The Thursday Speeches: Lessons in Life, Leadership, and Football from Coach Don James

by Peter G. Tormey

"Having heard 18 years worth of those from Coach James as an assistant at two different universities, I can attest to the fact that Peter Tormey has nailed these in this book. - Skip Hall, Boise, Idaho.

"Anyone who aims to become a truly great human being should read The Thursday Speeches." - Tim Cowan, former Husky quarterback, Seattle.

"Best work I have read in quite some time ... the insights into leadership, details, personal character, the importance of mental preparation and desire to compete are extremely valuable." - Mike Roarke, Portland, Oregon.

Two days before Christmas 1974, Don James seized the reins of a University of Washington football program in disarray. Immediately, James challenged players to do the hard work necessary to get to the Rose Bowl. Some players laughed, reminding James that Washington hadn't been to the Rose Bowl since 1963. James insisted on his vision. In his third season, Washington advanced to the Rose Bowl and beat the heavily favored Michigan Wolverines. In 18 years at Washington, James' compelling stories in his pregame speeches helped transform the Huskies from mediocrity to national champions. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame and twice named National Coach of the Year, James remains the most successful football coach in Washington and the Pacific-12 Conference history. Now, the inspiring stories and invaluable life lessons James imparted to his players are available to all in "The Thursday Speeches."

As but one measure of his coaching skill, Sports Illustrated once named the three best college football coaches in the country: No. 1, Don James; No. 2, Don James; No. 3, Don James.

A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Husky Hall of Fame, and twice named National Coach of the Year, James remains the most successful football coach in Washington and the Pacific-12 Conference history. President of the American Football Coaches Association in 1989, James compiled a record of 153-57-2 at Washington and led the Huskies to 15 bowl games (10-5) including nine straight from 1979-1987. He guided the Huskies to six Rose Bowls and is one of only four coaches to win four Rose Bowl games. His 1991 team finished the season 12-0, beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl, and was named National Champion by USA Today/CNN, UPI, the Football Writers, Sports Illustrated, and several computer rankings.

Written by Peter Tormey, Ph.D., a three-year UW letterman linebacker for James (1976-1979), The Thursday Speeches puts readers in the room with the legendary coach, revealing the exact words James used to inspire the Huskies to slay the football giants of his day. The book, which also contains new insights into James’ leadership, is organized into four sections:

Part I: Getting to the Rose Bowl.
Part II: Themes of the Thursday Speeches
* Attitude
* Life Lessons
* Competitive Greatness
* Visualizing Victory

PART III: Glimmers – Short essays derived from interviews with Coach James.
PART IV: A Lasting Legacy – Tributes to Coach James’ influence from Coach Gary Pinkel, University of Missouri; Coach Nick Saban, University of Alabama; Sam Wick, friend; Jeffrey James, grandson; James’ pastor, Rev. Jerry Mitchell; and Jill Woodruff, one of James’ three children.

The book stems from Tormey’s doctoral research in Leadership Studies (Gonzaga University). James wrote the speeches before practice each Wednesday, by longhand, on 11-by-14-inch yellow legal pads.

Exhibiting a voracious appetite for reading and an expansive intellect, James uses a wide range of powerful stories to engage the Huskies including topics such as Freud and Frankl, the Cheshire Cat in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, th

Genres: Leadership, Football

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 25, 2014

About the author

Peter Tormey studied English literature at University of Washington and leadership at Gonzaga University. He wrote THE THURSDAY SPEECHES: LESSONS IN LIFE, LEADERSHIP, AND FOOTBALL FROM COACH DON JAMES (November 2014). A former journalist for United Press International, he has won numerous awards for his news and feature stories. A first-generation Irish-American, Peter is an avid cyclist and loves to fish the lakes, rivers, and streams of the Pacific Northwest. He and his wife live in Spokane, Washington, with their two daughters, a son, and a dog.

Reviews

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book on the University of Washington's legendary football coach Don James. One learns about the man and the coach through this book using James's Thursday speeches during the season. Full review is posted here:

http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...

[Miguel Mata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring words from a great coach

I enjoyed this book very much. It was chalked full of great quotes and inspiring words to help with leadership, motivation, and life

[Jack Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Very Best

Don James was a legend, a great person and family man.
I'm a true blue purple blooded Husky who has enjoyed Husky football for over 55 years.
I'm access in ticket holder for the last 40 years when we moved back to Seattle.
Multiple Rose Bowls, the Orange Bowl and the Holiday Bowl plus games in the Pac-8 & 10.
DJ made football a great day always at Husky F
Stadium.
We were blessed to have such a great person and coach.
JM

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coach James

Great insight into how Coach worked with young men on a football team and enabled them to do the right things for the right reasons. Thanks Coach! Love the Dawgfather!

[Dennis Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just for Huskies

Great life lessons for anyone, not just fans of football or the Huskies. Was great to read about his deep faith as well.
A tribute in his own words

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a serious student of life. I generally don't read fiction books. The last time I read one of those was in high school, many years ago. I do read a lot of non-fiction books; primarily history and motivational books. I can't recall how many motivational books I've read. Hundreds? No, probably not. Dozens and dozens? Yes, definitely.

Like all of us, occasionally things happen in life that knock me down a few notches. You know, the stuff that comes along that make you feel like you've been hit by a bus. During the last year or so, I took a physical/mental/emotional hit by what seemed like several buses. And as is usually the case, after getting knocked down I dusted myself off, then I went on a search for answers. Being a Christian, The Bible is my first choice, but I like to explore what other people have to offer too.

"The Thursday Speeches" is a book I sort of stumbled upon. While I was doing an online search for a book by a specific author, I was presented with "The Thursday Speeches" as a similar option. Growing up in the Puget Sound area, I am very familiar with coach Don James. However, I was a bit hesitant at first about reading the book because many of the motivational books I've read that were written by (or about) sports coaches and athletes are full of hype but not much substance.

"Thursday Speeches" is definitely one of the top three motivational books I've ever read. There's just a little bit of hype and Husky football history it it, but not much-and that's good. The book focuses on coach Don James' speeches to his student athletes. The great thing about his speeches is they're all good motivational talks that probably everyone can benefit from, regardless of whether you're an athlete, former athlete (like myself), mother, father, teacher, or just "a regular person."

I recommend this book to anyone who has been knocked down by one of those buses I mentioned in a paragraph above, and to anyone who just wants to take their life, their job, their family to a new and better level. I also recommend that readers go through the book twice. Read it once just to get a feel for the flow and theme of the book. Then read it again keeping a notepad handy (or anything you can use to refer back to in the future). Go through coach James' speeches paragraph by paragraph. At the end of each speech, jot down notes about each one that either apply to you directly, or ask yourself "How can I apply what he said into my own life?" I think you might be pleasantly surprised at how much of what coach James said to his players can also apply to you.

As I write this review I think about all the "bestseller" motivational books written by coaches and athletes. And I'm also puzzled as to why "The Thursday Speeches" is not recognized in our modern culture as a bestseller because in my opinion, this book is much better than most of those other books.

I think most people will find this book to be both fascinating and helpful. If you're hesitant, find a copy in a local library if you can. But I'm willing to bet you will likely return the library copy and buy one for your bookshelf.

"The Thursday Speeches" has great lessons for all of us, and will probably be relevant many years from now.