The Crossed Swords

Why crossed swords? 

The crossed swords are a part of the logo for Win with PMA and the football teams that I coach.  I have often been asked about why they are a part of both logos.  The crossed swords are the symbol of the fighting man. I want our football teams to aspire to have the traits and follow the path of a true and noble warrior.  Win with PMA teaches us to stand up and fight when others quit by using the thought conditioner principles. Life is a series of tests and battles that we must fight through as warriors to succeed and find fulfillment. The crossed swords symbolize the standards that we need to set for ourselves to reach our potential.  

The idea to use the crossed swords as a symbol for my life and team came from The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews.  This book was a game changer for me and my perspective on attacking the challenges of life.  In the book, Andy Andrews discusses seven principles to use for living a meaningful and successful life through his brilliant storytelling (If you haven’t read any of his work, I highly suggest it. It is entertaining and purposeful).  At the end of the book, the main character, David Ponder, puts the seven principles he is taught into a pouch that has the crossed swords on it, symbolizing that by living out these principles he will be a fighting man.  As I read this book and the principles, it reaffirmed my belief in Win with PMA because of how closely they coincided.  When Mr. Andrews talked about the symbol of the fighting man in the book, I knew I wanted the crossed swords to be a symbol for the teams I coached.  

The crossed swords represent what Win with PMA is all about.  The true and noble warrior exhibits the thought conditioner principles on a daily basis with his/her approach to whatever is on their path. This is what our football program needed when I took over.  Our kids needed to learn how to fight, especially through adversity, and the crossed swords became a constant reminder to battle on through thick and thin.  The year we instituted this brand, we made a huge leap forward going undefeated for the first time in over fifty years and making the playoffs for the first time in thirty years.  This group of young men flipped the switch in our program. They embraced every challenge that we faced with resolve and toughness and found ways to succeed even when we had our backs against the wall.  Instead of just hoping for success, they expected to win and rose up to the standards of the warrior. Everyone bought in and great things happened because of the will and determination that our fighting men exhibited.  

The buy in from the program was huge in our new found success and something that all great cultures have. Commitment is the key to initial and sustained success in an organization.  Commitment is a quality that must be proven day in and day out.  You have to earn your swords.  In our program, when a player proves that he is all in, he receives a dog tag with the crossed swords on it, our most prestigious honor.  Our goal is for our entire team to earn their swords before the season begins.  When the whole organization is moving in the same direction, there is a distinct advantage in any competitive arena.  

Over the years, many of our players and even coaches have had the crossed swords tattooed on their bodies.  They all make a point to show me their ink and tell me that they have chosen to live with the standards of the fighting man as a way of life.  One of our players came to me  a few years ago and showed me his brand new tattoo that encompassed most of his back.  This young man was a kid that had not had it easy growing up and had to fight for everything he got.  A lot of people didn’t take much stock in him having a bright future.  He and I have a special relationship, I think because he knows that I have always believed in him even during tough times.  When I examined the new tattoo, I told him that I liked the artwork, especially how the swords looked used and had chinks on them.   He responded by saying that those chinks in the sword represented the battles that he had already fought and won. They were used, but the tips of his swords still pointed up because he was still fighting.  This blew me away and left me with a great sense of pride.  I knew he was on the way to being a success and achieving his goals.

The crossed swords must always be “tips up” to signify that we are ready to do battle and fight for what we want.  Every day is a test of our resolve.  We must always be prepared and willing to fight for what we really want.  When we persist, we conquer.  That is what true and noble warriors do.  We fight until we succeed. We Win with PMA!