Rowing the Boat

Published by Eric Epplett on Fri, Nov 18, 2016

Rowing The Boat 
Reina Cooke
Aviation Management and Operations

If you’ve been on Western’s campus or watched ESPN lately, I’m confident that you’ve come across three specific letters: RTB. Coach PJ Fleck and his football team have captivated WMU’s campus with their motto, taking it farther than the field and into students’ lives. What’s it all about? “Row The Boat is a method of how our whole program will fit together,” Fleck said. “It’s also a saying that has such a simple meaning, but there’s so much behind it in terms of a way for the whole community, the whole faculty, administration, players and student body can rally behind something greater than itself. There are three parts to rowing the boat. There is the oar, which is the energy behind rowing the boat. There is boat, which is the actual sacrifice, either our team or the administration or the boosters or the audience or whoever is willing to sacrifice for this program. There is also the compass. Every single person that comes in contact with our football program, fans or not, they are all going for one common goal and that is success.” 

However, crucial to this mantra is that is applies to much more than football and winning games. “When you literally talk about rowing the boat, you’re facing the opposite direction the bow of the boat is actually going,” he said. “You’re not able to see the future. We’ve set sail and we’ve set our direction from point A to point B, whether it’s right now to win a MAC Championship, or be the first person in your family to get a college education or to beat cancer.” The oar has become a symbol of passion, strength, and perseverance. It is a reminder to push onward, whether on the football field, in the classroom, or even a Cirrus SR20. Taking Coach Fleck’s concept and applying it personally is what it’s all about: being a better you. As pilots, maintenance technicians, and aviation professionals, the message is just as pertinent… never give up. 

This weekend, thanks to our team’s 10-0 record, College Game Day will be in our town of Kalamazoo. Cheering on my fellow Broncos, rallying behind something greater than myself, has proven to be some of my greatest memories while at college. Attending WMU, I’ve become part of a community. Here, we strive for integrity, authenticity, empowerment, and collaboration. I’m thankful that I attend a university that always provides new opportunities and experiences both inside and outside of the classroom, as well as one that will continuously stress the effectiveness of a dynamic lifestyle. Row The Boat is more than a motto; it’s a way of life.