Hook ‘em Horns!

Jim in TX

Not to try to stretch the connection between Lean and football, but some teams like the Patriots are kind of like Toyota in that they breed well-rounded utility players like Tebow could be. This kind of reminds me of Toyota’s approach to employee development. They have deep functional expertise, but they also put a great premium on cross-functional learning.

For the Pats, this improves their flexibility as a team, giving them the ability to deploy a wide range of gameplans from week to week. For Toyota, it gives them the ability to attack new products like hybrids quicker than anybody else.

Is this analogy too much of a stretch?

I am a proud Nittany Lion, class of 1974. I thought Ohio State handled themselves very well throughout the season and especially last night. I too, am proud of ‘student’ athletes who finish their academic careers. Too many collegiate sports programs, especially football and basketball are no more than farm clubs for the pros.

I think this is reflected by the number of Ohio State, Penn State and other Big Ten schools that have athletes succeed in life, not just the pros.

Penn State represented the Big Ten well, even though they were down 24 points or so at the half. They didn’t give up.

Good luck next year in the Big Ten.

Gary Wood, PSU ’74

I’m a Florida Gator alum myself, so I’m totally stoked about Thursday night. The last time we played in a national championship game, we did pretty well (who was that against, Ron?). Hopefully, St. Tebow can add to his legacy and solidy his status as one of the greatest competitors in college football history.

And talk about a good guy. He’s got it all: class, character, spirituality, leadership, toughness, determination, and skill. Oh yeah, and he’s like a tank running down the field! Run & hide Sooners, run & hide! I’m hoping Tebow will pull a Laurinaitis and come back for a senior year. I think that would officially qualify him for sainthood in Gainesville.

I’ve lived in TX for 10 years now and while we do love it here… my mom always reminds me, “You can take the boy out of Ohio, but you cannot take Ohio out of the boy!” So true.

Until last June, I lived just north of the Michigan border in a Toledo, Ohio, suburb. The Ohio State-Michigan football game was an annual celebration that lasted an entire week – the likes of which I’ve not seen replicated anywhere else. Or more like a week and a day, I suppose, since the Monday after was spent recounting the game. I think OSU and MU football had an effect on that area that was only eclipsed by the comings and goings of the automotive industry.

Gary