"He's one of us."
Sep 03, 2026
“He’s One of Us.”
Five words.
That’s all it took to give me hope.
“He’s one of us.”
But to understand why those five words meant so much to me, you have to understand just how bad things had gotten.
Back in 2021, I sat in a circle with about 15 UMass football players and asked them a simple question:
“What’s it like to be a UMass football player?”
One player looked at me and said:
“I’ve been here three years, had two coaches…and won three games.”
Phew.
I didn’t know what to say.
That wasn’t my UMass experience.
I had the privilege of playing there in the late ’80s and early ’90s, when we were competing for and winning conference championships. Winning was part of the culture.
But sitting in that circle, I felt the gravity in the room.
Fast-forward to tonight.
UMass came into the game against Rutgers having lost 16 straight games, including an 0–12 season last year.
Rutgers was coming off a strong season. They were the Big Ten team. The heavy favorite.
It had all the makings of another embarrassment.
Except for those five words.
My former coach—who won three conference championships in six years at UMass and knows what a winning culture looks like—had said something about our new head coach that stuck with me:
“He’s one of us.”
Hope started percolating.
Okay, Coach.
I’m in.
And tonight, I saw something different.
Paul writes in Philippians 3:13:
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead…”
Maybe that’s exactly what a turnaround requires.
Forget what’s behind.
Create a new culture.
Take care of what you can take care of.
Believe.
Execute.
And let the chips fall where they may.
UMass brought in a massive number of new players. Most of them hadn’t experienced the losing streak. They weren’t carrying the baggage.
They bought in.
They believed.
They executed.
And tonight, they won.
BIG.
I have no idea what happens the rest of this season.
But tonight reminded me of something bigger than football:
Your past does not get to decide your future.
Maybe you’ve been on a losing streak yourself.
Maybe something in your marriage, career, health, faith, finances, or purpose desperately needs a turnaround.
Then maybe it’s time to stop carrying yesterday into tomorrow.
Forget what’s behind.
Strain toward what’s ahead.
Build a new culture.
Believe again.
Are you hungry for a turnaround in your life?
I’m in if you’re in.
I believe you could be “one of those people who can thrive.”
Some hard work. Some commitment. Some belief.
Let’s turn this thing upside down.
It all starts with a Discovery Call.
Schedule Your Discovery Call (Free)
Click the button below to see my updated calendar and select a time and date that is most convenient for you.
Let's Stay Connected!
Receive inspiration and positive encouragement like this directly to your inbox. Enter your name and email below.
Don't worry, your information will not be shared.
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
