“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.” – U.S. General Douglas MacArthur
Two voices were heard in the Toronto Argonauts locker room following a gut-wrenching loss to Ottawa.
First, head coach Ryan Dinwiddie addressed the team, questioning the commitment of some within those walls. When he was finished, linebacker Wynton McManis – the unquestioned leader of the team – also spoke about dedication, his words coming directly from his heart.
“It wasn’t anything necessarily about that time,” replied McManis, when asked by Argonauts.ca to recall his address. “It was an emotional thing. I really wasn’t going to say anything, I was just going to break it down, but I started to tear up honestly, and I just felt like my message needed to be felt. The team needs to understand I hurt, and we need everybody to hurt.”
McManis was once again spilling his guts. His gaze was direct; his words were well chosen.
“I’m not healthy, I’m hurting, but I’m out there dragging it. You’ll have to drag me off the field, I’ll never take a play off. If we can just get all 24 guys on the field feeling that way and leaving it all out there, we’ll be alright.”
General MacArthur was thinking about someone exactly like McManis when he uttered his quote about leadership. The extremely talented linebacker could have just said the usual, cliché-ridden things after Saturday’s loss, but instead he made the decision to voice his true feelings. He didn’t intend to do it, but his actions consistently speak as loudly as his words.
In a locker room housing roughly 70 players, one voice isn’t enough to provide ample leadership. Another veteran who assumes that role with the Argos is DaVaris Daniels.
The 32-year-old is now in his ninth CFL season, his fifth in Double Blue. He’s much quieter than McManis and not only understands his role within the group, but what leadership entails.
“It’s not as straight forward as you would think,” he explained to Argonauts.ca. “What I’ve learned is that it changes year to year, player to player. It’s how you approach every day. First thing is that you have to lead by example, setting the tone, setting an example for everybody.”
This year has been different for the Argos. After four seasons of sustained success under Dinwiddie, including a pair of Grey Cup wins, victories have been hard to come by. It’s forced the leadership group to mix things up.
“A lot changes,” said the Notre Dame product. “The message is strong when you’re 16-2, but when you’re in a situation like we are now, the leadership comes a lot harder because it’s a lot more blunt, it’s a lot more straightforward, trying to get the most out of everybody because obviously we need it.”
With messages coming from not only the coaches, but from the players themselves, you would think the messages have been heard. McManis thinks they have been.
“Ya, we had great energy at practice, flying around on defence,” said the Memphis grad. “Defensively, we had another meeting on our off day. We came up here (to BMO Field) and watched film together and met as a defence on our off day. I felt like that was big for us.”
Dinwiddie was also happy with the week and with the actions of his leaders, particularly with McManis.
“Wyn is a player/coach on the field,” said the head coach. “He understands what’s going on and he knows that some other guys have to pick their game up and not talk about it, we’ve got to show up and just play football. We don’t need to be talking, let’s talk with our pads, let’s talk with our effort, let’s talk with our process, our preparation, things like that.”
When asked by Argonauts.ca how he defines leadership, he essentially painted a portrait of his middle linebacker.
“Guys that speak when it needs to be spoken, that understand the temperature of the room,” said Dinwiddie. “You also have to live it too. I think Wynton does live it, he works his butt off, he prepares. Your best players have to be your hardest workers; it’s got to be authentic though.”
Douglas MacArthur’s most famous quote came in 1942 when he was ordered to evacuate the Philippines. He said, “I shall return,” and did, returning with American forces in 1944.
The Argos are hoping to not only take the general’s words about leadership to heart but are hoping to start winning games so they can make a return to the playoffs, and eventually the Grey Cup game.