FACING THE GIANTS

Summary

"An action-packed drama about a Christian high school football coach who uses his undying faith to battle the giants of fear and failure. In six years of coaching, Grant Taylor has never led his Shiloh Eagles to a winning season. After learning that he and his wife Brooke face infertility, Grant discovers that a group of fathers are secretly organizing to have him dismissed as head coach. Devastated by his circumstances, he cries out to God in desperation. When Grant receives a message from an unexpected visitor, he searches for a stronger purpose for his football team, and dares to challenge his players to believe God for the impossible on and off the field. When faced with unbelievable odds, the Eagles must step up to their greatest test of strength and courage."

                                                         -Written by Anonymous

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805526/plotsummary

Application of OB Concepts

• New Role for Managers (Servant Leadership): Grant Taylor, the head coach of the Shiloh Eagles football team at Shiloh Christian Academy, has yet to prove his worth as the head coach of the team by winning the current seasons' games, despite his team's continuous losing streak. As the coach of the football, his job is to lead his players to the championship, at the same time develop their potentials as football players and motivating them to give their best. Since the team has already suffered from many losses, they are already discouraged and have lost their will to fight. Coach Grant changes their pessimistic attitude by calling out to Brock, one of his influential players, and making him to the death crawl (crawling across the football field with the knees and elbows off the ground and with another lighter player on top) blindfolded to the 50 yard line, to maximize his potential. Coach encourages Brock constantly, telling him not to give up and quit along the way, as Brock is struggling in performing the task. Through the coach's never-ending encouragement, Brock managed to reach the 50 yard line, and this attitude, the coach said, will be the determining factor for the team's success. The players were inspired by this, and since then the players' outlook changed. They became more determined and more faithful in their teamwork and in their selves, as they openly pray and share their burdens with each other. Through the leadership of Coach Grant and the renewed vigor of the team, they eventually win the championships, despite facing the opposing team with three times more players than their team have. 

Reflections

Despite the many hardships, Coach Grant and his team went through, I was amazed at how they were able to get back on their feet and be better than before. He was able to instill openness and trust within the relationship of the players with themselves and the relationship the players have with the coach. It is a great feat to be able to do that, and I wish to develop the skill Coach Grant has to be able to motivate and lead my current and future group mates when we reach certain ruts in our lives.