What a difference a year makes.
Here in Detroit – my hometown – 2022 was pretty much distinguished by mediocrity in the world of pro sports. While the Lions finished last season strong, there was much frustration among fans of the Tigers, Red Wings, and Pistons.
Sports radio listeners will endlessly argue about which town has the best fans – Boston, New York, and Chicago are always in that mix. But other markets like Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis might have something to add to the debate.
In the Motor City, of course, we think it’s us. And consider, Detroit is the only market with all four major pro sports where they all play their games downtown. In fact, the three stadiums (the Wings and Piston both play at Little Caesars Arena) are all “stone’s throws” from each other. For a city whose downtown has mightily struggled in the last half of the 20th century, this is true progress. No longer are scores settled in faraway Pontiac, Auburn Hills, or other suburbs that lack legitimacy, cred, or soul.
This week, in particular, Detroit sports fans are enjoying a rare two-fer. The University of Michigan is competing for the college football championship this coming Monday night against the Washington Huskies. But the even crazier news revolves around the lowly Detroit Lions. Not only are they back in the NFL playoffs for the first time in years, fans are not expecting the usual “one and done” from this group. They may not be “America’s Team” yet…but more and more fans around the country are loving what the Lions are doing.
The reason for much hopeful optimism comes down to just one guy – the head coach, Dan Campbell. Today’s blog post will help tell Campbell’s story of leadership – and grit – through the lens of social media. The inspiration came from WCSX’s morning host, Jim O’Brien, a passionate Lions fans. You can see his tweet at the top of this post.
As for Campbell, I’ve mentioned him in posts over the last few months. It’s hard to avoid him. Seldom do you get to see a coach make a quantum difference in a team’s fortunes like Campbell has. He was the star of HBO’s Hard Knocks+ in 2022, a well-timed TV production that predicted the events of the past year.
Campbell has done more to “restore the roar” here in Detroit than any of the players or owners. If you liken sports coaches to radio program directors – as I do – you definitely want to find PDs who exude some of Campbell’s qualities. There aren’t many. But I will salute one such leader at the end of this post.
It’s not all Coach Campbell, of course. The Lions have many truly talented and exciting players, a half dozen of whom will be going to the Pro Bowl. But when you think about the most electrifying, inspirational person on the field during Lions game, it is Dan Campbell, hands down.
He takes risks – perhaps better referred to as hunches. For example, the Lions “go for it” on 4th down more than any other team in the league by far. It’s not even close. And more often than not, his risks pay off. 
We’re seeing more head coaches follow in those footsteps, a tribute to Campbell’s influence on a game he’s played his entire life.
In last weekend’s thriller versus the Dallas Cowboys, Campbell elected to go for a 2-point conversion to win a game rather than kick an automatic extra point that would have sent the game into overtime. In fact, the Lions’ mercurial coach “went for 2” on three consecutive downs due to penalties, rather than do what every other NFL coach would have done. But that’s Dan Campbell. (Some here in Detroit are calling it his “Tin Cup” moment, but we’re good with that.)
So, the Lions ended up losing a game they might’ve won. And you know what? The players, executives, owners, and most fans support Campbell’s decision-making. Because they believe in him and what he means to this team.
Beyond playing in the high stakes room, Lions players know the foundation behind their coach’s decisions is that he believes in THEM. His risks are based on his intrinsic faith in them as players and as people. And that’s something often missing in corporate conference rooms these days.
This is a team that has the worst overall playoff record in all of football. As an original NFL team, the Lions’ last championship was back in 1957, long before there was even a Super Bowl. The Lions have never played in what is now known as “The Big Game.” In fact, the last time they even managed to win a playoff game was in 1991 – well more than 30 seasons ago, long before many on the current roster was even born.
And here’s the kicker. The Lions went an ignominious 0-16 back in 2008. That’s right – they lost every single game they played that season. You cannot perform worse than that in the NFL.
Dan Campbell was a tight end on that team. Anybody can say they can turn around a losing organization, but only someone associated with all that losing knows what that level of failure really feels like. When he signed on as the Lions’ head coach three years ago, you know that infamous “0-fer” season was still keeping him up at night. When you’ve known the depths of despair and frustration, the thrill of turning a team – an entire franchise – around is a special thing.
For Campbell’s run in Detroit – his first head coaching job – he had to lay it out for a community conditioned to chant their mantra – “SOL” – “same old Lions” – every time a bonehead thing happened in a game. For the Lions, the list was long: untimely penalties, shoddy execution, a lack of focus, horrendous game plans, all accompanied by unspeakably bad luck and misfortune.
Like all great managers, Campbell set his tone and called his shot at his introductory press conference as head coach. Here’s a short but salient excerpt below. While it was met by much skepticism by fans and the media alike, Campbell took his best shot, held nothing back, and laid his core philosophy out there for the world to see:
Later, Campbell’s appearance on Hard Knocks turned out to be prophetic. It was an eye-opener for many NFL fans who had never heard of this guy or only knew him as a hardboiled tight end. On that show, there’s a seminal moment that puts Campbell’s mindset into perspective.
He is asked to predict the Lions’ fortunes going into that season, by completing the sentence, “The Lions will….”
It would be his prediction, the true “pressure test” of his plan, his scheme, his statement of purpose.
It is a remarkable piece of video because it goes right to the heart and soul of how great coaches consider the battlefield and the players who will (hopefully) leave it all on the field because they believe in the mission. It’s a not a long video, but there’s a bit of dead air that summarizes the hard work, effort, and commitment it takes to win in an operation known for its losing:
So when the coach was at the forefront of literally turning the team around this season, clinching the NFC North title a couple weekends back, it was a moment for Dan Campbell, the team, the organization, and this city.
And as Jim O’Brien points out in his tweet, it’s a moment that requires more than a top-of-mind response to what has just happened on a football field. It’s a moment when there needs to be acknowledgement from the guy who drew up the plan. And if you’re seen Campbell’s end-of-game locker room speeches – whether the Lions win or lose – you know there’s a special thing going on here.
So where’s the radio analogy here?
Well, there are several.
1. Set the tone – on Day One – Especially in an atmosphere of losing or mediocrity, laying it out early removes the ambiguity. Of course, you have to live up to those words. My friend, Buzz Knight, used to have a
plaque on his desk when he programmed that simply said: “D.W.Y.S.Y.W.D.” – the acronym for “Do what you say you will do.”
It was a reminder to his staff, but also himself as a manager/coach. You have to walk your walk, or face the reality of losing the team. I would also maintain the tone you set in your first week or two is the one you’ll live with throughout your tenure at a radio station. If you tell everyone you’re going to “bite kneecaps off,” get ready to play that style of radio.
Your words matter. Live up to them.
(The small acronym at the bottom – TIBB? It stands for “This is Buzz Ball,” the brand of radio we’re going to be known for.)
2. Take it seriously – These are people’s careers on the line. They’re here because they believe in the organization and the person at the top with the plan. They’ve invested in you as a programmer, a strategist, a coach, and a person.
When Dan Campbell leaves a :52 gap between words as he’s thinking of just the right response to an important question, you learn this guy’s as serious as a heart attack.
3. But celebrate the accomplishments and honor the staff, no matter what’s blowing up around you – In today’s radio environment, getting those high ratings is no longer a guarantee of success. The sales department may not be able to sell them, the advertising environment is lousy, and other industry conditions can make success fleeting. In an atmosphere of losing, especially when the parent company is struggling, it may be common to let those victories go unnoticed or be difficult to celebrate.
But the players – your staff – need to revel in their accomplishments, whether it’s over a couple beers or some much-needed recognition in the station conference room. For Campbell, it’s the old tradition of handing out “game balls” to players and personnel who did something special on the field.
If I was still a PD during these perilous time, I might have to make an investment at the local dollar store and stock up on a bunch of those mini-footballs so I could hand out my own trophies at the end of a book, a quarter, or a year. Yes, they are worth far more than the price you pay for them.
(You can get a 12-pack from Party City for just $6.)
And that brings me to radio reality, because at the end of this year, one of the best programmers – and people – I know, stepped down from his gig to ride off into the radio sunset. After a spectacular tw0-decade run where he programmed WMMR to consistent victories, and later did the same for sister station, WMGK, Bill Weston called it a career on the last working day of 2023. On Twitter/X, Bill described himself as “conductor of the MMR orchestra (all playing kazoos and slide whistles).”
The reality is that Bill turned WMMR around, restored its roar, and made it work under two appreciative owners, Greater Media and Beasley. Throughout his programming years in Philly (and in other markets that included Providence, Richmond, and New York City), Bill has always shared the honors with his staffs, his managers, his owners, and outside players like researchers and consultants.
But it is great leadership that has made the difference all these years in Philadelphia. Through it all, Bill has “never forgotten what it took to get here.”
In an interview with Inside Radio last month Bill
clinically walks through the resurrection of WMMR, one daypart at a time. But he left out some important parts – an intuitive sense for talent that enabled him to reassemble a killer airstaff, discover the morning show solution in Preston & Steve, and identify a superstar talent in overnights, Jacky Bam Bam. And all the while, collaborating with one of the greats in rock radio, Pierre Robert (who announced a new contract extension earlier this week).
When John Fullam brought Bill in to “fix MMR,” I was in the room where it happened. Bill’s first staff meeting had some similarities to Dan Campbell’s opening missive, sans kneecaps. But it was at that meeting where Bill set his tone to frustrated staff who had heard it all before and was tired of losing.
Throughout it all, Bill has been unflappable in the face of adversity, tough challenges, and the circumstances that impact even the best radio brands. He’s a serious thinker, he’s a mentor, and he’s resilient – all qualities you want in someone running a starship the size and heft of an MMR.
As I thought about Dan Campbell’s accomplishment so far helming the Lions, I couldn’t help but think about what Bill has pulled off in Philly. And he’s got the Marconi(s) to prove it. Hopefully, Campbell will be similarly hoisting that Lombardi Trophy before long.
Bill Weston will be missed…but will also be celebrated by friends, family, and staff soon, at “an undisclosed location.”
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
- Baby, Please Don’t Go - November 22, 2024
- Why Radio Needs To Stop Chasing The Puck - November 21, 2024
- Great Radio – In The Niche Of Time? - November 20, 2024
This is a great missive on how to succeed. Thank you for sharing this, Fred. I have always used sports analogies to explain strategies and tactics. This story is a road map on how to develop and lead a team. Love this!!!
Spprts analogies almost always come in handy, Mike. I just worry sometimes that for people who don’t know an RBI from a PAT, these posts can get tedious. Still, a lot of us are fluent in sports, a great way to “see” radio through a different lens. Thanks for the comment.
Fred, Thank you. Excellent as always. The Coach is The Catalyst who makes it happen with teamwork. Here’s to a Great Turnaround Year!
Spot-on, Clark. It all starts from the top
Fred,
LOVE this!!! I’m saving this one. And, even though I’m a staunch Eagles fan, a part of me is really hoping for a Lions-Browns Super Bowl. Wouldn’t that be something to write about?
Indded it would, John. I”m still trying to wrap my head around the Jared Goff vs. Matthew Stafford showdown. It’ll be a good one.
“Decker reported.”
Indded he did. Hopefully, the Lions leverage their anger into a nice streak this month. Thanks, Jim.
Right-on with your tribute to Bill Weston. We walked the halls at Taft Broadcasting in Buffalo back in ’82 and he proved back then that he was a smart thinker. Taking chances can be risky, even when you’re successful in today’s corporate climate – but if you’re in a position to do that, you’ll need a supervisor who’s smart enough to discover a path to success. NFL analogies should permeate broadcasting (as well as other business) because it’s show business for cryin’ out loud. We can second-guess Dan Campbell’s last second decisions til next year, but he’s still a hero as long as The Lions keep it going. We know it can’t last forever. Ask Belicheck.
As my brother, Paul, always says, “Everythinng has a beginning, a middle, and an end.” For Weston, the credits have rolled on a stellar career. For Campbell, hopwfully, we’re at the beginning. Thanks, Dave.