What Texas’ BCS Loss Taught Me About Team Building

By
Colin
– 01/08/2010Posted in: Dallas, Featured, General

Given the hype that surrounded the game, I feel sorry for my Texas friends.  I wanted UT to win, but it just wasn’t in the cards.  Unfortunately, the loss of Heisman nominee Colt McCoy was just too much to overcome.

But it got me thinking…

What can a manager learn about team building from the loss?

Don’t build around a single player

The 2009 Texas Longhorns were built around a single player, Colt McCoy.  And with good reason.  McCoy had over 3,500 passing yards and 27 touchdowns this season.  There’s a reason he was nominated for a Heisman.

But without Colt McCoy at the helm, the offense fell apart for much of the game.  Colt’s backup, Freshman Garrett Gilbert gave a valiant effort in the game, but ultimately lost out to inexperience and a lack of playing time.

It’s the way the Patriots build their teams (yes, I’m a fan).  Yes, they have Tom Brady and Randy Moss, true superstars in every sense of the word.  But they also had players like Matt Cassel, who stepped in for an injured Brady in 2008 and led the Patriots to an 11-5 record.

Management takeaway: Build your team with a healthy mix of superstars and role players – you’ll need them both.

Train your understudies

There was no way the Longhorns could have expected to lose McCoy for this game.  No one ever expects to lose a star player in the middle of the most important game of the season.  But the best teams (and the best managers) prepare for it just the same.

What if Gilbert had been given a few more reps during practice?  Or had been brought into more 4th quarter blowouts?  Things might have been a little different.  Those first few offensive possessions might not have looked so bad.

Management takeaway: Always be grooming your understudies.  When the stars leave, it means you’ll always have a capable replacement waiting in the wings.

Be prepared for change

It was clear that when McCoy went down, UT just didn’t know what to do on offense.  It took some regrouping at half time to eventually figure it out, but at the start, they were clueless.

Almost all of UT’s offensive game plan revolved around Colt McCoy’s strengths, which meant that when he got injured, most of the offense went with him.

If you lost your best player, how long would it take your team to regroup?  Could you afford the loss?

Management takeaway: Don’t build your business around a single person.  And if you have done that, start diversifying.

Develop multiple strengths

Some people will forget, UT had two groups on the field who were equally capable of winning the game.

The offense and the defense.

McCoy’s loss seemed to almost single-handedly cripple UT’s defense as well.  What if the D had been just a little bit better?  What if they were able to stop one, or even two more of Alabama’s offensive drives?  Better yet, what if the defense added a touchdown or two themselves?

The outcome could have been much different, and would have added more weight to the Longhorns’ second half comeback.

Management takeaway: Don’t rely on a single strength.  If your team is good at creative, but lacking in strategic planning, then start cultivating strategic planning skills.

What are your best tips for building successful teams?

Photo Credit

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About Colin

Colin Alsheimer is an Account Supervisor for Weber Shandwick and the VP of Promotions for the Social Media Club of Dallas, among other things.