Tom Osborne Character Description

How does the author use characterisation to explore the central themes of ‘The Story of Tom Brennan’?

In 1989, on the eve of the final championship game, Steve Fisher became the head coach for Michigan State. He and the team went on to win the championship. Even though they won Steve didn’t really get the credit for the game since he had just been hired the night before. With the next season fast approaching fans and critics were anxious to see if the new coach had good recruiting skills.

The phases of life and social context is predicated through the sum of personal feats and experiences as crises and adversity are the greatest motivator which propel individuals to become better than they were before. J.C. Burke’s ‘The Story of Tom Brennan’ is an example of the transitional process through entering a new, unknown area which acts as a catalyst for beneficial change. Hindered by emotional and physical turmoil, the protagonist Tom Brennan alleviates his devastated life in the new town of Coghill forming relationships along the way and achieving new goals. Lisa Forrest’s article ‘Testing new waters after leaving the swimming pool’ (TNWALTS) is another type towards transitional change that explores the personal crisis and career

Characters in ‘The Story of Tom Brennan’ and how they deal with aspects of growing up or transitions into new phases of life and a broader world.

Individuals respond in various ways to transitioning into a new phase of life and society, these transitions can be challenging and confronting. They can also be transformative and thus some individuals accept and others reject because it’ll often initiate a series of consequences that may accelerate one’s personal growth and involuntarily change one’s perspective and/or attitude. These ideas are manifested in J.C Burke’s, ‘The story of Tom Brennan,' a move about the transitions that characters face after an indelible accident. In correspondence to the short story, ‘Neighbours’ by Tim Winton and is about a young couple moving from the city to the village and finding it difficult to reside with the European migrants.

Joe Ehrmann describes how he has developed his philosophy of coaching by relating the story of his life in his youth, high school and in college describing two different types of coaches he had played for. The first are coaches who were impersonal, authoritarian, and sometimes abusive which he calls transactional coaches; this is in contrast to the humane coaches he calls transformative coaches. Coaches must face this responsibility because we all remember our coaches. “This is the awesome power and responsibility of coaching: You give your players memories, for better or for worse that stay with them until the day they die” (Ehrmann, 2011 p 46-47). Joe Erhmann goes on to ask, “What is the moral and ethical composition of their program?

East Hall High School is where I conducted my coaching interview. I was granted the opportunity to interview one of the most prestige High School coaches in the state of Georgia; Joe Dix. Dix is the head coach for the boys’ Varsity basketball team at East Hall. Dix and his staff were conducting try outs during our coaching interview, which is was pumped about. Coach Dix talked about the pressure on him and his team to bring home a State Title this year since it’s been a decade since his last one. Joe Dix is in his 21st season as a basketball coach and his 11th as the head coach at East Hall. As the head coach at East Hall Dix has won 2 State Titles, with 5 Final Four appearances, and 7 Region Championships.

The football coaches at Auburn University play one of the most crucial roles in the culture of Auburn football. Most often, they are the face of Auburn University football. Media spends more time talking to coaches than to anyone else on the team. The coaches are able to give Auburn fans hope beginning a new season or even in the midst of a tough season. Auburn has had many great coaches over the past one hundred years and many are still highly revered by fans.

Bobby has coached many star athletes during his tenure as head coach including Florida State’s first Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward, Warrick Dunn, arguably the most popular college football player of the 90s, and Chris Weinke, the

He is a terrific Defensive Line coach where he pushes kids to the best of their abilities. When I got hurt last year, Coach Payne was the first to visit. He also then assisted me in my pursuit of a coaching career. He taught me everything I needed to know in order to embark on my journey. He also has assisted me and so many others in loving the game of football. One way he gets players to love the game is simply by having a voice for the players. He will always tell you how he truly feels about your situation and how to exceed the limitations you have. His attitude and voice will always push you to the maximum of your abilities. One such moment was against Iowa Central, He comes in and says the prayer before the game. Normal stuff until he says a few key words after we break. He said, “Are you ready to earn a bowl game. Are you ready to win this rivalry?” At this time the team in unison, “Yes sir!”

Shake down the Thunder- The Official Biography of Notre Dame’s Frank Leahy was written by Wells Twombly. This book was written to perpetuate the life of the legend Franky Leahy and to tell his story of how he fought not to die until his mission was complete. Francis (Frank) Leahy was born August 27, 1908 and died June 21, 1973. He was one of the greatest coaches to ever coach NCAA Division 1 College Football. Frank Leahy was second best to Knute Rockne who he played for, both men Coached at the University of Notre Dame. Leahy coached a total of 13 seasons as a head coach-including two at Boston College. During his coaching career he compiled a record of 107 wins, 13 losses, and 9 ties for a .892 percentage. He had six undefeated seasons, four national championships in seven years holding onto a 39 game winning streak. Frank is the only coach to coach four Heisman Trophy winners. He also had the honor of coaching Vincent Lombardi along with many other successful players throughout his coaching career. The legend Frank Leahy was inducted into the College Football Hall of fame in 1970.

Coach Boone’s contribution to the team’s accomplishments was the most instrumental. It was his idea to

Coach Eddie Rake was a vigorous man and had a lot of determination to win any game he could. He went on to be their coach for thirty four years, with “418 wins, 62 losses, 13 state titles, and from 1964 to 1970 an undefeated streak that ended at 84” (Grisham 11). There was still one question, “Do I love Eddie Rake, or do I hate him?” (Grisham 223). A lot of the players answered differently, saying that “Coach Rake was not easy to love, and while you’re playing here you really don’t like him. But after you leave, after you’ve been kicked around a few times, you soon realize how important Coach Rake is and was” (Grisham 223-224). Rake was there for Nat when he needed him most, and it took too long for the others to realize how good of a coach he actually was. “And when the name of Eddie Rake was mentioned, he would smile and maybe laugh and tell a story of his own. One with a happy ending” (Grisham

Tony Dungy is a highly respected pillar in the athletic community. Breaking barriers throughout his coaching carrier; he was propelled into the spotlight when he became the first African American coach to win a Super Bowl title. Shortly following his victory in Super Bowl XLI came much intrigue into his coaching style and personal life. Many wondering how he gained the respect of all his players and produced positive results while maintaining a calm demeanor. In his book, Quiet Strength, Tony Dungy speaks on the importance of faith and family. Emphasizing the power of prayer, commitment, and patience within faith. As well as the impact of his family on his career, that ultimately changed the path he had preferred for himself.

• Coach Herman Boone, newly appointed head coach at a predominately white school, recently integrated. He is married and has two young daughters in a nuclear family.