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Tyler Clarkson Senior sem paper

Leadership is an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction. Leadership is a key quality that some people have and that most people want. To be a good leader you have to be well distinguished and be able to control or guide people. Over time there have been many leaders worth mentioning. Such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Bill Clinton, and Barrack Obama. These are leaders in the business world. But there are also leaders in sports such and Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Brian Dawkins, Ben Roethlisberger, and Troy Polamalu. This essay will focus on leaders in sports, specifically the two leaders on the Pittsburgh Steelers. To help people understand and be able to relate to whom leaders are and what they do. Leadership is an important tool on a football field and this essay will focus on how the leaders: Quarter Back Ben Roethlisberger and the Strong Safety Troy Polamalu have influenced the success of the team.

Since Ben Roethlisberger was drafter to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004 and Troy Polamalu got a starting Spot in that same year it seemed the Steelers once again instantly became an elite team in the NFL’s American League Conference. After ex Steeler starting QB Tom Maddox had a terrible season opener in 2004 was quickly benched and replaced by soon to be rookie sensation Ben Roethlisberger. Who with the help of new defensive captain Troy Polamalu took the 04’ Steelers to the AFC Championship game. Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to 15-1 in his rookie season. The plan for Roethlisberger was “to spend the 2004 season on the bench, behind mentioned above Tom Maddox, much like how Miami red shirted Roethlisberger in his first season with the RedHawks”(Brenner, 118). The Steelers wanted Roethlisberger to learn and grow because it was evident how much potential Roethlisberger had.

After getting the starting spot in 2004 as the Strong Safety Troy Polamalu showed the Steelers organization they will get their money’s worth from this young kid out of USC in the 2003 draft. In 2004 Polamalu was selected for his first pro bowl with remarkable stats recording: 66 tackles, 1 sack, 5 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 1 defensive touchdown. By game 7 he was promoted to defensive captain.

The Pittsburgh Steelers fell short in the 2004 season of reaching the super bowl falling victim to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. The Positive spin on this situation was that a rookie QB captain, and a second year pro bowler defensive safety captain had the leadership tools to led a team far into the playoffs. Sure enough in the following 2005-06 season The Steelers were back with returning captains Roethlisberger, and Polamalu to again lead them far into the playoffs and to get over the hump and not only get to, but win the Super bowl.