When Syracuse football coach Dino Babers talks to his team, he has one thing he's relied on heavily over the past year.
When Syracuse football coach Dino Babers talks to his team, he has one thing he's relied on heavily over the past year.
Among Babers' many gifts is his ability to tell stories. To explain the phrase, Babers recalled his former college coach, the late Dick Toomey, and how he used it constantly with his teams.
When I was 18, I was like, 'What the hell is she talking about? Less difficult?' I want to date her, I want her to be my wife -- 'try less hard.' I want to be a head coach... 'Try less hard.' What does that mean?" Babers said.
To get where he wanted to go, he felt he had to try harder than anyone else and then a little extra on top of that.
As you get older, if you have the skills, if you have the ability, if it's going to happen, all you can do is relax," said Babers, now 61. I interviewed for the head-coaching job when I I wanted the job so bad, and I never got the job.
The first time I did an interview I said, 'You know what? I will get a job. If I don't, I don't. Well, I got to work. I feel invincible when I have that attitude.