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"Football lessons we learn as kids and all continue to apply to the rest of our life. Life is a team game, it's the big game."(Chesney, 2010) This quote from legendary Alabama Quarterback, Joe Namath, really shows the value we place on football in our nation. Millions tune in every Saturday to watch college teams all across the country compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff. With so much attention and importance put on the playoff race, every single aspect is broken down by media and the sports loving fans. But sadly one of the most important aspects is broken down very little to not at all, communication. Communication is defined as, "the process through which people use messages to generate meanings within and across contexts, cultures, channels, and media."(McCornack , 2013, pg.6) Most people forget about communication and its giant part in everything about college football and life. Communication is the glue that holds together everything that happens on and off the field to bring a team a victory or a loss. So this January when the national championship trophy is raised, you will know it wasn't accomplished without some very effective communication. Here is all you need to know about the role communication plays in a team being champs or chumps.

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1.Uncertainty Reduction Theory and Recruiting

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1.Uncertainty Reduction Theory and Recruiting

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Nobody likes not knowing what is coming next, especially college football coaches or their fans. The Uncertainty Reduction Theory states, "the primary compulsion during initial encounters is to reduce uncertainty about our conversational partners by gathering enough information about them so their communication becomes predictable and explainable." (McCornack, 2013, pg. 83) Though the theory is self explanatory as to what is trying to be accomplished, the way in which uncertainty ultimately is reduced can be a very personalized approach for each person. There are 3 types of strategies that can be used; passive, active, and interactive. Passive strategies are all about observations without contact with the person, for example looking at someones social media or observing someone in a social setting. Active strategies are a little more interaction but not with the actual subject you are trying reduce uncertainty on. For example one active strategy you could use would be talking to the subject's friends or teachers to find out a little more about them. Lastly, interactive strategies involve the most contact with the actual subject. Interactive strategy involves actual contact with the subject through any medium(phone calls, text, emails and even face to face interaction). (McCornack, 2013, pg 83-85).

Now what does this have to do with college football you ask? It plays a huge part in the recruiting aspect of college football. Teams everywhere rush around to collect the best talent in the nation to secure the competitive future of their team. Coaches and their recruiting coordinators use all the above strategies to make sure that they are recruiting talent that will make a team competitive. A big passive strategy used by schools is game film. Coaches use this game film to evaluate the true skill of the player, along with checking their social media feeds to ensure the kid is well behaved and respectful. If coaches like what they see in the passive strategy phase, then they amplify to the interactive level. Interactive strategies used by coaches would be coming to games and talking with the subjects current coaches and family about the subjects future plans. And if coaches are ready now to offer the student a spot on their team, they will ultimately begin using interactive strategies at huge rates. The student will begin getting mass amounts of emails, texts, and phone calls from the interested school. And ultimately if the head coach deems it necessary to make an in-home visit to the recruit that is often what they will do to win the recruit over. Uncertainty Reduction theory plays a huge part in ensuring that your favorite school is getting the best talent to compete with the rest of the country. The video attached is an advertisement the Big Ten Conference made in 2010 when the network opened. This ad gives a better look into how coaches use their active strategies to lure the athlete to choose their school.

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Director Kenneth Quan, also camera operator for the Big Ten Network Commercial for upcoming Basketball season

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2. Implicit Personality Theories and Perceptions of Teams and Players

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2. Implicit Personality Theories and Perceptions of Teams and Players

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One of the biggest parts of being a college football fan is all the projections and predictions. Often some of these predictions can be right, but sometimes very wrong. The reason for some of the mixed results is because most predictions come based off the heels of some heavy perceptions by each analyst. These perceptions are usually based off of personalities on the team. Implicit personality theories deals with how people use personal beliefs about certain traits and the ways in which way they cluster all together. (McCornack, 2013, pg. 92) Meaning that the way one analyst interprets a trait might be way different than another person analyzes that same trait.

My favorite example of implicit personality theories was the prime of Miami Hurricane football in the 1980's. If you walked through the campus at Coral Gables it was a very calm, beautiful and classy setting. But their football team carried a swagger and talked arrogantly to opponents, which gave it the nickname of "The U". This reputation "The U" was given was not at all representative of the Coral Gables setting. See, the University of Miami went out and recruited kids from the inner city that were ruled as too arrogant or "risky" to take on because of their loud and outspoken manners in which they played. Coach Howard Schnellenberger did not see these kids playing styles as arrogant or unruly, he saw the loud banter and aggressiveness as hunger and passion to compete which he could channel to make a dynasty. Most infamous college coaches wrote off these kids because their out loud personalities seemed unruly and disrespectful, to where at "The U" they encouraged the behavior. In my opinion, allowing these inner city kids to thrive together is what formed some of the greatest football teams to ever grace a college field. All because one coach's beliefs in the passion of trash talking inner city kids, that nobody else cared to invest in because they saw it as a waste of time. Here is a little taste of what it meant to play for "The U".

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University of Miami Hurricanes Celebrations The U Football

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3. Communication Accommodation Theory and "Spider Y 3 Banana"

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3. Communication Accommodation Theory and "Spider Y 3 Banana"

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As human beings we often seek approval from our peers. One of the best ways to be accepted by others is to adopt the way in which they communicate. Communication accommodation theory states that, "people are motivated to adapt their language when they seek social approval, wish to establish relationships with others, and view others' language as appropriate." (McCornack, 2013, pg. 196) Meaning that people will change the ways or vocabulary in which they speak because they see it as very effective, something they all share or to just plain be accepted by their peers.

The best football example of this, is the lingo that different coaches use when calling plays. In college football there are many types of offenses and each coach has a way of communicating to his offense on what play or formation he wants. Although the phrase; "Doubles right tight motion jet left gut right" might mean nothing to you, every single Ohio State offensive player can tell you exactly what that play is and what every player is supposed to do on that play call. Not only does this language communicate everyone's assignment for the next play, it also unify's the team as they all share this common language. If the teams quarterback would decide to use his own lingo, the entire offense and coaching staff would have no idea what is suppose to happen during the play. It is very key that every single player learns and memorizes the lingo and language of their coach. The clip attached is of Andrew Luck and former NFL coach, Jon Gruden. Coach Gruden worked for many years with Luck's college coach, David Shaw. Ultimately, the two coaches share a common lingo when it comes to offense and Luck is able to comprehend and communicate with Gruden about offense. This clip is more informally known as "Spider Y 3 Banana".

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SPIDER 2 and SPIDER 3 Y BANANA. YOU CANT GO BROKE, TAKING A PROFIT DONT EVER THROW THE VENUS ON A SPIDER 3 Y BANANA http://www.10-78.info http://search.espn.go.com/results?searchString=andrew%20luck&start=16&dims=6 FAIR USE NOTICE: These Videos may contain copyrighted (© ) material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner.

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4. Social Exchange Theory and The tale of 2 QB's 

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4. Social Exchange Theory and The tale of 2 QB's 

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Is the grass actually greener on the other side? Social exchange theory takes a look at the way we communicate and determined that, "you will be drawn to those you see as offering substantial benefits with few associated costs." (McCornack, 2013, pg. 291) This theory states that we usually do what benefits us most especially when it comes to communicating and relationships. We as part of human nature often worry about what is best for us and not the group and this theory explains it from a communication stand point.

Texas A&M has been the kings of recruiting talent in the past 5 years, but much more recently they have had 2 highly recruited quarterbacks transfer because they saw the "greener grass" was not in College Station, Texas. The two quarterbacks had decided at the end of the 2015 season that Coach Kevin Sumlin's style and indecisiveness between the two was not working for them anymore. Kyle Allen, the gunslinger from west Texas decided that he would transfer and take his talents just down the road to the young and upstart Houston, where he sat out the 2016 season and looks to replace Senior Greg Ward III in the 2017 season. Just a few days later the infamous "chosen one" from Allen, Texas, Kyler Murray, decided he would transfer to just across the Red River to Oklahoma University where he also sat the 2016 season. Murray looks to replace senior Quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2017. Why the two star studded quarterbacks decided to transfer is still kind of blury, but the stars of ESPN's First Take debate in this attached clip why this happened and what it means for the future of Texas A&M football.

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ESPN First Take Results Voted Cousins vs Howard & Stephen A

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Kyler Murray Leaves Aggie Football Program

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ESPN First Take   QBs Kyler Murray & Kyle Allen Transfer from Texas A&M Aggies

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Thank you for watching Please Subscribe, Like & Share Video. Subscribe for new Videos ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZJ1owUOjvRJmTzBVn6Qtxw

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5. Communication Privacy Management Theory and Angry Coaches

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5. Communication Privacy Management Theory and Angry Coaches

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There are some things that people feel that they cannot share with others or do not care to share. Communication privacy management theory is, "the idea that individuals create informational boundaries by choosing carefully the kind of private information that they reveal and the people with whom they share it." (McCornack, 2013, pg. 339) This theory explains how people only communicate things to people that they feel comfortable with or if they deem the information necessary to be given while still maintaining a certain level of privacy. This often plays a big part of "deception by omission" where people decide to reveal information by just not sharing it.
Coaches don't often say their opinion on media scrutiny or favor shown to their team or players. But often coaches consider their players part of their family and if they are wrongly accused or talked negatively about, they will come to their defense. Coach Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State has been very successful and has lead the Cowboys to many winning seasons. Although Gundy is usually a very calm and collected man, he will forever be remembered for his infamous rant in 2007. Gundy sat a senior in favor of a younger quarterback, and a beat writer for the Cowboys reported the benching was due to the seniors fear of failing and discussions of his transfer to another school. Gundy lost his mind on this reporter repeatedly reminding her that if she wanted to talk bad about someone, do not go after the athlete and instead go after the coach who made a decision. Gundy's reasoning, "I'm a man. I'm 40." Gundy choose to take down his boundaries with the media because he was very upset with the way in which one of his players was written about, had any other article been written he may not of made that decision to reveal his personal opinion of the young man.

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Oklahoma State Football Coach Mike Gundy Upset

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Coach Gundy is upset after the win over Texas Tech. The only comments after the game are about what was in a newspaper about one of his quaterbacks.

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6. Self Discrepancy Theory and "Zeke the Freak" 

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6. Self Discrepancy Theory and "Zeke the Freak" 

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Nobody likes to feel inadequate especially when it comes to not meeting expectations. "Self discrepancy theory states there are two parts of the self that must be met in order to bolster self-esteem. First is ideal self, these are the characteristics you want to possess based on your desires. Second standard is the ought self. Ought self is the person others desire you to be." (McCornack, 2013, pg.42) Self discrepancy theory talks about how these two parts of us come together to form the people we strive to become to make us happy and satisfied with life. Ideal self is a very independent thinking process because this is part of your self that you envision all by yourself, you are trying achieve what the book refers to as "your perfect self". (McCornack, 2013, pg. 42) Ought self is all determined by others views and opinions on you, and ought self is very much out of your control. Self discrepancy theory also states failure to meet any of these expectations from ought or ideal self can cause giant issues within a person's self esteem.
In under 2 years, Ezekiel Elliott of Ohio State had went from a young freshman running back to a national superstar. This soft spoken running back from St. Louis had taken on a new alter ego, "Zeke the Freak". If you walked past Ezekiel at the grocery store on any given day he would be quietly walking through the store minding his own business but come college football season, the beast would be unleashed. Zeke's specialty was simple, everything. He would make any defender look silly with his speed and agility, roll up his jersey to show off all the workouts he had endured and when he beat you, he would let you know about it. Zeke had become a monster that just could not be contained, one that Buckeyes fan's everywhere had deemed the "hero in a half shirt". As special as Zeke had become, there were key changes in his ideal and ought self that caused this shift from Ezekiel Elliott into "Zeke to Freak". Now that Zeke had become the face of the Buckeyes, the ought self was changed by new and tough expectations of coaches, media, fans and NFL scouts. It was no longer special for Zeke to do the things he was doing, he was instead now expected to be a superstar of every single game. This change in role also affected Zeke's ideal self, as he now also expected himself to carry the Buckeyes to victory after victory. Zeke had a very high discrepancy of himself, until this moment in the clip attached. Ohio State was coming off a national championship season with one of the best returning teams in the country. In one of the last games of the season, #1 Ohio State faced #8 Michigan State at home in the "Horseshoe" on senior day. With 4 seconds left in the game Michigan States kicker lined up for a field goal that sank the Buckeyes with a 17- 14 loss. Zeke who averaged over 32 touches a game, was only given 12 in a hugely disappointing loss. Zeke immediately realizes that he has not met the standard of his ought or ideal self and begins to throw shots at his coaching staff and even declares that he "WILL NOT" return to Ohio State for his Junior season. This is a perfect example of what happens when peoples self discrepancy goes from ultimate high to ultimate low, the results are not pretty.

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Derrick Henry Vs Ezekiel Elliott ESPN Sports Science

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Ezekiel Elliott rips play calling, will not return to Ohio State

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Ezekiel Elliott was critical of play calling after Ohio State's loss to Michigan State and made it clear that this is his last season with the Buckeyes.

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7. Interpersonal Deception Theory and Cal's New Offensive Lineman 

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7. Interpersonal Deception Theory and Cal's New Offensive Lineman 

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People lie, its part of our nature. Interpersonal deception theory talks about what happens psychologically to allow our selves to fabricate the truth. David Buller and Judee Burgoon highlight the many parts of this theory in chapter 7 of the 2014 book, "A First Look At The Communication Theory". Before deception can take place 2 things must be established, first thing being that the communication must be interactive and the second being premeditated deception demands mental effort. The theory also describes some tell-tale signs of when some is trying to deceive you including; uncertainty and vagueness, withdrawal, disassociation, and most importantly image and relationship protecting behavior. Also deception theory lists how the truth eventually comes out through what they refer to as "leakage" which refers to the little bits of truth the deceiver will give off. (Burgon and Buller, 2014, pg. 97-108)
In 2008, a young man form Nevada named Kevin Hart committed to play football at the University of California. The 6 foot 5 inch offensive lineman gathered the entire student body of his high school in his gym. He was the first football player from his high school to ever accept a division 1 offer, or so they all thought. The announcement made local and state media and when the Coaches at California found out about this announcement, they announced that they had not even reached out to Kevin Hart or his family and that there was no scholarship for him. Hart had lied to his coaches, friends and even his family to make people truly believe this giant lie he had formulated. The cops were eventually involved as Hart had filed a report following the Cal coaches statement. Hart claimed that he had been "duped" by someone pretending to be a California coach. This was later put to bed as Hart came clean to police and his family about how there wasn't really a scholarship waiting for him. Kevin Hart had tried to protect his image by formulating this giant fabricated story, he has instead possibly destroyed it  for the rest of his life.

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Crazy College Football Recruiting Stories

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Nevada HS Football Recruit Made Up Story

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A prep football player who had claimed he was duped into believing he was recruited to play at a Pac-10 school admitted Wednesday he made up the story. (Feb. 6)

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1. I do not own the rights to any of these videos/images. All images were found through google images and all videos belong to youtube.com and their creators. All links are attached to the video on this padlet.

2. Text sources
-Buller, D., & Burgoon, J. (2014). Interpersonal Deception Theory. Retrieved December 6, 2016, from http://www.afirstlook.com/docs/interpersdecep.pdf
-McCornack, S. (2007). Reflect & relate: An introduction to interpersonal communication (3rd ed.). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's.