“Those who won’t are no better than those who can’t,” said former head coach of the Baltimore Ravens Brian Billick, in a speech before Towson University students and faculty.
Billick spoke to an audience of 100 in Smith Hall last Thursday, in honor of receiving a lifetime achievement award for his accomplishments in the public relations field. Billick, who graduated from Brigham Young University, “never intended to use his communications degree,” with an emphasis in public relations. “The field was so exciting and broad based, I figured I could use the degree for anything,” says Billick. Although he had no intent of utilizing his degree, he began his career as the Assistant Director of Public Relations for the San Francisco 49ers.
Throughout the speech, Billick informed the audience of what “corporate America” is seeking in an employee. He spoke of leadership, passion, and conviction. “In a bacon and egg breakfast the chicken is involved but the pig is committed. You want to be a pig,” states Billick. The suggestion of being a pig was a theme throughout the speech. Even when Billick discusses football players, he depicts some of them as being pigs and patriots (literally and figuratively), and some as being chickens and mercenaries.
Billick educated the Towson University students to “nurture the ability to develop and maintain relationships. Figure out what the person is about. How can we help one another? Make a connection.” This segment of the speech stuck with sophomore, and public relations major Karina Halvey. “Everything he said really made sense. There is much more to relationships then on a business level."
The audience listened attentively to Billick as he compared a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, to what personnel in the business world are supposed to resemble. The Baltimore Ravens were down by five, at the seven yard line. It was the final play of the game. “I have a play for every situation,” Billick stated, “although if you’ve read the Baltimore Sun I don’t.” Billick told the quarterback the play, and when it came time to execute he did not follow through, but nonetheless they won the game. When Billick asked the quarterback why he threw it to the wide receiver instead of the pass he was supposed to implement, he simply replied, “Because he was open.” The quarterback looked at the situation and came up with a better solution; he did not just do something merely because he was told,
Billick’s speech was well thought out and directly to the point. The audience laughed at his jokes, and with good reason. When asked his plans for the future Billick replied, “We’ll see. I have a huge passion for coaching, but I do not just want to coach because there is nothing else to do.” Billick is currently in the process of writing a book, and has contracts with CBS, and Fox to appear on several sports shows in the fall.
To find out more information about Brian Billick and his achievements, please visit these websites:
Baltimore Sun
WJZ News
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