Jamy Bechler

Providing Insights on Leadership and Success. Coach Bechler is a John Maxwell Leadership Team Member.

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Oct 11 2018

Episode 090: Former NFL Tight End Brandon Bostick

Brandon Bostick is a former NFL Tight End. He is originally from South Carolina and starred at West Florence HS before going to Newberry College. While at Newberry, he played Wide Receiver and scored 19 touchdowns in only 39 total collegiate games (24 starts). Brandon’s journey has been a story of overcoming the odds to achieve his goals. He played two full seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He would also spend time with the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Jets during his NFL career. Unfortunately, on January 15, 2015 in the NFC Championship Game, he was involved in a play that would be the low point in his career. He fumbled an onside kick, which gave the Seattle Seahawks one last chance to score. The Seahawks scored and would eventually win the game in overtime, advancing to the Super Bowl. Despite this setback Brandon has maintained a positive attitude. He is a good example of a person being resilient and understanding how blessed he is. He had a great career and got to play with some of the best to ever play the game of football. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • His journey to defy the odds and become an NFL player
  • What it was like playing with Aaron Rodgers and in Green Bay
  • The qualities of successful NFL players
  • Advice for bouncing back and overcoming setbacks in life

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports · Tagged: Aaron Rodgers, Adversity, Andy Carter, Bill Belichick, Brandon Bostick, Brett Favre, Dana Cavalea, dwane casey, Football, Green Bay Packers, jason romano, JJ Birden, John Lesaine, Jr., Julius Peppers, Keith Grabowski, Kelly Roach, Mike Hamilton, Mistakes, Newberry College, NFL, Overcoming Adversity, Resiliency, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Shemy Schembechler, Tom Brady, Tony Gaskins

Sep 28 2018

When Preparation Meets Opportunity

You’ve probably heard of guys like Tom Brady, Joe Montana, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw, and Peyton Manning. These are some of the best quarterbacks in the history of the National Football League. But none of them – or anyone else for that matter – has ever done what Ryan Fitzpatrick has accomplished through the first 3 weeks of the NFL season. Ryan Fitzpatrick (“FitzMagic” as he is known) has thrown for more than 400 yards in all three games. No NFL quarterback has ever thrown for 400 yards in three straight games. Ever!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Personal Growth, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Abraham Lincoln, Fitzmagic, Football, Good attitude, Jameis Winston, Joe Montana, john elway, NFL, Opportunity, peyton manning, Preparation, Quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Teammate, teammates, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady

Apr 23 2018

Episode 074: JJ Birden, Former NFL Wide Receiver

JJ Birden played 9 years in the NFL as a Wide Receiver after a stand out career as a star track athlete at the University of Oregon, which is known as “Tracktown, USA”.  A 5’10”, 157-pound wide receiver, JJ was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 1988 NFL Draft and played nine seasons (Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Atlanta Falcons). To play nine years in a profession where the average players career last an average of 3.2 years is something special. Two of those nine years was with Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana. He certainly was not the biggest, strongest, or fastest guy on the field, but he knew how to seize his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and maximize his success through dedication and hard work.

He is now a motivational speaker and representative for the health and nutrition company Isagenix. He is an engaging communicator and a leading expert at helping individuals seize their opportunities in life. In his presentations, JJ shares lessons from his experience as a small man in a big man’s game. JJ’s time in the NFL helped shape the message that he now delivers to audiences around the world. After seeing the successes and failures of others at the highest level, he developed a set of principles that others could follow to achieve greatness, no matter how they defined it or what they’re pursuing.

JJ has also written a book entitled, “When Opportunity Knocks: 8 Surefire Ways to Take Advantage.” He and his wife Raina have 8 kids, including 5 that are adopted.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • Catching footballs from Joe Montana
  • Playing 9 years in the NFL
  • Adopting 5 children
  • Staying positive in any situation
  • Whether this world-class sprinter ever got caught from behind

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Adoption, Atlanta Falcons, Challenges, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Deion Sanders, Football, Isagenix, jason romano, JJ Birden, Joe Montana, Kansas City Chiefs, mental toughness, New England Patriots, NFL, Opportunities, Opportunity, Perseverance, Preparation, Pro Football, Success is a Choice, Track & Field, Underdog, University of Oregon

Feb 02 2018

Episode 064: NCAA Director of Leadership Development Curtis Hollomon

Curtis J. Hollomon is the director of leadership development at the NCAA. His primary duties include strategic advancement of the department, marketing and branding efforts, and program oversight of Resolution Initiatives, NCAA Champion Forum for Football, and Pathway Program (DI). Before coming to the NCAA in 2005, Hollomon was the assistant athletics director for operations and development at St. Cloud (Minnesota) State University. Prior to his duties at SCSU, Hollomon served as assistant to the directors at the Georgia Tech Athletic Association, a nonprofit organization responsible for maintaining the intercollegiate athletics program at Tech. A 1999 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Hollomon was a three-year letterman in football and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in history, technology and society. He holds a master’s degree in sports administration, which he obtained while at St. Cloud State.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • The great work that the NCAA is doing in the area of leadership
  • Knowing your “why” and what your passions are
  • Developing student-athletes to turn pro in something other than sports
  • Winning an ACC Football Championship while at Georgia Tech

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Alicia Jessop, anton goff, Bobby Cox, Celia Slater, Curtis Hollomon, Football, George O'Leary, Georgia Tech, Jamy Bechler, Leadership, Mike Hamilton, NCAA, Social Media, Tim Selgo

Nov 27 2017

Episode 029: Fantasy Football Expert Adam Levitan

Adam Levitan is a fantasy football expert that helps thousands of casual and serious players each week. He is a DraftKings analyst. Along with Fantasy Football Millionaire Maker Winners, Peter Jennings and Al Zeidenfeld, they co-host The Daily Fantasy Football Edge pod. Levitan is also an analyst and writer for Fantasy Labs. He is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writer Association award winner. In 2015, PlayingLegal.com named Levitan as one of the Top-50 Influential People in Daily Fantasy Sports. Not only does he have a loyal following of people wanting fantasy sports advice but he also provides entertaining answers to listener questions each week on his “solo pod” fantasy edge podcast.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • Advice for individuals wanting to play fantasy football
  • Playing a tennis match against a frying pan-wielding tennis pro.
  • How to handle trolls or criticism on social media
  • What motivated him to get into better shape this year

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Al Zeidenfeld, Basketball, Betting, Bull Durham, DFS, Draftkings, ESPN, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Labs, Football, Gambling, hoosiers, Jonathan Bales, Keith Lipscomb, Matthew Berry, Motivation, Ms. Pacman, Peter Jennings, Philadelphia, Poker, Predictive Analytics, Return on Investment, Rotoworld, Tennis, Washington Bullets

Jan 09 2015

Opportunity Knocks

(originally published on January 9, 2015)

The Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes will battle Monday night in the first-ever College Football Playoffs Championship Game. Both teams have glaring examples of people who took advantage of opportunities presented to them and didn’t quit or become disruptive to their teams. I will come back to these Bucks and Ducks in a moment.

As a long-time coach and now an athletic director, it pains me every time that I see a student-athlete get disgruntled over playing time or their role on the team. In nearly every case, the player quits. Oh, they might not quit the team and they might not even make a visible show but slowly and surely they cash out mentally. Instead of seeing the opportunity in every challenge, as Winston Churchill used to say, they see the difficulty in every opportunity. Unfortunately instead of persevering, they make excuses and take on a victim-mentality.

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Personal Growth, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Braxton Miller, Cardale Jones, Football, Heisman Trophy, J.T. Barrett, Marcus Mariota, National Championship, Ohio State University, Thomas Edison, University of Oregon

Jan 01 2015

Win the Day

(originally published on January 1, 2015)

It’s the first day of the new year.  This is a day of new beginnings.  It is a day that gets people thinking about change.   I went to the gym this afternoon for my normal exercise session.  There were a number of new people there that I haven’t seen before.  I think this will become the new normal…at least for a month or so.  New Year’s resolutions abound.  Promises are made.  Commitments are revealed.

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Personal Growth, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Chip Kelly, Florida State, Football, New Year's Resolution, Nike, University of Oregon

Dec 20 2012

The Best College Football Coach

This past Saturday (originally published on December 20, 2012), did you watch ESPN and see the best college football coach in the country lead his team to another National Championship?  What, you say?  Nick Saban had the weekend off . . . Alabama didn’t play.  I am not talking about the Crimson Tide or the Notre Dame Fighting Irish or any other BCS team.

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Sports · Tagged: Cecil Shorts, Coaches, Ed Bubonics, ESPN, Football, Jim Ballard, Larry Kehres, leader, Leadership, Michael Weinreb, Mount Union College, Nick Saban, Norman Chad, Pierre Garcon

Dec 21 2011

Are You Prepared?

The Penn State University scandal is a situation that we all must pay attention to and learn from.  I will not be writing an Op-Ed piece, nor passing judgment in this brief column.  Rather, I encourage all coaches, administrators, teachers . . . anyone that is reading this to take heed and examine how you would handle this kind of situation.  More importantly, how would you handle other situations that may be once in a lifetime situations.

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Football, Joe Paterno, Leadership, NCAA, Penn State University, Planning, Preparation, Scandal

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