[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fi0yp3Prt_ffSg7C6CxriW2yb7n6DjzqIqVTaq-rBnx4":3,"$fY7Py0tCorJ-KvH3PtCBzpOtFJxzbmEQcavlmgP-VO-k":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"bio_jsonld":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},165498,"Mickey Matthews","M",18,null,"mickey-matthews",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":118},[14,27,40,51,57,68,79,90,96,107],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":9},2066329,"I?m in favor of it. We don?t get to play many games, and if we get a chance to play, we should play. I wish we would do away with open dates period, and just start playing in September. If it?s fair, it would be fair to everyone.",4,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[22],{"id":23,"tag":24},5052802,{"id":25,"tag_name":26},741,"chance",{"id":28,"quote_text":29,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":30,"author":31,"source":32,"quote_tag":33,"commentary":39},2066323,"The biggest understatement is that we're the best I-AA conference. We could be one of the seven or eight best in the nation at any level.",true,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[34],{"id":35,"tag":36},5052797,{"id":37,"tag_name":38},2294,"best","**The Backstory**\n\nMickey Matthews, a legendary coach at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), is credited with leading the team through significant growth and success during his tenure in the late 20th century. The quote suggests that Matthews' perspective was shaped by his experience competing against top-tier programs while his own institution faced limitations in resources and recognition. This context highlights the tension between humility and ambition, a common challenge for coaches and leaders navigating their roles within the NCAA.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nThe understatement is not just about modesty; it's about recognizing that external labels (e.g., \"best I-AA conference\") can be misleading. Matthews' statement reveals an awareness of the arbitrary nature of rankings and categorizations, suggesting that true excellence often transcends these boundaries.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nWhen navigating your own professional landscape, consider the tendency to over-identify with labels or categories that might not fully capture your capabilities. Instead, focus on developing a mindset that is open to challenging assumptions and pushing beyond perceived limitations, much like Matthews did by setting his sights on national-level competition despite ETSU's classification as an I-AA school.",{"id":41,"quote_text":42,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":43,"source":44,"quote_tag":45,"commentary":9},2066319,"It's not like we walked through the league. We had some very difficult games and some things went our way.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[46],{"id":47,"tag":48},5052790,{"id":49,"tag_name":50},2356,"difficult",{"id":52,"quote_text":53,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":54,"source":55,"quote_tag":56,"commentary":9},2066313,"That?s like saying I had a date with a blonde. Well, there are some ugly blondes and there are some good-looking blondes. Sometimes the committee gives the same weight to all Division I, but who did you play.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":58,"quote_text":59,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":60,"source":61,"quote_tag":62,"commentary":9},2066307,"During the coin flip, one of the coaches up in the press box said 'Coach, Adam can't go the first series,' and I said 'Why not?' ... He said 'He got run over by the Duke Dog on a motorcycle.'",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[63],{"id":64,"tag":65},5052779,{"id":66,"tag_name":67},11995,"adam",{"id":69,"quote_text":70,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":71,"source":72,"quote_tag":73,"commentary":9},2066300,"Theres nothing good about playing one of those teams,",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[74],{"id":75,"tag":76},5052773,{"id":77,"tag_name":78},2500,"good",{"id":80,"quote_text":81,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":82,"source":83,"quote_tag":84,"commentary":9},2066295,"Everyone understands money, ... When the head of the household gets a big raise, theres more things you can do. If your athletic department needs money to operate, thats why you go play em.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[85],{"id":86,"tag":87},5052766,{"id":88,"tag_name":89},22164,"athletic",{"id":91,"quote_text":92,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":93,"source":94,"quote_tag":95,"commentary":9},2066292,"we just need to keep it in his hands.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":97,"quote_text":98,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":99,"source":100,"quote_tag":101,"commentary":9},2066284,"We need to look at other backs. We?re trying to establish who?s our third-best running back this game.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[102],{"id":103,"tag":104},5052760,{"id":105,"tag_name":106},10341,"establish",{"id":108,"quote_text":109,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":110,"source":111,"quote_tag":112,"commentary":9},2066272,"We always start at Page 1. Everyone that?s returning knew exactly what to do and practiced really well. And everyone?s that?s new was struggling, to put it mildly.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[113],{"id":114,"tag":115},5052746,{"id":116,"tag_name":117},48292,"exactly",{"currentPage":119,"totalPages":120,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":121},1,2,10]