Digital newspaper archives serve as valuable guideposts to the time-traveling researcher.
They are perfect for searching the roots of a successful person, to see how far they’ve come, or how much the years have changed them.
In the case of Doug Nussmeier, for instance, quotes from more than 30 years ago reveal some unwavering foundational principles, upon which he has stacked an impressive resume of achievements.
December 1993: The 22-year-old Idaho Vandals quarterback had just been named winner of the Walter Payton Award, the Heisman Trophy equivalent for Division I-AA football players.
A column here quoted Nussmeier’s deflection that such honors aren’t for an individual, but reflect the collective efforts of the team and coaches.
“I figured that if you spent much time thinking about winning (awards), you were cheating yourself and your teammates,” the young Nussmeier said.
In an interview this week, more than three decades later, when asked about his impending induction into the Big Sky Conference Hall of Fame, Nussmeier offered an almost verbatim response, sublimating the accolades of the individual for the recognition of the team.
One could suggest he’s in need of new material, but it’s more likely further testimony of who he has always been, and the interpretation that his successful career may be related to his humility, and the team-first perspective he’s operated under all along.
The highlights of that career are a Super Bowl title as quarterback coach with the Philadelphia Eagles in February, and a college football national championship as offensive coordinator at Alabama (2012).
Other coaching stays included high-profile college programs such as Florida, Washington and Michigan, and NFL stays with the Rams, Cowboys, Chargers and Eagles – and now in New Orleans as…
Source link : http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/jul/16/team-first-how-humility-has-helped-guide-former-id/
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Publish date : 2025-07-17 02:06:00
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