Texas Football and Culture Battles

In the old Green Bay Packers locker room, Vince Lombardi hung a sign that read:

“What you see here, what you say here, let it stay here when you leave here.”

It was one of the first things Lombardi posted when he arrived in 1959. Lombardi had no issue with players airing their dirty laundry amongst themselves, as long as they didn’t do so in public.

The message is over 60 years old, written long before social media, cable news and 24/7 sports on TV. But while it may have been meant for the local papers and television back then, the message has become more important than ever today.

Recently, University of Texas senior defensive lineman Moro Ojomo aired complaints about his teammates and detailed how they’re hindering the Longhorns program.

“They’re 18 and want to chase women, chase money, and chase alcohol,” Ojomo said. “They don’t see the future. They’re very distracted by what is in front of them — that’s a hard thing, especially for guys who haven’t been in a winning culture.”

Coach Steve Sarkisian wasn’t pleased with his player’s remarks.

“Culture is always challenging. Culture is organic,” Sarkisian said. “And I think Moro would be the first one to tell you, I think he’d love to have some of the things he said back.”

Sarkisian continued by calling it “a little disheartening” that one player’s comments made it seem as if Texas has a locker room full of uninterested players.

“But it was said, and it was written, and so that’s OK,” Sarkisian added. “But what we do internally, what we do in house is more important to me.”

Sarkisian and Texas love to recruit five-star high school players, the best of the best from Texas. It sounds great in theory, but unless his program spends time de-recruiting, it will fall prey to what Ojomo said. Winning culture begins with the type of players selected.

Most of those players feel entitled and expect favoritism, believing that what they accomplished in high school matters. But once they’re enrolled, Sarkisian or a leader on any level must demand a change of behavior.

Either they quickly adapt or they quickly exit. De-recruiting always begins with:

1. Making each player understand the name on the front is more important than the name on the back. Remind each player the ranking system ended the day they signed. No one has a star next to their name. No one cares about your high school glory days.

2. Playing time is earned, never given. Adherence to the team rules is the first threshold toward earning playing time. Parents can call and discuss academics or social life, but never playtime. Playtime is sacred and only given to team players.

3. Teach work habits. Every player honestly believes they work hard, but their idea of hard work and the culture are rarely aligned.

4. When someone on the team violates the code of conduct, no matter how talented, they must be confronted, corrected, and controlled in his future role. If the culture plays favorites, then there is no culture.

Ojomo did Sarkisian a favor. Now he knows the depth of his cultural problems and must work accordingly.

Then, he needs to hang Lombardi’s sign in his locker room.