The Fortitude Chronicle: A Weekly Digest of Athletic Determination

Monday’s Mindset

You know, people frequently ask me, "Colin, do you identify more with Bucknell or Pitt from your playing career?" To be honest, my answer is always the same: "I don't identify with any university. However, I am loyal to people, not places or things." Now, don't get it wrong, I have love in certain respects for both of my alma maters. But, it's the people that make the place. My people from Bucknell have pretty much all left. Coach Susan, Coach Wicks, Coach Weick, Coach Wicklund, Coach King, Coach Borich, Coach Bowes, Coach Flaherty, Coach Stapleton, those are my guys. If I picked up the phone today to call any of them, they'd do anything for me in a heartbeat. I love those guys. Most of the coaches I love are still at Pitt; Coach Sanders, Coach Collins, Coach LaSala. Naturally, I have closer ties to Pitt because of the people still there. There's a reason I'm opening with this. It's because the character in which you conduct yourself matters. You can't be a champion in life without being a champion of character, first. Every name I just mentioned is as good of a person as you'll meet in the industry of athletics. I also want to be fair and mention that if I didn't drop a coach's name that was at those universities during my time, it's not due to lack of character, it's simply that I didn't spend as much time with them. Now let me tell you a story about character at the highest level.

For those of you who know me or have been a long-time subscriber, know I hold dear to my heart the four days I spent in Buffalo at the Bills rookie minicamp before my playing career ended. The part of the story I don't share as frequently is how in love I fell with their culture and coaching staff in just four days. Man, it's hard to explain the impact that coaching staff had on me in such a short period of time. When I walked into that building, no one knew who I was. Most people probably thought I was the new physical therapy intern. However, by the time I walked out of that building, every coach knew my name, my story, my background, and my life goals. That's real too. Every coach took the time during those four days to get to know me the person, not just the player. Coach Leslie Frazier, Coach Bob and Bobby Babich, Coach John Butler, Coach Heath Farwell, Coach Jim Salgado, and Coach Sean McDermott all in that short time period had full-on life conversations with me. They even knew the neighborhood I grew up in. Needless to say, this was the best football I ever played in my life. Let me remind you, this was after a 6-10 season, before Josh Allen was Josh Allen, and before the Bills were title contenders. You could just feel something special being built in that organization. I told everyone back home, "This organization is building something amazing, just watch." They have proven me right over and over again over the last four years. Champions are built before they're champions. The Buffalo Bills will be champions, I promise you that.

The story isn't over yet, so bear with me here just a little bit longer. I want to bring it full circle. When I was cut, head coach Sean McDermott pulled me aside and took 10 mins to talk to me about my performance, things I did well, and where I can improve. Then he encouraged me to keep playing and avoid getting a real job as he felt it was too soon to stop chasing my dreams of playing in the NFL. He told me his own personal journey from William and Mary to how he got to where he was that day. I mean seriously, what NFL head coach does that? Especially with the lowest man on the totem pole who likely had zero chance to make the team. Little did he know that 10 minutes meant the world to me and stuck with me ever since. I spent the last four years trying to find a way to get a hold of him to tell him how impactful he really was on my life. Those who follow the NFL understand the Bills are 5-5 and well short of their own expectations. I believe in God's timing. He aligns things in life the way they are supposed to go. After their devastating loss against the Broncos on Monday night, I was able to come across his email after all of these years. I took that as an opportunity to reach out and tell him how much he and that organization impacted my life. I'll keep the details of the conversation private between Coach McDermott and I but to my shock, he emailed back almost instantly. His response nearly brought tears to my eyes, that much I'll tell you. That speaks to not only his character as a coach but most importantly as a man. He didn't need to answer. He had nothing to gain. No one to see his generosity. That is why the Bills will be champions. The character of their leader hasn't wavered from 2019-2023 despite the immense amount of success. So even though he is too humble to share stories of his character, I'll share it for him. Wherever Coach McDermott is, you best believe I'll be rooting for him. Buy the Bills stock now because this is the lowest it will get. Whether it's this year or next year, the Bills will be holding that Lombardi trophy up in February. Believe that. Bet on good people.

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

I wanted to take this time to thank Coach Leslie Frazier, Coach Bob and Bobby Babich, Coach John Butler, Coach Heath Farwell, Coach Jim Salgado, and most importantly, Coach Sean McDermott for the lasting impact you had on my life. You probably don't remember me, but I remember all of you and the conversations we had.

To all of my other coaches mentioned, you already know it's all love and the impact you guys had on me in my most important stage of life has shaped me into the man I am today. Thank you.

To Building Fortitude forever and always.

Best Regards,

Colin Jonov, Founder & CEO Athletic Fortitude

P.S. Want to share your experiences or challenges with us? Reply to this newsletter or connect with me on social media @ColkyJonov10. I’m here to support you on your journey!