Friday Night Light Analysis

In both "Friday Night Lights,"by H. G. Bissinger, and "Quiet Strength," by Tony Dungy, their are two coaches who are very similar, yet very different in their own ways. In one coaches locker room you may find an aggressive, hostile written note. While in the other coaches locker room you'll find bibles. Both coaches have a winning mentality, how they go about winning though is a different story. The quite, calm, and faith first mentality of one coach, verse the loud, aggressive, in your face way of coaching from the other. These books though also have their own similarities. Such as how football can serve as a way out for people. How winning is important, and what it means to be a winner in life, and in the game. Then the differences, such
as how each coach goes about coaching a team. How they lead a team, or what the atmosphere of the team is like. Coach Dungy, was able to lead a winning team by putting God first over football, whereas Coach Gaines, promoted football first and struggled to win big games. First, in "Friday Nights Light," by H. G. Bissinger, we are introduced to Coach Gary Gaines, coach of the Permian High-school football team. Coach Gaines, is a very interesting, and important character. He has a coaching style that it like none other, or one that could be compared to pro level coaching. He works his players as if they were dogs, but he treated them like men. Roasting in their black, or gray practice jersey under the hot summer sun of Odessa, Texas during a two a day workout you'll find trash cans scarred through the the field. Why trash cans you ask? For the constant puking from the players as they train, and fight to be apart of a legacy. Coach Gaines hollering out plays, and stand full of crowds. Some may even call it a war one out there. Gaines is the the type of coach to be in your face in practices, and during every play. You mess up on a play, or run the wrong route, you better believe you will be taking in an ear full. Some may say that he is a drill Sargent yelling in the faces of his privates, or in this case his players. Gaines also has the respect of his players in the locker room. Gaines, views by the public has its ups, and downs. If he wins a game he is loved, and praised. If he loses a game you'll find for sale signs in his front yard. The people get so angry when he loses that they are ready to run him out of town. They are only behind him when he wins. Gaines has also been known to struggle to win big games, and falls short when it matters. Although Coach Gaines is a great coach he is far fromTony Dungy and the way he runs the show. Second, in "Quite Strength," by Tony Dungy, we meet Coach Tony Dungy.
A man of faith, a family man, a leader, a friend, and a coach. In Dungy's locker room you'll find a set of coaches focused, calm, and praying. Players preforming their pregame routine, or reading the bible. For some a handwritten note from Dungy full of positive messages, praise, and how to be not only a better player, but a better man. This is not your typical locker room you could say. It is more of the calm before the storm. Before every game Dungy, sits his players, and his staff down together to pray, or read a verse from the Bible. Dungy will talk about the game and the strategy, but he preaches God's message. Something you wouldn't see in Coach Gaines locker room. This quote here form Quiet Strength shows an example of Tony, and his faith "This gave us plenty of opportunities to talk about heaven and God's gift of salvation," (Dungy 269). Dungy models his life sprung his faith. Ever since a young boy he grew up in the faith life, and he's done everything he can to spread the good Lord's word. Dungy is also a family man. He puts his family first in everything he does. He places family, and God over football. One example is when Dungy was on the field before a game. Dungy almost always has his kids with him on the sideline during games, if they got their homework done. A security officer told Dungy that his kid wasn't allowed on the sideline. Dungy spoke with the officer who wouldn't change his
mind. Dungy threatened to leave the game and not coach at all if his kid couldn't stay. Needless to say Dungy won. Dungy is also back by his players, and his community no matter what. "With the win over Chicago, we finished 6-10, dead last in our division...The Bucs players dumped Gatorade on me after that game," (125). If Gaines had a record like that he would be gone within a heartbeat, and Gatorade is the last thing that would be thrown on him. Not to mention all the great work Dungy does for his communities. You could say he's a class act guy. Third, although Coach Gaines, is different from Coach Dungy, they do have some similarities in common.
Gaines is a hard working coach who wants to win. He really does care about his players, and he wants what's best for his them. He is a very strong fundamentals coach. Both coaches work their players, and teach them not only football, but life lessons to carry on with them. They share the same winning mentality, and how to do so. Both coaches focus on the little details. They don't over look them because they know it can hurt then in the long run. You will hear Gaines after games saying you did this right, and premiered excellent, but we had three fumbles, and ran this route wrong. The same goes for Dungy. He points out the great accompaniments of his players, but he has to mention these tiny details because that's how they will get better. They also both want work to done. In Quiet Strength, Dungy, says "No excuses, no explanations," (115). He also says just get it done. These coaches have jobs for their players, and they know they can accomplish big things, if they just work at
it. Being a coach has its challenges, and how one coach goes about beating these obstacles is up to him. Being a coach is not an easy job. Given that Gaines is a High-school coach, and Dungy is a professional one would say they would be completely different, but they have a good amount of traits in common. Both coaches have a winning mentality; how they go about winning though is a different story. The quite, calm, and faith first mentality of one coach, versus the loud, aggressive, in your face way of coaching from the other. One may could sure playing under both coaches is a great experience, but may be difficult for some. Imagine, what it would be like to go from a coach such as Gaines, to a coach like Dungy.