Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera has repeatedly stressed the past couple months that he wants his players to "keep their personalities."
This week, in the lead-up to Super Bowl 50, he's added another mantra: "Be where your feet are."
Both lines aren't rules as much as they are philosophies that come in handy while constant distractions from the spectacle that is a Super Bowl swirl around. That’s what makes Rivera’s experience of both playing and coaching on the biggest stage in American sports so vital.
“It’s good because coach has been here before and he knows what it feels like to win," cornerback Robert McClain said. "Having somebody who can speak to you and tell you exactly how it is and how it’s going to be is good for us. It eases your nerves for guys that might be nervous to give that extra oomph to want more and want to win this game."
Rivera's go-to lines are especially interesting because they seem to be contrary to one another. But how he gets his players to mix them is a reason why he's poised to win Coach of the Year for the second time in three years.
"Coach does a great job in keeping that balance," center Ryan Kalil said. "If we start to get too loose and not preparing enough, then he'll get us focused again and he'll do the same if we're going too uptight and not staying loose enough then he'll reset us the other way."
Because Tuesday was an off day, Wednesday had added significance. Rivera's top priority for "turning point day"?
"To see where our heads are," he said. "We’ve talked about embracing it and drawing in the part of the moment. The description I gave to the players is this is an event. This is an event so when you’re out there, embrace the event and become part of it.
“I popped in and looked at these guys and they’re doing everything that they needed to do. Now the next big step is how we handle practice. As I told the guys, wherever you are, be where your feet are.”
And of course, keep your personality.
“You're supposed to have fun when you're not on the field and not in meetings," cornerback Charles Tillman said, "But at the same time, when we're out there, then you have to focus on the job and the task at hand.
"We know our strengths and when to cut it off."