“Those motherf***ers are trying to knock me out of the game. But I’m not going down. I'm not going anywhere.” – BC Lions quarterback, Buck Pierce, in his inspiring halftime speech last Friday.
Leadership comes in different forms. Some, like hockey’s Joe Sakic, lead by example, playing each and every game at their highest level, moving teammates to follow suit. Some are more vocal and forceful with their words, not accepting mediocrity from teammates and challenging others to step up – Mark Messier was known for his forceful addresses. Last Friday evening against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Buck Pierce did both.
Challenged during the week leading up by Lions Head Coach Wally Buono to be more consistent; battling chronic concussion problems, injured ribs, and an injured shoulder; bloodied and bruised from the first half, the BC Lions quarterback voiced his rallying cry. He made his declaration at halftime, telling his teammates emphatically, that he would not succumb to the physical pressure he was under, and he backed it up with play after play.
Every Lions fan knows that Pierce is one concussion away from the end of his football career, which is why the entire stadium was willing him onwards as the game progressed. In the final minute of play, with the teams tied at 16, he called his own number, choosing not to throw or hand the ball off; instead, taking it himself and running straight into the defense that had been mutilating him all night, and he came away with 20 yards and a first down. The drive ended with a field goal scored by Sean Whyte, on which the Lions won the game. He led the Lion pack with a ferocious effort last week, and tonight, against the Edmonton Eskimos team that is ranked just above the Lions in the standings, Pierce will have to growl once again.
Leadership comes in different forms. Some, like hockey’s Joe Sakic, lead by example, playing each and every game at their highest level, moving teammates to follow suit. Some are more vocal and forceful with their words, not accepting mediocrity from teammates and challenging others to step up – Mark Messier was known for his forceful addresses. Last Friday evening against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Buck Pierce did both.
Challenged during the week leading up by Lions Head Coach Wally Buono to be more consistent; battling chronic concussion problems, injured ribs, and an injured shoulder; bloodied and bruised from the first half, the BC Lions quarterback voiced his rallying cry. He made his declaration at halftime, telling his teammates emphatically, that he would not succumb to the physical pressure he was under, and he backed it up with play after play.
Every Lions fan knows that Pierce is one concussion away from the end of his football career, which is why the entire stadium was willing him onwards as the game progressed. In the final minute of play, with the teams tied at 16, he called his own number, choosing not to throw or hand the ball off; instead, taking it himself and running straight into the defense that had been mutilating him all night, and he came away with 20 yards and a first down. The drive ended with a field goal scored by Sean Whyte, on which the Lions won the game. He led the Lion pack with a ferocious effort last week, and tonight, against the Edmonton Eskimos team that is ranked just above the Lions in the standings, Pierce will have to growl once again.
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