“Who Are You Really?” Coach Pagano’s Wise Words for All of Us

I was a Kansas State University athlete, which meant I had the honor of playing under one of the best college football coaches of all time, Bill Snyder.  While I was there, it was all too easy to start identifying myself as “one of the team.” Everywhere I went,  wildcat gear could be found. Plus, games would be broadcast nationally every week.

It was a little heady.

That’s why this story about Chuck Pagano struck me so much.  He was only 3 games into his first season coaching the Colts when he was diagnosed with leukemia. Thankfully, it was a treatable form, but he had to leave his team for 12 games to undergo treatment. How would they fare with such a crisis in the middle of an already-transitional season?

No one needed to worry. Coach Pagano had already established the principles that would carry the team through this challenge – and with a winning record.

Pagano came out of that season with his own comeback story. He beat that leukemia and was back coaching his team in the post-season. What got him through?

Pagano drew strength from the triumvirate of “faith, family, and football.” His new book Sidelined: Overcoming Odds through Unity, Passion, and Perseverance with Bruce A. Tollner tells his story.

In the foreword, former Colts head coach Tony Dungy says readers will be “impressed with the inner strength and determination of” Pagano and his wife, Tina.

But I know that’s not what they’ll want you to come away with after reading the book. They will want you to see what God can do with a family, and a team, who have faith in God and a love for each other that can overcome even the toughest of circumstances.

The Paganos received lots of support from their new football team family. Players wore orange gloves to promote leukemia awareness. #Chuckstrong trended on social media. A couple cheerleaders even shaved their heads for donations to leukemia research.

The hospital gave Pagano an alias to avoid publicity at first. They called him “The Rock,” but Pagano says the strength to endure didn’t come from him. He and his wife Tina both believe “Christ is the solid Rock who would see us through this,” Pagano wrote.

We don’t wear our beliefs on our sleeve or try to force them on others. We just try to place our trust in God and let our actions reflect our beliefs.

Football is not who we are; it’s what we do. As players and coaches, it doesn’t define us. Family does. Faith does. You’re defined by how you play the game, not by the game itself.

How awesome that a leukemia diagnosis is now giving Pagano a platform to speak out about his faith and the God who healed him.  Also, I love that he says football is not who we are.  It’s what we do.

This applies to all of you.

“Being an attorney” is not who you are, it’s what you do.

“Working at Walmart” is not who you are, it’s what you do.

“Teaching school” is not who you are, it’s what you do.

“Waiting tables” is not who you are, it’s what you do.

Who are you?

Really?

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