Resilience
How important is resilience?
In sports, like in life, it may be the single most important barometer for success. It's easy for teams to win when everything goes right. But how often does that happen? Except for the cupcake games in the early non-conference schedule, not often.
People would understand if UNC lost this game after the first half beating Duke handed them. The Blue Devils were scoring at will and controlled the glass. Everyone not named Caleb Wilson was shooting dreadfully. Failure almost seemed assured.
But UNC did not quit. They circled the wagons and attacked the second half with clear eyes and full hearts. Even when UNC cut Duke's lead to single digits, just to watch the Blue Devils hit big shots to stretch their lead out again, the Tar Heels did not quit.
Perhaps the greatest example of resiliency was Seth Trimble. With the score tied and less than a minute left in the game, Hubert Davis called a timeout to draw up a play to take UNC's first lead of the game. Trimble took the ball to the hoop but had it slapped out of his hands, onto his leg, and out of bounds, handing Duke a chance to win the game.
That kind of setback is a devastating blow, and you'd understand if Trimble hung his head and looked to have a teammate take decisive action at the next attempt. But that's not what Seth Trimble is made of. When his name was called again with two seconds left in the game, he did not hesitate to put up a shot that will live forever.
This basketball game is just one of many that these players will remember playing. They'll remember the score and situation, and what their coach instructed them to do. How will you remember it as a fan? It will be a thrilling memory, of course. You'll like any posts that appear on your timeline and forward them to your group chat.
But the next time there's a setback in your life, think of Seth Trimble and think of this team. Maybe you're behind your classmates in reading level and are struggling to sound out words. Maybe you get cut from varsity and have to spend the year on JV. Perhaps you get waitlisted or flat-out rejected by your dream school. Maybe you blow an interview for a job you've coveted after graduation. Maybe you don't get that promotion you've been angling for, and have to smile at work in front of your co-workers the next day. These things are all hard to swallow. But with resilience, you can overcome these obstacles, and you have to believe me when I tell you that when you come out of the other side, you'll be happier than you can ever imagine. If you don't believe me, listen to Seth and his teammates after they won.