Brandon Stromer

Billy Donovan shares the biggest lesson from back-to-back national championships and what separates great teams from everyone else. "Tonight, you are playing for the guy next to you. That's who you're playing for. It's bigger than yourself because of the guy next to you." "I have always been really, really passionate about what really goes into winning. What does it take to win at the highest level?" "The number one thing I did when we ended up winning back-to-back national championships...I asked: What did the best teams I've been around have? And what didn't the teams that weren't so great have?" The answer shouldn't surprise you: "You guys have to love each other. There has to be a deep love for each other." It starts with the people and the team. Then he made it real: "If I said to you guys 20 years from now, 'Tell me about what happened on Saturday afternoon on December whatever date,' you're not gonna remember what happened on that date." "But if I said, 'Tell me about your teammate' - you'll be able to talk about your teammate pretty openly and honestly." You always remember the people and how they made you feel. Then he asked the question that changes everything: "What are my teammates gonna tell their kids? What are my teammates gonna tell their grandkids about what it was like to play with me?" "That's your legacy. Your legacy is your relationship with each other." "That's what the great teams have. All the great teams." Then he challenged their mindset: "The harder it is, the better it is. The harder it is, the better it is." "You've got to put the work and the investment into it for each other. You don't have a choice if you wanna win." Your legacy is your TEAM and what you do together. It's not your stats - it's how your teammates remember you. The goal should be to play with each other and for each other. Great teammates and great people focus on the team. (🎥@GatorsFB)