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We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
IT WAS TIME. I figured I had waited long enough. Darkness had fallen on that winter evening, two days after our team's business had concluded for the season. The building was otherwise deserted as I pulled up and parked at the small wooden shack guarding the entrance to One Buccaneer Place.
One Buc, as we all called it, stood quiet. The one-story, stucco and concrete block building was located on the edge of the Tampa International Airport. The color of butter pecan ice cream, this was the original building that housed the newly formed Buccaneers in 1976. Rather than expand the building as the organization exploded in size over the years-as personnel were added for coaching, scouting, marketing, public relations, ticketing, and other functions-the Bucs had simply added a series of trailers on the other side of a small parking lot in the late 1990s. The trailers were collectively known as Two Buc.
Oscar, the guard on duty, escortedme through the locked gate on the side of the building; my security code no longer worked. Silently I gathered six years' worth of my professional life from my office-three-ring binders with notes, play diagrams, and play-calling sheets; various books and photographs; my sons' video games; and a couple of Buccaneers hats, although I'd never wear them again. I was lost in my memories as I placed these things rather haphazardly in cardboard boxes thoughtfully left out for me by my administrative assistant. No, I realized, Lora is somebody else's administrative assistant now.
I stopped to contemplate a wood-framed picture in the stack. It had been taken our first year in Tampa, and we were all beaming: my daughter, Tiara; my sons, Jamie and Eric; my wife, Lauren; and me. The stadium grass behind us was a vibrant green, the shade of an Irish meadow, sliced into five-yard increments by crisp, white stripes. A teeming throng of humanity, dressed in orange and red and squinting in the unforgiving Florida sun, filled the stands in the picture's background.
The summer of 1996 had been a long time ago.
Now, in the winter of 2002, that same Florida sky was dark. Dark, cold, and damp. The mist that had begun in the afternoon had turned to light drops. The weather mirrored my dark inner world on that night of January 14.
* * *
I finished packing the last of the items. Not that much, really. A few boxes stood by the door, ready to be carried home. Nothing else of note remained. That office of mine had been lived in pretty hard, I had to admit. Most of the homework completed by my sons Jamie and Eric over the previous six years had been done in there, and the office had seen countless games of catch, video-game competitions, and other pursuits geared around young boys.
I later learned that Rich McKay, general manager of the Bucs during my tenure as head coach, had asked the facility manager to clean and paint the office that week, noting that my replacement was "about to move into an office that two boys have been living in every day for the last six years."
As I wrapped things up, I noticed that the light drops falling outside had turned into a heavy rain.
I should have just walked out, since by then it was getting late. Instead, I wandered out of my office and through the building, stopping in the coaches' locker room. Standing in the middle of the room, I let my gaze sweep over the cramped, worn twelve-by-fifteen room. I looked from locker to locker, reading some names, imagining others.
Monte Kiffin. Chris Foerster. Clyde Christensen. Rod Marinelli.
We had shared this locker room and many memories, these men and I. We had spent hours, weeks, and years together. These men had walked off the frozen, concrete-hard synthetic turf in Philadelphia with me just two days earlier, their careers critically stung by the Bucs' 31-9 loss. So much had been at stake for all of us-and the players too-yet the outcome had never really been in doubt.
It was a difficult season punctuated by a painful ending.
And now God had something different in mind for all of us.
I tried to take solace in the things we had accomplished together-three straight playoff appearances, more wins than any other staff in team history-but they seemed hollow, even within me. I stared at the lockers, the enormity of the moment suddenly overwhelming as I remembered names of guys long gone from my staff.
Lovie Smith. Herm Edwards. Mike Shula.
The prognosticators had been circling for weeks. And amid season-long rumors that a new head coach was being courted, their speculations had finally become reality. I had been fired. Many of the assistant coaches-maybe all of them-would be let go as well. They would all come out fine. I knew that. But I also ached for the inevitable pain I knew they would face as they dealt with the uncertainty of their futures, that their children would face when they were uprooted from their schools, that their wives would face when ripped from their support systems.
Joe Barry. Mike Tomlin. Alan Williams. Jim Caldwell.
These men had just come that year. Why did they have to go? It was hard to figure. My family had come to Tampa for a reason. God had led us here, opened doors that we didn't expect would be open, and allowed us to connect deeply with this community. But for what purpose?
Not football, apparently. I felt certain that the Buccaneers were my best, and possibly last, chance to lead an NFL team. For whatever reason, God had closed the door. For what? Possibly some sort of ministry. I was heavily involved in the All Pro Dad organization and Abe Brown's prison ministry, both based in Tampa, as well as our church, Idlewild Baptist Central. Maybe God was trying to turn my focus toward those.
But did He have to close this door already?
And close it so firmly?
It really was hard to fathom. I had been faithful, hadn't I? So faithful in the mission that surely-surely-it was going to be blessed by Him. I had come here in 1996 with dreams of creating an organization based on values and character, and my staff and I had succeeded in doing just that. But God obviously wanted something else from me now.
It wasn't really the firing itself that was a shock but rather the thought that God was allowing this great experiment to end. Hadn't we tried to do things right?
Oscar reappeared. It was late, approaching midnight.
I walked out, traversing a path between the squat racks, benches, and other weight-lifting machines in the weight area attached to the building. A cool mist blew in under the awning, dampening my forty-six-year-old face. This half of the weight room was outside and open on its ends and side, but at least the Glazers, the Bucs' owners, had partially covered it with a vinyl awning. Although the weights were cooled and heated-mostly heated-according to the daily whims of the southwest Florida climate, they were usually out of direct reach of the elements.
I looked to my left, past the row of squat racks and away from the building. Through the dark and rain, I could barely make out the two shadowy practice fields. The runway lights of the airport were clearly visible just yards beyond.
Where was the burning bush? Where was that still, small voice? Or, even better, the loud, booming one.
The only voice I could hear clearly was my own, crying out in the wilderness. When will I hear Your voice, Lord?
I returned from my thoughts as Oscar quickly maneuvered between and around the weight machines to beat me to the next door. He pressed the electronic pad, releasing the magnetic lock on the chain-link gate that separated the weight area and practice fields from the waiting parking lot.
* * *
The Bay News 9 reporter had been waiting all night for this shot. For two days, news trucks had been parked along the street, on the front lawn, in the surrounding ditches-wherever they could fit close to One Buc.
I thought everyone had abandoned the vigil hours earlier, when the Buccaneers had issued a statement that there would be a press conference the following morning. But on a hunch, this reporter had doubled back in the dark and rain, and he was about to hit the jackpot.
He must have seen my head over the dark green screen of the fence; he began filming just as I carried the boxes through the gate and into the open area. He was across the street, sitting in the back of a news van on airport property, but given the narrow street and small parking area, he was no more than fifty feet away. The lens on his video camera more than compensated for that short distance as I walked directly toward him.
His nighttime footage of me would air repeatedly over the next several days. Everyone in the Tampa viewing area would have multiple opportunities to see Tony Dungy, former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, placing boxes into his SUV in the pouring rain.
As I drove away from One Buc, I knew that my real and painful experience of being fired was an all-too-common part of the human condition in the young 21st century. I reminded myself that it was temporary. I took comfort in the knowledge that this, too, would pass. But my emotions were a mixture of peace and bewilderment with a swirl of unanswered questions.
What's next? What could we have done differently?
I kept driving, across Columbus Drive and up Dale Mabry Highway. I went past Raymond James Stadium, where I'd experienced so many highs. Fittingly, it was now empty. As I reached Bearss Avenue, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I kept reminding myself that I would move on, that things would turn out all right professionally, that Lauren and the children were resilient enough to handle all of this. And it was obvious to me that God had something else for us, or He wouldn't have closed off what we were doing with the Bucs.
When will I hear Your voice, Lord? Soon, I hope.
I knew everything would ultimately be fine, but at that moment-on that rain-swept night of January 14, 2002-my Explorer and my spirits traveled under the same dark clouds.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from QUIET STRENGTH by TONY DUNGY NATHAN WHITAKER Copyright © 2007 by Tony Dungy. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Chase-W
Posted January 11, 2009
"Quiet Strength" by NFL head coach of the Indianapolis Colts Tony Dungy. When I first picked up this book I expected it to be mostly about football, and nothing else. Some of it was about football but what surprised me, and what I think made it such a good book was that Dungy did not only speak about football but about real life as well. I also learned much more about Tony Dungy in this book. When he describes his life growing up, and as an NFL head coach there is virtually no difference between the two. He does not like to gloat to everyone that he is an NFL head coach who has won a super bowl. Instead he lets everyone know that his life is the same as ours. In some parts of the book he talks about taking his kids to school, but he also says he is doing it on his way to work. Not going to coach an NFL team. This tells a lot about his personality, and that he is a regular guy that just happens to coach and NFL team. Dungy also makes you think about your life. He talks about how many NFL teams require their coaches to stay at work late at night, and watching tapes of previous games. When he is the head coach he makes sure that all the coaches and him get home at a reasonable time so that they can spend time with their families which are more important than the game of football. This book makes you think about yourself, but it also tells a lot about Tony Dungy. If you like books that allow you to relax this is a good one for you. I would give this book an A+!!!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Book Review on Quiet Strength
Exciting, harsh, and heartbreaking! Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker received **** from me for this excellent book. The book talks about how Tony is successful in life and how he does it using a calm sense of passion as a coach, and as a person. Tony started off his career as a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Later he was traded to the terrible San Francisco 49ers. After Tony retires. A few years later he became the defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2002 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would defeat the heavily favored Oakland Raiders. Later after winning,
Tony would take the Head Coaching job for the Indianapolis Colts. He had great years over there. But something tragic hit the Dungy family. The family would be without their beloved member, Jason. Tony was devastated. But this didn't stop him from coaching. He kept coaching and helped the Colts win 12 games, and a division pennant. Unfortunately the Colts were to be knocked out of the opening round against the Pittsburgh Steelers who would go off to win the Super Bowl that year. In the book, Tony teaches us that you don't have to be a hardheaded person, to be able to win a football game or life. A memory that would last in Tony's mind for a lifetime was when his Indianapolis Colts were down big at half time to the New England Patriots. It was the American Football Conference finals. The winner gets a chance to win the Super Bowl. So in the locker room, Tony remained calm and told his players to take action on the field, and to stay in the game mentally. His players followed what he told them to do and in the end the Colts defeat the Patriots and move on to play in the Super Bowl where they would crown themselves champions of the world over the Chicago Bears. He then shows that even the quietest people can have success in life, and can still get threw peoples head so they can understand. Tony also does not act different on the football field as he does with his family. He even wants his children to succeed and win but also winning isn't everything. His decisions weren't all based on what he or people made, but what he thought God himself would do.
I would say Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy along with Nathan Whitaker did a great job on this book because I thought both he and Nathan did a solid job on writing this book, and definitely should feel good that they wrote a novel that doesn't only talk about football. But how to live a better life in general. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to see what the NFL coaches are really like, or if you just like to plain flat out read
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.TampaBayFan
Posted January 24, 2009
I lived in Tampa for 20 years before moving to San Diego. I was a Buccaneer fan that attended quite a few games that were coached by Coach Dungy. His book is great as well as his recollection of the Tampa Bay Bucs games. I too was so inspired by his walk with the Lord through the valleys.<BR/><BR/>His insight to his coaching changes was especially interesting as well as him asking guidance from God to help in these decisions. Especially funny was when his wife wanted to go from the frigid north to sunny Tampa.<BR/><BR/>I knew Coach Dungy was something else, to turn around that sad sack of a team the Buccaneers. But,now upon reading this book, I realize what a great man he is.<BR/><BR/>He will definitely be an inspiration to me and my family.<BR/><BR/>Way to go Coach.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 4, 2011
I have read a few sports books and Christian books, but this was the first I have read that combines both these genres together in a Christ-centered way. I was inspired by the way Dungy reflected on stories about his football journey and walk with God during that time. For football fans, athletes, and people in leadership roles this book on humble roots and tough love is something that should not be passed up.
Tony Dungy led the Indianapolis Colts to Super Bowl victory on February 4, 2007, the first time an African American coach won the Super Bowl. He also is known as one of the NFL¿s best coaches.
Tony Dungy¿s words and example of living a Christ filled life has intrigued millions of people, particularly following his victory in Super Bowl 41, the first for an African American coach. Dungy went through some grueling times and yet lead his team to victory. How is it possible for anyone to be successful without compromising faith and family? In this inspiring and reflective book, Coach Dungy tells the story of a life lived for God and family and challenges us all to rethink our ideas of what it means to succeed. Quiet Strength is such an inspiring book that shows what it means to incorporate faith into work and leadership.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 20, 2011
As a believer myself & a huge football fan, I was very moved & inspired by this book. I actually bought it as a gift for my husband, but once I read the first few pages, I literally could not put it down!!! It definitely stirred my heart to be extraordinary in all the ordinary things. Read it & you WILL enjoy it!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I could not put this book down. It was written in an easy manner to read. I liked the way coach Dungy wrote about the ups and downs in his life while keeping his faith in God.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 8, 2010
Tony Dungy is a true winner at everything he does. I am not the biggest fan of the Indianapolis Colts. In fact I rooted for the Saints in the Super Bowl. But I very sad the day that Tony Dungy retired from coaching. A big reason for why I was sad was because i read this book. Even though he had a dream job of coaching a Super Bowl winning team and having Peyton Manning as his quarterback, he still suffered great heartbreak. He talks about how he is able to overcome the loss of his son when he commited suicide. His adopted son has a great disorder to where he is unable to feel pain. He was even fired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the year before Tampa won Super Bowl XXXVII. However he is still a humble servant of the lord and when he won Super Bowl XLI he gave all glory to God. In his book he talks about being a good role model and winning the right way. He also mentions how to deal with great adversity such as the loss of a child. He has walked through the valleys and has faced the giants and still he is a rock when it comes to his faith. This book is a great inspiration to be a roll model for others and that anyone can overcome anythng at anytime when life gets hard. It is a great book and I recomend it for the whole family.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Outstanding book
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 11, 2008
This book is about the struggles and perseverance¿s in the world of Tony Dungy. It dates all the way back the time that Tony Dungy was a teenager. Growing up just outside of Detroit all the boys thought that they were going to graduate high school and then go and work at the car factory. But Tony¿s parents wouldn¿t have that and they pushed him to do what ever he wanted to do. Tony ended up playing football for Minnesota and playing for the Steelers and even won a super bowl with them. It goes on to tell how he delt with struggles in his coaching career, as well as family life. <BR/>I loved the description and detail of all the stories in this book, but what I like more than that was the insight on the situations that Tony Dungy was in. This book was sort of like an inside scoop on what happened through all the controversies that he had to deal with, it was really very cool. The only part of the book that I didn¿t like was the part where Tony¿s son died. This was a very emotional part of the book and was probably one of the saddest things that I have every read.<BR/>I would defiantly recommend this book for any one; it is a great read and a very enjoyable book. Especially if you are a sports fan or like a book with some one who overcomes a lot of adversity and still stays strong. If I were to give an overall rating on this book it would defiantly be at least four and a half stars, it is a great book and you should defiantly check it out.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.As a Tony Dungy fan, I"m not sure if I can be objective, but I will try. This book can serve as an inspiration for all. Coach Dungy reveals that fame, fortune, and not even his faith in God, makes him immune from life's perils. He also shows how this same faith in God helps him and has helped him to overcome obstacles in his life including the loss of his son through suicide. If you have experienced the ups and downs of life, then you will relate to Coach Dungy. Once you begin reading it, you won't want to put it down.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.A truly inspring story from a man who doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk. It's about character, integrity, self confidence & perserverance. Coach Dungy shows us the real way to come out on top, not just in football, but in life.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 22, 2007
For those of you who do not really enjoy reading books on faith (I am one). I urge you to reconsider and read this book. I am a HUGE COLTS FAN, which is why I wanted to read this book, but it is a PERFECT mix of Tony Dungys faith and football, so macho guys (such as myself) can still read and enjoy this book as can the more faith inspired people. 5/5!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 21, 2013
"Quiet Strength" by NFL head coach of the Indianapolis Colts Tony Dungy has been one of the most influential books that I have ever read it. It got to me on many diffident levels and has changed my view of many things such as sports and how to handle the challenges in my life and even my own faith. This book gives readers a glimpse into Tony Dungy’s life not only as a coach and player in the NFL but all so as a man. He shares many of the struggles he faced in his life. One of them being the discrimination he faced as one of the first black head coach’s in the NFL. And being a man of God facing all of the struggles and heart breaks that we all face today. One of the most Importation points in this book is that even through all of this troubles and disappointments including the loss of his son James. It was his strong faith in God that made him able to conquer all of his adversity.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Jackbu12
Posted December 4, 2012
Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy is a book about the life of Tony Dungy. He is a football coach and discusses the importance of faith when it comes to leadership. The book discusses his whole life up through where he is today. It goes over story after story and gives advice on how to handle situations when it comes to leadership. And even more so how to become a man of God. For this review I will focus on the leadership aspect of the books and how he dealt with situations of conflict.
I am currently an athlete and in a leadership position on my team. So I found this book particularly helpful in that aspect. There were things I could relate to and it made it an enjoyable read. The title goes into the way that he leads his teams. He is not one to yell and rarely gets mad. This is where we differ. I am someone who plays with emotion. If you were to see me during a game you would be able to tell what I am thinking based off of my facial expression. This is not always a good thing and that is something I learned from this book. I need to be able to control my emotions in order to lead in an effective way. At the same time I somewhat disagreed with the idea to stay calm no matter what. In the face of conflict I think that as a leader you need to stay calm, but when something positive happens I am all for showing positive emotion. I believe it motivates teammates and it is definitely something I try to bring to the table on a daily basis. God has gifted me to play and I am thankful for that and I am going to use those gifts to glorify him and I think that can be done by playing with excitement.
iannai
Posted December 3, 2012
Ian Engstrom
Yost 11:10
Book review
12/3/2012
Quiet Strength
I read Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy. I really enjoyed this book, the author does a great job of painting a picture of what his experiences were like. He tells you about the experiences then shows how they changed him. Then at the end when you look back the book you see each event and how they worked together and how he reached the point he is at. the book is very deep and shows how his football coaching career not only effected him but also his family. He also used things that happened within his family to give "lessons" to the reader. Tony Dungy does a great job of showing how faith not only impacted his decisions pertaining to football but also his life decisions. He also went over how his son's suicide effected the family and explained what was going on with them during that time. It was interesting to hear how they used the loss of their son as a platform to show the healing power of Christ. The title of the book is spot on and describes Tony Dungy well. He is a quiet man yet after reading this book you realize how strong he really is spiritually and as a leader.
2323BS
Posted December 3, 2012
j
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Posted December 1, 2012
Quiet Strength
By Tony Dungy
The book “Quiet Strength” written by Tony Dungy was an excellent read, one in which I would greatly recommend to anyone over the age of 16. The book turned out to be a very enjoyable read, one in which proved to be quite insightful, more so than originally expected. The beginning part of the book talks mostly about Dungy’s early years as a child and young adult and how his childhood helped shape him into the man in which he is today. Like any person, Tony was faced with many difficulties and challenges throughout life and he does an outstanding job of portraying how exactly those events affected him in both his short NFL stint as a player and also as a coach. The way in which author Dungy addresses his struggles is truly awe-inspiring. He is powerful and obedient man of God, who tries his very best to live out his life how God would see fit. That includes his understanding of how God would help him through his struggles as a young man, family man, husband, and coach in the NFL, as long as he placed all of his troubles and worries onto God. Tony Dungy’s road to the Super Bowl was by no means an easy one and he does an excellent job in his book “Quiet Strength” addressing how God helped him every step of the way. A true work of art portraying God’s power and unconditional love.
Anonymous
Posted November 23, 2012
Awesome book!
Anonymous
Posted November 18, 2012
Truly motivational using the unique pace and faith of a man who really does believe God's timing is best.
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Posted November 17, 2012
Tony Dungy's book "Quiet Faith" is a well written composition that blends stories of his time as a football player/coach and the impact Christ had on his journey. Dungy's adherence to his Christian values as he led his various football teams is inspirational and transcends professions which makes his book appealing to Christian leaders working in any arena.
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Overview
Tony Dungy's words and example have intrigued millions of people, particularly following his victory in Super Bowl XLI, the first for an African American coach. How is it possible for a coach—especially a football coach—to win the respect of his players and lead them to the Super Bowl without the screaming histrionics, the profanities, the demand that the sport come before anything else? How is it possible for anyone to be successful without ...