“Choose Your Hard” message resonates with Saluki Football
- Tom Weber
- 31 minutes ago
- 4 min read
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The night before the start of training camp, head coach Nick Hill’s message to the team included a poem that has recently gone viral on social media called, “Choose Your Hard.”
The message behind the poem is that all of life’s outcomes involve some degree of hardship, but we can choose the best path.
Poem by Devon Brough
Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.
Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard.
Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard.
Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard.
Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.
Hill illustrated the poem with an example of the player who commits to getting enough sleep, stretching, lifting and treatment, and stays healthy heading into Week 7, versus the player who doesn’t and has to live with the regret of not being able to play up to their potential.
“Both roads are hard and there are no guarantees,” Hill said. “We're gonna get to Week 7 no matter what, so why not choose the first?”
The message resonated with the team.
“I really connected with that poem, because it reminded me of a poster in our high school weight room with a similar message,” said linebacker Andrew Behm. “It was a picture of some old, ripped bodybuilder, and it said, ‘would you rather have the pain of effort or the pain of regret?’”
The 24-year-old Behm has endured his share of pain throughout his playing career, missing games due to foot and hamstring injuries.
“The hard work is gonna be painful at times,” he said. “But it’s better than not getting the result that you wanted and the regret of not putting the work in.”
Offensive lineman Derek Harden Jr. agreed that Hill’s message hit home. During his SIU career, the seventh-year vet has lost his dad to cancer and endured multiple knee surgeries, but he’s also bounced back to regain a starting job and is engaged to be married.
“It’s definitely been a hard road for me, but with a great outcome,” he said. “It’s really just asking God to give me the blessing of being consistent every day to put it in the work.”
Even today’s weather, with temps pushing into the 90s, involve embracing hard stuff.
“Just no excuses, really,” said defensive end Jake Parrella. “When it gets hard, just play for your brother next to you. Everyone's tired. Go as hard as you can, and don't take reps for granted.”
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