One of my favorite visionaries outside the realm of sports is English business magnate Sir Richard Branson who founded The Virgin Group.
Branson has authored many books and has taken one of sports most famous quotes and added a perspective.
“Records are made to be broken. It is in man’s nature to continue to strive to do just that.”
Former Penn State and current Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley can appreciate both ends of this circumstance.
Barkley last season challenged former Los Angeles Rams running back Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing yards record of 2,105 yards set back in 1984.
Barkley is also seeing Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen challenge not only Barkley’s records for rushing touchdowns (43) and all-purpose yards (5,538) but Evan Royster’s career rushing mark (3,932).
“It’s cool that I’m someone that guys are chasing,” Barkley told Penn Live last week, “just how I was chasing Larry Johnson, John Cappelletti and all those guys at Penn State.”
Barkley continued being gracious about being pursued saying he is not rooting against anyone and essentially that is the point of records.
“I’m not one of those guys that are like, ‘Oh I don’t want you to pass me,’ you want that, that’s what (records) are for.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.It is a perspective very few ever have a chance to experience, when you are challenging for records and simultaneously someone is chasing your marks.
It is refreshing that Barkley does not have an ego or feels he is defined by his records because there is much more to him than just numbers.
To me, a previous record holder is still extremely promising because only one other athlete or team knows what it is like to get to that level.
I never was fond of Dickerson or the 1972 Miami Dolphins celebrating others failures of falling short.
Dickerson openly rooted against efforts from Jamal Lewis and Adrian Peterson when they challenged his record, Barkley did not even entertain Dickerson’s jabs and simply sat out the last game last season.
The smugness of the 1972 Dolphins popping champagne almost had me rooting for the New England Patriots when they took on my New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII, how strange would that have been?
All Barkley did was get the last laugh of breaking a bigger record and that was Terrell Davis’ 1998 record of most rushing yards between the regular season and playoffs.
Both Davis and Barkley’s season ended in a Super Bowl championship, both men had bigger visions. Dickerson’s team ended in a Wild Card showdown with the New York Giants in 1984, for many have forgotten.
What isn’t forgettable about Singleton and Allen’s pursuit is their bond of wanting Penn State to win its first national championship since 1986.
That doesn’t escape Barkley.
“But I love that they stuck together and now they’re back for their last year to try to ultimately win a national championship.”
Barkley’s vibes are a good thing that are influential in a society where individualism and self branding are in the forefront.
There is enough glory to go around for everybody.
As long as man is willing to compete, the pushing of boundaries will always be there, maybe if more took Barkley’s lead and realized there is a greater appreciation of sharing that pursuit with the select few who have ever dared to compete for it.
