• Coach London and The Richmond Spiders go the Distance

    Posted on December 18th, 2008 by and currently 0 commenting.

    This Friday night (Dec. 19) the Richmond Spiders will play the Montana Grizzlies for a real college football championship. I have no dog in the hunt, my Furman Paladins did not make the playoffs this year. But I have been keeping an eye on Richmond all season. So when I received a google alert about Richmond Coach London putting an emphasis on relationships I read the post.

    Mike London is in first year as head coach at his alma mater the University of Richmond. He replaced a very successful coach who moved on to the big boys as an assistant coach at Tennessee. The Shadow of Coach Clawson hung around London the whole season. As the team’s success grew question’s were raised as to who gets credit the old coach or the new coach. To London’s credit he doesn’t care, he said let media decide who gets credit.

    What I found really interesting and relevant to brands and their customers are these comments by London; ‘The biggest thing probably that I’ve gotten out of football is the personal relationships that you need to have with individuals, players and people,’ London said. ‘If people feel you have their best interest at heart, then they’ll go the distance for you.’

    ‘The X-and-O part of it, you hire good coaches to do what they do.’

    From my point of view I relate far more with a brand that values a relationship with me a customer. As the current economy continues to cough and sputter, I think we can all apply Coach London’s advice; ‘If people feel you have their best interest at heart, then they’ll go the distance for you.’

    PS If Richmond wins Friday night they will be the second private institution to win a FCS championship. Who was the first? Furman, of course.

    PPS The Brains on Fire blog will be undergoing maintenance starting today through the weekend, so there will be no post tomorrow. And if you submit a comment and don’t see it posted, that’s why! We’ll post it when things are moving again. Thanks!