Going against the grain

If you know me at all, you know I have a distaste for complacency.  I’m a fan of challenging traditions that guide poor life or business practices. As anyone who’s taken on tradition, it’s difficult because there are entrenched loyalists who will fight to the death for their turf. That’s understandable, because processes become traditions because they were successful at some point. As situations change, however, traditions are very slow to die.

I loved this story in the latest Sports Illustrated because it chronicles high school football coach Kevin Kelley, who questions two long-standing traditions: kicking and punting. Instead of punting, Kelley has his team go for it. ALWAYS. Instead of long kickoffs, Kelley has his team try onside kicks. ALWAYS.

Why? Because the odds favor his alternatives.

Kelley came to that realization after poring through tons of game stats. So, for the last three seasons, his teams have stumped the competition by doing something different.

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