What's ChopChamps.com All About?
"It means stay focused on the task at hand." -- USA Today
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The year was 2005, early in a season filled with hope -- but backed by little historical success. The scene was a locker room filled with players far from home, who had just blown a lead to a storied opponent from a storied conference, losing in overtime.
The scoreboard at Illinois summarized the story of how the Scarlet Knights lost in OT after holding a lead in the first game of the 2005 season.
What could a young coach in his first head-coaching assignment say to revive his players' flagging morale and restore their belief in themselves?
Here's what he said:
"Just keep chopping."
Those words he chose included the phrase "Just Keep Chopping." The painful lesson he had to teach them was to stay on task, whether winning or losing, to the end of the game.
Days passed as they returned to the practice field and the film room. The desperate words, spoken in a desperate locker room, became a rallying cry for every blocking assignment, every practice, every game.
The college football coach, inspiring 100 young men when few believed in them, went on to lead his players to their first postseason bowl game in a generation.
These young student-athletes, in turn, inspired the loyal but victory-starved football fans and alumni. These players brought a new level of excitement and accomplishment to the institution that in 1869 played the first-ever football game.
Even if you don't like sports or football, you can appreciate the concept.
"Just keep chopping" means: establishing a focus (a goal or vision) and working toward it with perseverance.
It also means: persist, pay attention, stick to your goals; keep doing what you are doing the right way -- even if the results aren’t happening yet.
The Chop: a demonstrative motion like swinging an axe. Hold one hand with palm up. With the other hand chop downward into the open palm. Repeat as necessary.
Check out ChopChamps.com merchandise:
Rutgers Football: A Gridiron Tradition in Scarlet ($30 advance order price / $6 shipping)
ChopChamps.com is a proud sponsor of the Rutgers Touchdown Club, supporting Rutgers football 365 days a year.
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"Rutgers, ranked second nationally in total defense and scoring defense, just might be No. 1 when it comes to staying focused." -- USA Today
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