Texans hear motivational talk from former secretary of state
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave a motivational speech to the Texans this week.
Rice, who served under President George W. Bush, was invited by owner Bob McNair to speak to the players Wednesday morning and later to the rest of the organization.
“It was pretty cool,” left tackle Duane Brown said. “She walked in, and everyone was all ears. It was a great speech. She gave her story about how she grew up (in Birmingham, Ala. during segregation), the challenges she faced, how she prepared for her moment.
“She talked about the team she had in the White House and how they got things accomplished and the trials they had to go through.”
Message resonates
Rice, a Stanford professor, also was National Security Advisor under Bush. While at NRG Stadium, she attended a team meeting and watched practice with McNair and other team officials. She also serves on the College Football Playoff committee.
“It was an honor to have her here,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “She did an unbelievable job. She talked about teamwork, trust and doing your job — all the things we emphasize on a daily basis.”
Each year, McNair brings in a prominent speaker to address his organization.
“To have someone of her caliber speak to the team from a leadership perspective, it’s invaluable, and her message resonated with our players,” general manager Rick Smith said. “I think they respect her and understand the significant contributions she’s made to our country and to our world. She talked about her past and about some of the things she had to overcome in her childhood and really the lessons that her parents taught her, and she shared some of those lessons with us.
“You always have to take responsibility for what you do, and blaming other people won’t help you. You’ve got to work hard and sometimes you have to work twice as hard as other people do.”
Rice told the players how she became a devoted Cleveland Browns fan. When she was growing up in Birmingham, the Browns were on television almost every Sunday because of Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown.
“She brings such character to the message,” Smith said. “There’s not a more important role than some of the roles that she’s provided for our country and things that she’s done for the United States and for the world at large.
Players impressed
When linebacker Brian Cushing heard from cornerback Kareem Jackson that Rice was going to speak to the team, he was surprised.
“I didn’t believe him just because of who she is and what she’s accomplished,” Cushing said. “It was incredible, obviously a different world and realm of business from what we do.
“It was refreshing to hear her background and really what she’s all about. She touched on what she did as far as with the President and everything, but for the most part, it was more about her upbringing, her mentality and just her general outlook on life.”
David Quessenberry, who is in remission in his lengthy battle with cancer, was impressed with Rice’s message to the players.
“She has a really unique perspective on things, where she’s grown up, what she’s been through, how she served our country. I was really quite taken by what she said.