Jim Tressel: 'Have attitude with gratitude'

Youngstown State President Jim Tressel. (Michael Johnson photo)

Jim Tressel knows all about swag.
I had the chance to listen to Youngstown State University president give the keynote address to the 79th Gallia County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Banquet Awards last Thursday night (Jan. 28) at the University of Rio Grande, in Rio Grande, Ohio.
Tressel's talk lasted 48 minutes, 50 seconds, but I hung on every word of this engaging speaker who is best known throughout Ohio as the former head football coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes (2001-2010).
He won seven Big Ten championships, eight BCS bowl game appearances, and one national championship (the 2003 Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., in which OSU defeated Miami, 31-24, in overtime). He also won four Division I-AA titles as football coach at Youngstown State (1986-2000).
He gave me and everyone in the audience a glimpse of his motivational techniques that he used to inspire his players.
He talked about keeping things in perspective, even when the chips are down; enjoying the people with whom one works, associates and keeps within a close circle of friends; to aspire to be the best you can be, every day; and have an attitude of gratitude for the blessings in one's life.
I rather enjoyed learning the meaning of "swag." One of my goals is to learn one new thing each week ... and this qualifies. Watch the video here to find out about "swag" and origins of the term.