Learning to Compete is Mandatory!

"Forcier running away from Michigan!"

Learning to compete in this world is as necessary as learning to think. So many of our children are afraid to because their parents have never taught them what it means to endure. Sometimes it's OK for our kids to be uncomfortable because that's the only way they will get better. Being comfortable doesn't give them the desire to become great and find success. So as parents we do our children a grave disservice by coddling them and never making them work through difficult situations.
Former Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier has decided to transfer to the University of Miami. He was a prep star in San Diego who wound up starting for the Wolverines in his college debut as a true freshman.
Injuries stunted his success and  Michigan lost seven of their next eight games his first year. Denard Robinson moved past Forcier on the depth chart last spring and started the 2010 opener, accounting for 383 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Connecticut.

 Forcier then became a back up to Robinson last season after starting ahead of him when they were both freshmen during the 2009 season. Forcier threw for 2,647 yards with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 20 career games. The 6-foot-1, 192-pound Forcier, was ruled academically ineligible to play in the Jan. 1 Gator Bowl.

Here is an example of a kid that was afraid to compete, no way around it. I've got to call it what it is. Not to mention that it wasn't a great move to transfer. Forcier is a sophomore and is ruled ineligible to play in the 2011 season as a result of the transfer. He's not going to be a priority to anyone during spring ball this year because he can't play in the fall. He'll only have a year of eligibility left when he does get back on the field, if he gets on it. Who's to say he'll even play at Miami. There are studs all over South Florida. They may find some kid that out competes him next year. Then what?

Why transfer to Miami when they've got a new coaching staff as well? Why not  stay and compete for the starting job at Michigan and at least give yourself an opportunity to play for the next two years instead of one. Denard was Rich Rod's guy but in a new system with a new staff the job is wide open. By not teaching a child to compete at an early age we've taught them to believe that it's just easier to give up.

As an adult he's approach life the same way because "The way you do anything is the way you do everything". Being uncomfortable is how people grow and find what's really inside of them. Dieon Sanders calls it, "Bringing that Dog out". In order to find it you've got to first become uncomfortable.

Pearls are formed when a foreign object enters the shell of a mollusk and irritates the soft mantle tissue. As a result of the mollusk being irritated, something valuable  is formed. That's the way God made us and we only become great after we've learned to push past the point where most people would give up. That's why they call it being great!

What's going to happen when he doesn't get the promotion he was looking for on the job. Will he quit or search for that dog and compete for the next one?  If you teach your child that it's OK to run now, he'll keep running for the rest of his life. What's your opinion?

Jay Graves
jaygraves@thejaygravesreport.com
Follow me on Twitter: @jaygravesreport
Information from ESPN college football reporter Joe Schad and The Associated Press was used in this report.