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The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life
"The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life" shares Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel's “Big Ten” fundamentals for success: Attitude, Discipline, Faith, Handling Adversity & Success, Excellence, Love, Toughness, Responsibility, Team, and Hope. Peppered with personal stories from Coach Tressel’s storied coaching career, this book shares the fundamental lessons that he has been imparting to his players and coaching staffs for the past 20 years. A perfect blend of football stories, spiritual insights, motivational reading, and practical application, The Winners Manual provides an inside look at the core philosophy that has positively impacted the lives of thousands of student athletes and served as the foundation for two of the most successful college football programs of all time. Includes 8 pages of color photos and a foreword from "NYT" best-selling author John Maxwell. All of the proceeds from the book are being donated directly to the William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library Renovation Campaign.Other features: Each chapter closes with a practical application section, where readers will be “coached” on how they can apply the lessons imparted throughout the book to their own lives, via the establishment of measurable goals. Provides a rare inside glimpse into the mind of one of the most respected coaches in college football history and into the huddle of one of the most successful football programs of all time. Filled with hundreds of inspirational stories, quotes and anecdotes.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2010
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October 24, 2008
As an Ohio State graduate and huge football fan, I remember being stunned when Coach Jim Tressel was hired as our football coach in 2001. Like a lot of Ohio State fans, I was wondering, who is this guy? Up until being hired at Ohio State, Coach Tressel was hidden in obscurity in Youngstown, quietly winning four national titles there while Ohio State football endured the turmoil of the Cooper years. Seven years after being hired, Coach Tressel is not obscure anymore. To haters, he will always be blamed for the Maurice Clarett saga and Troy Smith’s $500 handshake, but for those of us close to the program, we see the three national title game appearances, the four conference championships, the record number of NFL picks, and the scores of all-academic players topping the Big 10 each year. We see the way Coach Tressel cares about his players, how he acts the same whether we win or lose, how he leads a team of 100 kids from diverse backgrounds to act as a team with respect for themselves and others, and it is natural to wonder how he does it. What makes him such a great leader? In "The Winners Manual," Coach Tressel gives insight into the leadership tools he uses to develop and inspire the Ohio State football team – leadership tools anyone can use to better themselves or others in their lives.
The main tool Coach Tressel describes in his book is the "Block O of Life," a step-by-step plan the football team uses to develop as individuals and which we also can use in our own lives. The Block O of Life carefully separates our purpose, or who we are, from our goals, or what we do. Coach Tressel emphasizes that we are not defined by our goals; if we fail at our goals, that doesn’t affect our purpose, who we are, or whether we are "winners." In that spirit, the Block O of Life includes a section on purpose (personal/family, spiritual/moral, and caring/giving considerations) in addition to a section on more conventional goals (health/fitness, our team, and academics/career). The specific Block O of Life goal sheet (which can be downloaded at www.thewinnersmanual.com ) is a tool to use to think about not just our short-term aspirations and what we do but to really think about our purpose and who we are – i.e., a tool to help us in our "journey to success." In defining that elusive term, "success," Coach Tressel borrows from former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden's definition, that success means peace of mind and knowing we did the best we could, but he also expands upon Wooden’s definition to include the group: "Success is the inner satisfaction and peace of mind that come from knowing I did the best I was capable of doing for the group." The true measure of success, then, is not defined by what someone else thinks of us but rather what we think of ourselves and the contribution we make to others – a powerful definition of how we should define ourselves and our lives.
In addition to "The Plan," or the "Block O of Life," Coach Tressel lays out his "Big Ten Fundamentals" we can use to become "winners." These include attitude, discipline, excellence, faith and belief, work, handling adversity and success, love, responsibility, team, and hope. While these may seem trite on the surface, Coach Tressel gives specifics and provides his own meaning for each fundamental, including inspiring quotations and life stories. For example, for the fundamental on attitude, Coach Tressel expands upon the Voltaire quotation, "Paradise is where I am." While many football coaches – and many of us in real life – are always thinking about the next job, or the next rung on the ladder, the truth is that the grass is not always greener on the other side. If we are constantly thinking about how we should have something better, always seeking the perfect life instead of being content with what we actually have, we don’t have the right attitude. Although this is easy to say, it is not easy to live out in real life, but Coach Tressel has in his own life, staying in Division 1-AA when he had the chance to move on to greener pastures: "I tell people all the time that if I were to have coached at Youngstown State for forty years, I would have been as happy as can be. I didn’t have one foot out the door when I was there. I didn’t think somebody else had it better. I was in paradise. If you’re in paradise where you are – not wishing you were someplace else – that’s the right attitude." According to others, Coach Tressel may not have been a winner since he was coaching at a lowly school like Youngstown State, but he was happy where he was at and defined success on his own terms: with the right attitude, he had peace of mind about the contribution he was making to others, and therefore he was a winner.
Using the Block O of Life and Big Ten Fundamentals, Coach Tressel gives insight into leadership skills he has taught the Ohio State players and skills that each of us can apply in our own lives to become "winners." Generally, I have to admit, I hate self-help books, and I only gave "The Winners Manual" a chance because of my deep admiration and respect for Coach Tressel, not only in the wins he has delivered to Ohio State but also the classy fashion in which those wins have been achieved. If I had read this book ten years ago, when I was skeptical and cynical about things like "leadership," it would have been easy to dismiss, but through my life experiences I have seen the impact not only good leaders, but also bad leaders, can have on others. For each of us, in our everyday lives, we make an impact on others. Good leaders are hard to find, but Coach Tressel is one of them, and for those of us, from managers to teachers to coaches, who want to feel good about ourselves and the contribution we make to others to ultimately achieve that elusive goal of having peace of mind, there is a lot to learn from "The Winners Manual. Thanks Coach Tressel, and GO BUCKS!!!
The main tool Coach Tressel describes in his book is the "Block O of Life," a step-by-step plan the football team uses to develop as individuals and which we also can use in our own lives. The Block O of Life carefully separates our purpose, or who we are, from our goals, or what we do. Coach Tressel emphasizes that we are not defined by our goals; if we fail at our goals, that doesn’t affect our purpose, who we are, or whether we are "winners." In that spirit, the Block O of Life includes a section on purpose (personal/family, spiritual/moral, and caring/giving considerations) in addition to a section on more conventional goals (health/fitness, our team, and academics/career). The specific Block O of Life goal sheet (which can be downloaded at www.thewinnersmanual.com ) is a tool to use to think about not just our short-term aspirations and what we do but to really think about our purpose and who we are – i.e., a tool to help us in our "journey to success." In defining that elusive term, "success," Coach Tressel borrows from former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden's definition, that success means peace of mind and knowing we did the best we could, but he also expands upon Wooden’s definition to include the group: "Success is the inner satisfaction and peace of mind that come from knowing I did the best I was capable of doing for the group." The true measure of success, then, is not defined by what someone else thinks of us but rather what we think of ourselves and the contribution we make to others – a powerful definition of how we should define ourselves and our lives.
In addition to "The Plan," or the "Block O of Life," Coach Tressel lays out his "Big Ten Fundamentals" we can use to become "winners." These include attitude, discipline, excellence, faith and belief, work, handling adversity and success, love, responsibility, team, and hope. While these may seem trite on the surface, Coach Tressel gives specifics and provides his own meaning for each fundamental, including inspiring quotations and life stories. For example, for the fundamental on attitude, Coach Tressel expands upon the Voltaire quotation, "Paradise is where I am." While many football coaches – and many of us in real life – are always thinking about the next job, or the next rung on the ladder, the truth is that the grass is not always greener on the other side. If we are constantly thinking about how we should have something better, always seeking the perfect life instead of being content with what we actually have, we don’t have the right attitude. Although this is easy to say, it is not easy to live out in real life, but Coach Tressel has in his own life, staying in Division 1-AA when he had the chance to move on to greener pastures: "I tell people all the time that if I were to have coached at Youngstown State for forty years, I would have been as happy as can be. I didn’t have one foot out the door when I was there. I didn’t think somebody else had it better. I was in paradise. If you’re in paradise where you are – not wishing you were someplace else – that’s the right attitude." According to others, Coach Tressel may not have been a winner since he was coaching at a lowly school like Youngstown State, but he was happy where he was at and defined success on his own terms: with the right attitude, he had peace of mind about the contribution he was making to others, and therefore he was a winner.
Using the Block O of Life and Big Ten Fundamentals, Coach Tressel gives insight into leadership skills he has taught the Ohio State players and skills that each of us can apply in our own lives to become "winners." Generally, I have to admit, I hate self-help books, and I only gave "The Winners Manual" a chance because of my deep admiration and respect for Coach Tressel, not only in the wins he has delivered to Ohio State but also the classy fashion in which those wins have been achieved. If I had read this book ten years ago, when I was skeptical and cynical about things like "leadership," it would have been easy to dismiss, but through my life experiences I have seen the impact not only good leaders, but also bad leaders, can have on others. For each of us, in our everyday lives, we make an impact on others. Good leaders are hard to find, but Coach Tressel is one of them, and for those of us, from managers to teachers to coaches, who want to feel good about ourselves and the contribution we make to others to ultimately achieve that elusive goal of having peace of mind, there is a lot to learn from "The Winners Manual. Thanks Coach Tressel, and GO BUCKS!!!
January 27, 2011
XVI: (Senior speeches at end of year banquet. Include fundamental that was critical to their development. Describe the hero, winner or mentor in their lives. Describe a real-life lesson they learned.)
19: ... the most important thing to me is to see them grow as men. Their spiritual plan, their morals, their values, their work ethic. all of those elements need to be part of who we are, what we talk about, and what we demand from each other.
25: "Before I can do, I must be." We tell our players that before they can be champions, they must master the things that champions embody.
39: I think the final outcome of most football games is affected more by attitude than by talent.
39: We have to understand that our thinking affects everything that we do.
40: "Paradise is where I am." -VOLTAIRE
42: Attitude is not something that comes by instinct. it has to be practiced. We have to choose to have a good attitude.
42: "Spending a little time calculating the number of things that go rights is a simple but powerful way to reactivate our sense of wonder and gratitude." -RICHARD CARLSON
50: (9 steps to having the proper altitude.)
63: "A little spark kindles a great fire." -SPANISH PROVERB
64: "I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do, I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I shall do." -EDWARD EVERTT HALE
69: "It is not enough to get things done; they must be done right." -ARTHUR HADLEY
70: So the first thing we try to get across to our guys is that discipline is a positive thing. It's not restrictive or punishing: its actually liberating.
71: (9 steps to discipline.)
72: "A champion pays an extra price to be better than anyone else." -PAUL BEAR BRYANT
73: "Only a fool despises discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise." -PROVERBS 15:5
77: "It was charachter that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through." -ZIG ZIGLAR
79: Be the best where you are. Focus on the moment.
89: "Excellence is not an act...but a habit." -ARISTOTLE
90: "It isn't hard to be good from time to time in sports. What's tough is being good every day." -WILLIE MAYS
91: Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly will acquire the skills to do difficult things easily.
95: "A man's reach should exceed his grasp." -ROBERT BROWNING
109: "To disbelieve is easy; to scoff is siple; to have faith is hard." -LOUIS L'AMOUR
112: "Nobody will believe in you unless you believe in yourself." -LIBERACE
113: "There can be no progress if people have no faith in tomorrow." -JOHN F. KENNEDY
125: "Success doesn't come to you...you go to it." -MARVA COLLINS
125: "... you've got to fight for it with all your heart and soul, because nobody is going to hand it to you." -GEN COLIN POWELL
131: "Whatever you do, don't do it halfway." -BOB BEAMON
134: Whatever you do it passionately. Failure is an event, not a person. Every obstacle presents an opportunity...if you're looking for it. You only fail when you quit.
155: "There is no education like adversity." -BENJAMIN DISRAELI
158: "A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials." -CHINESE PROVERB
159: There is no strength where there is no struggle.
160: (Story of the Woohitke tribe using lightning struck trees for spears.)
161: "it is a rough road that leaads to heights of greatness." -SENECA
162: "Face adversity promptly and without flinching, and you will reduce its impact. Never run from anything and never quit." -WINSTON CHURCHILL
163: "The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." -MOLIERE
173: ... in order to be champions, every team needss to basic components: love and discipline.
174: (Sacrifice as a privilage.)
175: Love is the deep sense of commitment that each player has for every other player...
178: (Story of boy who donated blood to sister even though he thought it would kill him.)
180: The bigger difference a coach can make in a player's life comes through a caring and loving approach.
197: "Honor is better than honors." -ABE LINCOLN
198: "Hold yourself to a higher standard than anyone expects of you. Never excuse yourself." -HENRY WARD BEECHER
199: "... the choice you make, makes you." -JOHN WOODEN
211: "Try to forget yourself in the service of others..." -SIDNEY POWELL
213: If the players really care about each other - not just for show but with a genuine love that is pure and giving - they will play their roles properly.
213: Every championship team I've been with has been unselfish.
216: (Story of geese flying in formation.)
230: With hope, problems aren't permanent.
249: ...wherever we were employed, we should work as if we were going to be there for the rest of our lives.
Guy in the Glass
The Man Who Thinks He Can
19: ... the most important thing to me is to see them grow as men. Their spiritual plan, their morals, their values, their work ethic. all of those elements need to be part of who we are, what we talk about, and what we demand from each other.
25: "Before I can do, I must be." We tell our players that before they can be champions, they must master the things that champions embody.
39: I think the final outcome of most football games is affected more by attitude than by talent.
39: We have to understand that our thinking affects everything that we do.
40: "Paradise is where I am." -VOLTAIRE
42: Attitude is not something that comes by instinct. it has to be practiced. We have to choose to have a good attitude.
42: "Spending a little time calculating the number of things that go rights is a simple but powerful way to reactivate our sense of wonder and gratitude." -RICHARD CARLSON
50: (9 steps to having the proper altitude.)
63: "A little spark kindles a great fire." -SPANISH PROVERB
64: "I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do, I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I shall do." -EDWARD EVERTT HALE
69: "It is not enough to get things done; they must be done right." -ARTHUR HADLEY
70: So the first thing we try to get across to our guys is that discipline is a positive thing. It's not restrictive or punishing: its actually liberating.
71: (9 steps to discipline.)
72: "A champion pays an extra price to be better than anyone else." -PAUL BEAR BRYANT
73: "Only a fool despises discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise." -PROVERBS 15:5
77: "It was charachter that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through." -ZIG ZIGLAR
79: Be the best where you are. Focus on the moment.
89: "Excellence is not an act...but a habit." -ARISTOTLE
90: "It isn't hard to be good from time to time in sports. What's tough is being good every day." -WILLIE MAYS
91: Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly will acquire the skills to do difficult things easily.
95: "A man's reach should exceed his grasp." -ROBERT BROWNING
109: "To disbelieve is easy; to scoff is siple; to have faith is hard." -LOUIS L'AMOUR
112: "Nobody will believe in you unless you believe in yourself." -LIBERACE
113: "There can be no progress if people have no faith in tomorrow." -JOHN F. KENNEDY
125: "Success doesn't come to you...you go to it." -MARVA COLLINS
125: "... you've got to fight for it with all your heart and soul, because nobody is going to hand it to you." -GEN COLIN POWELL
131: "Whatever you do, don't do it halfway." -BOB BEAMON
134: Whatever you do it passionately. Failure is an event, not a person. Every obstacle presents an opportunity...if you're looking for it. You only fail when you quit.
155: "There is no education like adversity." -BENJAMIN DISRAELI
158: "A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials." -CHINESE PROVERB
159: There is no strength where there is no struggle.
160: (Story of the Woohitke tribe using lightning struck trees for spears.)
161: "it is a rough road that leaads to heights of greatness." -SENECA
162: "Face adversity promptly and without flinching, and you will reduce its impact. Never run from anything and never quit." -WINSTON CHURCHILL
163: "The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." -MOLIERE
173: ... in order to be champions, every team needss to basic components: love and discipline.
174: (Sacrifice as a privilage.)
175: Love is the deep sense of commitment that each player has for every other player...
178: (Story of boy who donated blood to sister even though he thought it would kill him.)
180: The bigger difference a coach can make in a player's life comes through a caring and loving approach.
197: "Honor is better than honors." -ABE LINCOLN
198: "Hold yourself to a higher standard than anyone expects of you. Never excuse yourself." -HENRY WARD BEECHER
199: "... the choice you make, makes you." -JOHN WOODEN
211: "Try to forget yourself in the service of others..." -SIDNEY POWELL
213: If the players really care about each other - not just for show but with a genuine love that is pure and giving - they will play their roles properly.
213: Every championship team I've been with has been unselfish.
216: (Story of geese flying in formation.)
230: With hope, problems aren't permanent.
249: ...wherever we were employed, we should work as if we were going to be there for the rest of our lives.
Guy in the Glass
The Man Who Thinks He Can
December 30, 2025
This was a book I had a lot of interest in reading for several years, and I enjoyed it. I particularly enjoyed hearing anecdotes from Jim Tressel’s life, his own coaching career at Youngstown St. and Ohio State, and his father’s life and coaching career. Some of the points about seemed redundant, and that made much of this book feel like a slog, but otherwise I appreciated how clearly you can see the significant role that faith played in his life, coaching and relationships with staff and students. Jim Tressel is a great man who made significant impact on the lives of hundreds of young men because he cared for and loved them well.
June 27, 2022
2.5/5
Buckeye born, Buckeye bred, and when I die I'll be Buckeye dead.
A very entertaining and insightful read, especially involving the world of college football that I love so dearly, but the book loses a lot of its luster in its redundancies. Only so many things can be inspiring within 200 pages.
Buckeye born, Buckeye bred, and when I die I'll be Buckeye dead.
A very entertaining and insightful read, especially involving the world of college football that I love so dearly, but the book loses a lot of its luster in its redundancies. Only so many things can be inspiring within 200 pages.
December 30, 2008
It's 8:45 and Michigan still sucks.
October 8, 2009
For being a Michigan fan, this is a great book so far.
July 20, 2018
Reading a book about sports isn't my typical go-to. But, since my dad gave this book to me years ago and it was still sitting on my shelf, I felt like it was the time to pick it up finally (I actually decided to listen to it on my daily commute). And, given a recent health concern for my dad, it was nice to read something he loved. I'll always love the story of Jim Tressel and his start at Youngstown State University prior to making it big at Ohio State University. Born in Youngstown myself, it's nice to hear the city's name every chapter and for someone to speak highly of the steel mill town. The Winners Manual was a unique idea for both YSU and OSU players, given to them at the start of each football season; a series of topics not only focused on the ins and outs of football, but on life itself. Tressel carried over the notion that in order to be a winner in the game, you must be in life as well. I most appreciated his chapters (in his book and in the Winners Manual) on kindness, gratitude, acting with class, and faith. Throughout the book he relays stories about individual players, as well as his own life and where he truly relied on God. It's awesome to hear such positive things from a high-profile coach. His use of the "block O" and goal-making made me reflect upon my own life goals and purpose. Pick this book up if you're ready for football season (like me) or want an extra dose of optimism. It's worth a re-read in the future, too.
January 24, 2020
Overall, there is great advice that can be applied to everyone's life. I found that the book was extremely redundant, however. Within a chapter, and throughout the book, the same concepts were repeated the same way over and over again. It was drudgery to finish this book.
More of an FYI, but wow - there was also a lot of focus on religion. Although it was written from a Christian perspective, I appreciate that he spoke of other religions in a positive light and tried to include them. However, it was onerous to read for someone who isn't spiritual. But, this is his perspective on how to live a good life, so I see why he included it.
More of an FYI, but wow - there was also a lot of focus on religion. Although it was written from a Christian perspective, I appreciate that he spoke of other religions in a positive light and tried to include them. However, it was onerous to read for someone who isn't spiritual. But, this is his perspective on how to live a good life, so I see why he included it.
February 2, 2018
I don’t follow sports. But I have a newfound respect for Ohio State and their coaching strategy. I listen to this book in audio format might be worth checking out the paper copy. I do like the factThat Jim Tressel did not just talk about how to be a better athlete, he talks about being a well-rounded person finding a balance between goals and family and spiritual life. Also I really like how he emphasized are all part of the team no matter what the setting
June 15, 2020
Good book. More of a mix between Christian principles and solid leadership concepts. Cool to see how Jim used these to motivate his players to reach their peak. Jim seems like a very inspirational type of leader that would just be cool to be around and use some of that energy. Biggest takeaway for me is that success or leadership without love at the root of it is a false idol, empty, and no different in the end than chasing the wind. Very solid.
August 12, 2021
Full disclosure: I hate Ohio State. Despise the Buckeyes. That said, I have always respected and liked Jim Tressel. This book might be a bit dated with his somewhat messy exit from Ohio State, but I was able to separate all that and focus on the content. Lots of good quotes, anticidotes. I like books like these that aren't so much about the sport, but more about lessons and dealing with people. Sports provide a great conduit and metaphor for life.
August 3, 2019
Great Book. Not an Ohio State fan but loved what Jim Tressel had to say. Recommended for my son to read when he was playing sports in High School
January 4, 2020
Great book! I still go back to it once or twice a year to re-evaluate my goals.
May 27, 2021
Love it. Every page has an iconic quote and if you feel like you need a lift in life, I recommend reading this.
August 29, 2021
Worthy of repeated reading. Rich in inspiration and reminders on how to live a meaningful life with the proper focus.
Read
February 2, 2022Love it. Every page has an iconic quote and if you feel like you need a lift in life, I recommend reading this.
May 9, 2022
Some great motivation and truth nuggets in here. Thinking about buying a red vest
August 16, 2022
Pretty solid book with some great stories and examples of how to apply the Fundamentals described to your everyday life
Read
January 3, 2026Great. A little repetitive, but it deserves repeating. Go Bucks!
June 13, 2017
I've found this book to be a great tool which has principles valid in all spheres of life and in every task that I carry out. I highly recommend it to fathers, managers and all those who yearn to be excellent leaders in their generations and want to influence others positively.
September 4, 2012
So the Ohio State football season opened this past weekend and I was not in front of the TV for the game. This is the second Buckeye season without Jim Tressel and I find myself struggling to care whether the team wins or loses. My whole life I have "bled scarlet and gray" as we say around here... but when they pressured Coach Tressel into resigning they really tarnished the OSU brand as far as I am concerned.
Tressel's book is about leadership... something at which he excels. I loved this book, and felt like I learned a great deal even though I have never played a down of football. The life lessons Tressel extrapolates from the game are universal in their application. His ability to shape young men into champions and professionals is unmatched. His coolness on the sidelines was a wonder to behold. The clarity of his vision, strength of character, depth of commitment to those he led, and willingness to set a positive example all added immensely to Ohio State's stature as a world-class institution capable of attracting the best of the best. Wouldn't it have been brilliant if instead of punishing Tressel for not being perfect, the university had highlighted his example of how a great leader handles himself following a mistake? He acknowledges the wrong, apologizes for harm done, accepts responsibility for the consequences, and pledges to avoid that mistake going forward. What else can any of us ask of anyone?
Jim Tressel is a winner... and his book is an excellent addition to any collection on leadership. Thanks Coach! No matter where you go in life... I will be rooting for you!
Tressel's book is about leadership... something at which he excels. I loved this book, and felt like I learned a great deal even though I have never played a down of football. The life lessons Tressel extrapolates from the game are universal in their application. His ability to shape young men into champions and professionals is unmatched. His coolness on the sidelines was a wonder to behold. The clarity of his vision, strength of character, depth of commitment to those he led, and willingness to set a positive example all added immensely to Ohio State's stature as a world-class institution capable of attracting the best of the best. Wouldn't it have been brilliant if instead of punishing Tressel for not being perfect, the university had highlighted his example of how a great leader handles himself following a mistake? He acknowledges the wrong, apologizes for harm done, accepts responsibility for the consequences, and pledges to avoid that mistake going forward. What else can any of us ask of anyone?
Jim Tressel is a winner... and his book is an excellent addition to any collection on leadership. Thanks Coach! No matter where you go in life... I will be rooting for you!
September 26, 2015
I'm biased here cause as a Christian that hopes o coach sports someday this book really struck a chord with me. It was really encouraging to hear how faith intersects all of his philosophies and teachings to his players. I think this book should be read by anyone that is involved with sports particularly if you're an Ohio State fan since many of the stories told will not be foreign to you. I think it is a great encouragement if you are a Christian and if you aren't it is a practical and clear presentation of the gospel. I like how he describes worldly accolades as human stars. Thought that was very apt.
I wish I had read this book as part of a group discussion. The questions in each chapter are a great starting point for hashing out these values in our lives. Also the quotes and moral stories are a real treasure trove for people that enjoy inspirational material. Once again I think that fits the athletic demographic better than most.
Overall if everyone I knew in Ohio read this book I would be very excited about that because I think it is worth the read.
I wish I had read this book as part of a group discussion. The questions in each chapter are a great starting point for hashing out these values in our lives. Also the quotes and moral stories are a real treasure trove for people that enjoy inspirational material. Once again I think that fits the athletic demographic better than most.
Overall if everyone I knew in Ohio read this book I would be very excited about that because I think it is worth the read.
June 6, 2015
If the game of life were to end tonight, would you be a winner?
Tressel throws this question out on the first page and answers "how" to battle this question on a daily basis.
Many books that include questions at the end of the chapters are just annoying, but this book's chapter questions are essential.
Each question becomes personal and encourages the reader to delve into his/her own life. I personally answered each question on Microsoft Word and it helped me to truly dive into Tressel's "Block O" - the eight major components of the book. My Microsoft document exceeded 30 pages, not because I write a tremendous amount, rather the book encouraged me to deeply reflect.
This book is more than Tressel's understanding being thrown onto pages, it is a manual to refer to for all people that are "competitive with themselves" in life. I challenge you to become a winner in life, a team person, and one that can say "Yes" to Tressels question, "If the game of life were to end tonight, would you be a winner?"
Tressel throws this question out on the first page and answers "how" to battle this question on a daily basis.
Many books that include questions at the end of the chapters are just annoying, but this book's chapter questions are essential.
Each question becomes personal and encourages the reader to delve into his/her own life. I personally answered each question on Microsoft Word and it helped me to truly dive into Tressel's "Block O" - the eight major components of the book. My Microsoft document exceeded 30 pages, not because I write a tremendous amount, rather the book encouraged me to deeply reflect.
This book is more than Tressel's understanding being thrown onto pages, it is a manual to refer to for all people that are "competitive with themselves" in life. I challenge you to become a winner in life, a team person, and one that can say "Yes" to Tressels question, "If the game of life were to end tonight, would you be a winner?"
November 12, 2009
Although this book is found in the football section of your local bookstore, there is not much here on the X's and O's. The author allows the reader, rather, to reflect on their own lives using some of the same principles that he shares with his team. The stories are interesting, and the quotes managed to be timely with what was going on in my life when I was reading it. I now fully understand why players want to play for Coach Tressel and why you never hear a parent complaining about him. I've even shared parts of the book with my 7th grade students, who have had a few "a-ha" moments recently because of it. Highly recommended because it is not preachy or overbearing...he just tells it like he sees it.
January 4, 2010
In a lot of ways this book is very similar to many books that can be read about leading your life according to a certain set of value, principles, or purposes. The main thing that make this book different is the stories and illustrations that Tressel uses. Any Buckeye fan is certain to find those stories interesting as I did. It also interesting to learn a little more about a coach that has always seemed to be a true class act.
The one "value" that Tressel included in his "Big Ten" that I have never seen included elsewhere is "class." He said that having and showing class is all about showing respect to other people no matter what there position in left. Other than some of the stories, that is one thing I will remember from this book.
The one "value" that Tressel included in his "Big Ten" that I have never seen included elsewhere is "class." He said that having and showing class is all about showing respect to other people no matter what there position in left. Other than some of the stories, that is one thing I will remember from this book.
September 24, 2008
Some good sections and some that I didn't find quite as useful. I would like to have seen more examples from his actual manual than was presented. I did like the focus that Tressel puts on core principles that transcend any industry or career -- faith, family, discipline, integrity. Sadly, you don't often get that viewpoint from business or motivational books often enough. If you like this I would strongly recommend anything from John Maxwell -- 360 degree leader, Talent is Never Enough, etc. -- very good stuff. An because I am a Michigan fan, this book didn't have much of a chance at 5 stars -- actually no chance. I have to stick to my principles.
February 12, 2012
I enjoyed the different characteristics in this book and a lot of the quotes. There wasn't anything specific here that changed my life but they are great fundamentals to apply in life for everyone. My take on this book is that Tressel has had several requests for the book that they gave to their players ever year and in order to handle that, he wrote this shortened version in order to give to everyone. Some of the book was a little weird in its formatting and so forth but overall a good read that is a good reference book.
January 7, 2014
This was an amazing book, it taught me so many life lessons and changed my perspective of life a little. If you want or need more success this, or love sports like me, then this is the perfect book for you. It was a quick read for me if that interests any of you, it only took me one week. But this sports book is a life changer, it talks about the Ohio State football program and how they got success. But Jim Tressel transfers that team success into everyday life success. It;s a really cook book and I give it a 5 stars without a doubt.
December 30, 2013
Interesting book, diminished by Tressel's issues at Ohio State, this book is still worth reading, as it gives solid advice regarding the idea that discipline, hard work, a positive attitude and an orderly approach to goals will allow a person to be successful.
What I found myself looking forward to reading were the many quotes scattered throughout the book that talk about life, success, and winning. Worth reading for those alone.
What I found myself looking forward to reading were the many quotes scattered throughout the book that talk about life, success, and winning. Worth reading for those alone.
January 4, 2010
I liked the way the book was formatted and the way Coach Tressel weaved in relevant quotes and stories from his life. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I'm a Buckeyes fan... As a fan, I have new insights about the way he runs the OSU football team. The questions for reflection were helpful, although I honestly didn't reflect on them as long as I perhaps could have. I plan to revisit them.
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