn’t going to help anyone.
Leaders lean into the team.
Devonte Brown is a senior (junior in eligibility) outfielder for the Wolfpack. He is a leader on the team and has had a solid collegiate career. In the second inning of the skeleton-crew-game against Vandy he made an unbelievable diving catch in the OF to save extra bases. Brown was as heartbroken as anyone when the news broke that their world series journey was coming to an end.
At 2:00 AM, in a still-humid TD Ameritrade Stadium, Brown and his teammates went back out to the field for one last picture. Brown’s tweet says it all: “I love this team more than anything and couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this team.” When things get hard, leaders bring their team closer together. It is too easy to let it go the opposite direction.
I am as devastated by this decision as anyone. Things happen, and life moves on, but this one is going to sting for a while. Here is to you Coach Avent, Devonte Brown, and the rest of the NC State team. You showed us how to lead by example and handled it with class.
