Great Finishing Doesn't Always Equal a Win

I am a Davidson College Alumni.

It was absolutely from another world amazing to be upset about being one shot from the Final Four this weekend. Amazing.

And, it made me think about Great Finishers and my 7th grade soccer team.

Every year at my little school, there was a game between the 7th graders and the 8th graders. We thought this was the year for the upset. The thought of not winning NEVER entered our mind or our discussions before the game.

We played like 9th graders that day, but the game was even and nobody scored. Until in the final two minutes, the 8th graders scored and hung on to win despite how well we played.

I can still remember how upset we were, and to this day I remember the Varsity soccer coach's talk afterwards.

"The 8th graders always win. That doesn't mean that you didn't play well. I have never seen such a close game. But, the 8th graders played and lost last year, and they know what they have to do. They always win."

Davidson College almost did it. In fact, they DID do it to a lot of teams in this year's tournament.

Finishing means maximizing your abilities, living in the moment, working and playing for your teammates...all those great things that Davidson did do throughout this whole season.

But the big guys always (well almost always) win. Kansas was clearly the better, deeper and bigger team.

Davidson lost, but I think this run and this experience will inevitably take them to a different level in their lives, at the school, and of course...next year when they get to the Final Four!

Go Wildcats!