Forget Nationals. That’s what you should do for the next 3 weeks.
I’ve heard several guys say something along the lines of “Michigan and Michigan State aren’t that good, just look at their results.” Their results don’t mean shit if we haven’t beaten them head-to-head yet. Both of these teams want to beat us more than anything else. Just like our sole mission for the past 3 years was to upset Michigan and go to Nationals, their mission is to steal the only 2 bids to Nationals and send us home. Michigan has been out for blood for 11 months, and Michigan State is dying to finally make it to Nationals after falling short in 3 straight games-to-go. We have the targets on our backs now; we are on the chopping block.
My point: if you’re not motivated by the desire to be as good as we possibly can, then be motivated by the possibility that our season might end in 3 weeks. Picture how disappointing and embarrassing it would be to finish 3rd in Naperville and watch Michigan and Michigan State play at Nationals.
Let that fear push you through the hard stuff. When you’re tired on the field 3 Sundays from now, or when you don’t want to be at practice, or when you don’t feel like getting off your ass to go lift or throw, imagine how terrible it would feel to lose at Regionals.
Fight or flight.