Don't Celebrate Too Soon

An object lesson in staying focused to the end

SEC Championship game. Atlanta, Georgia. 2:38 left in the game. Georgia ball, leading 16-13, facing 3rd and 13 on the Texas 31. Georgia just needs to gain a few yards to kick a field goal, then keep Texas out of the end zone in the last two minutes to win the SEC championship. But Georgia coach Kirby Smart makes the mistake of asking his backup quarterback to throw the ball. Texas blitzes, the young QB panics, and disaster results.

G.Stockton pass INTERCEPTED at TEX 17. Intercepted by J.Barron at TEX 17.

However, Georgia got very, very, very lucky. Barron, the defensive back, had a clear path direct to the Georgia end zone. Luckie, the Georgia tight end at the top left of the image above, was the only player who had even a ghost of a chance at stopping what should have been an 83-yard interception return for a touchdown. But instead of turning to block the Georgia player, J. Guilbeau, the other defensive back, started celebrating, under the impression that Texas had just effectively won the game.

Notice how his arm is raised and he’s looking down the field. He was so occupied with celebrating the anticipated touchdown that he ignored the Georgia tight end and ran right past him, permitting the aptly-named Luckie to cut off Barron and bring him down 66 yards short of the end zone.

Tackled by L.Luckie at TEX 34.

This proved to be the crucial play of the game. Texas still had plenty of time to go down the field and score the game-clinching touchdown, but the Georgia defense got a stop and forced them to kick a field goal to send the game to overtime. Georgia won the overtime, the game, and the SEC Championship, all because one Texas player lost his focus, celebrated too soon, and stopped playing the game.

In various forms, this is an extremely common mistake. We all tend to coast when things appear to be going well, and only when we suddenly realize that there is a problem do we discover that perhaps things weren’t going quite as well as we’d thought. Which is why, whatever you’re doing, it is never wise to allow your focus to slip and let up on the gas until you are absolutely sure that your focused efforts are no longer necessary.

Because sometimes, we just don’t see it coming even when it’s headed directly toward us.