Bulletin Board Material--Motivation

[DesertSteel]

So... this subject has always intrigued me. Bulletin board material from the opposing team. There's two schools of thought: 1) It adds extra motivation to the opposing team; 2) It makes no difference because you don't have to motivate professionals. Here's my take: position 2 is the one you hear most analysts take, as well as general fans on forums such as this. However, position 1 is what you hear from most professional athletes themselves. I think the actual athletes are the best ones to decide if it makes a difference.

So, do you think?

A. There is an extra gear of motivation that can be psychologically provoked to reach.

B. Playing in an important game is enough, thus there is no additional motivation to tap.

I'm a believer in position A.

[Fire Goodell]

Position A - why? Professionals are still human beings at the core of it all. From personal experience, yeah winning games was always 'important' even in high stakes, but if i had a reason to hate the other team / whoever was lined up across from me, i would try harder to win. It's that extra +10% and sometimes that could make a difference

[tube517]

The story for the 74 Steelers, on the verge of a dynasty, was Coach Noll never said rah rah speeches except one time. The Raiders-Dolphins played the Sea of Hands divisional playoff game and Madden said that the 2 best teams (Raiders-Dolphins) were on the field that day and that was the real Super Bowl

Noll proceeded to say to his team that Madden was wrong and the young Steelers were the best team in the league. They proceeded to kick the Raiders' ass AT OAKLAND for the AFCC game.

Mean Joe said he rose up out of his chair and the whole lockerroom rose up and cheered after Noll made that statement.

The only other time I can think of for the Steelers was Bettis' speech to get him to Detroit for the Super Bowl.

[GoSlash27]

So... this subject has always intrigued me. Bulletin board material from the opposing team. There's two schools of thought: 1) It adds extra motivation to the opposing team; 2) It makes no difference because you don't have to motivate professionals. Here's my take: position 2 is the one you hear most analysts take, as well as general fans on forums such as this. However, position 1 is what you hear from most professional athletes themselves. I think the actual athletes are the best ones to decide if it makes a difference.

So, do you think?

A. There is an extra gear of motivation that can be psychologically provoked to reach.

B. Playing in an important game is enough, thus there is no additional motivation to tap.

I'm a believer in position A.

I think BB material changes how players feel about the game, but it's not necessarily a good thing. Some may play better when angry, others may become distracted.

[FrancoLambert]

Big believer in position A...if the teams are somewhat comparable in talent.

On the other hand, if there’s a big difference in talent levels it won’t make much of a difference IMO.

[Butch]

I will just put this out here. In SB X when Gerela missed his 2nd FG from the 33 a guy named Cliff Harris for the cowboys thought it would be a good idea to pat Gerela on the head and thank him for helping the cowbosy cause. Lambert took an exception to this and slammed Harris to the ground. After arguing his case to the official to stay in the game, Jack's legs started pumping as he became even more focused on the game. The Steelers were down at that point 10-7, but it was the turning point of the game.

I know it's not bulletin board material, but if those actions by another team can motivate so can things such as bulletin board material.

[86WARD]

Bulletin Board material works on every level. It’s that little extra motivation...look no further than these “Terrible Towel Curses”.

[Moose]

I think 'A'... A player should always have the motivation to defeat the opposing team, for that's the reason in PLAYING the game, but we all know that some player's just go through the motion at times and need alittle boot in the butt to fire the desire.

[AtlantaDan]

An example last night that athletes will use bulletin board material along with any other perceived or real slight as motivation

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No doubt Mahomes wanted to show the Bears they screwed up drafting Trubisky over him (even though getting with Andy Reid rather than John Fox was a great break for Mahomes)