The Malzhan Effect

By guest contributor Pastor Danny Duvall

   As with many pastors, I share four passions: God’s Kingdom, college football, my family and golf. I rarely look at one without seeing the other three. This time of year the first two seem to be on my mind. 

    Stunned by what I just witnessed in college football defaults me to think, could I possibly be seeing the same thing unfold before my eyes in regard to the Kingdom of God? Can a team go from worst to first overnight? Can a once proud powerhouse look up as ask “What just happened?”  The Auburn Tigers/War-Eagles/Plainsmen, who were winless in the conference last year (not to mention having an acute identity problem) just won the Conference championship and will play for the National Championship soon.

   As a lifetime Hog fan, I cannot help but think, “What just happened to me?” Gus Malzhan was passed over as a candidate to coach the Razorbacks this year and then went on to be hired by Auburn. With the aftertaste of what could have been, fresh in my mouth, I realize I am living in the after-glow, better yet the exhaust fumes of what I call, “The Malzhan Effect”.

   The Malzhan Effect for that other team is of course, positive. However, to be “Malzhaned” on my side of the line of scrimmage makes one feel a little black and blue. The Malzhan Effect takes place when the following happens: innovation proves to be “old school” wrapped in a fresh package, home grown talent goes to the other camp and finally, future star recruits migrate to a better system, I have been “Malzhanned” in one of my passions. I do not want it to happen in my other three passions.

    First is the innovation issue. Ringing in my ears are the words from the hill (powers that be) Malzhan’s offense will never work at the highest level of SEC football. To win at the highest level you have to have a power game. Finesse football will never get it done. Power is all that matters. After all, finesse football is merely smoke and mirrors, gimmick and tricks, nothing but a fad. To win at the highest level you have to be Plain Jane line up and run power up the middle on every play. The notion was: Finesse works fine early in the season when the September sun is shining the grass is green and the tuff is secure. However during the cold and ice of harsh weather during the championship drive in late November only teams with a power game prevail. 

    Christian leaders understand finesse church may work for believers during the sunny September of the year but when times get tough it will be churches that have the power that will eventually win in the final championship round. All of that is true, only teams with a power game win in the end. However the “Malzhan Effect” is unstoppable because it may look like smoke and mirrors or lights and videos to some, however it is power wrapped in finesse.  It is power in a new delivery system. The power veer option of  Broyles, Royal and Switzer of forty years ago is not only back, it is back and better. The "Malzhan Effect" takes what worked years ago, applies innovative thought and makes power football work better than Bear Bryant could ever thought possible.  

    The unstoppable Church will get the “Malzhan Effect” working on their behalf. They will spread the field, take what is given them, use inventive thought, yet all alone are doing nothing more than bringing old time power to the Church in ways that are as dynamic as ever. The “Malzhan Effect” means understanding power plus finesse equals wins. It is also smart.

     Second the “Malzhan Effect” takes place when you realize that great leaders are in your back yard, but they go to the other camp because you failed to give them a chance. Sociologist report that  merely 4 to 5% of the population are creative in nature, while 20% have skills to manage and the remaining 75% of the population thrive best when they are carrying out what they have been instructed to do. If that is the case, any organization must understand the 4% will always be discounted by the majority, but they are the future. Corporations with the greatest vision, pay their creators to think outside the box. Many belittled Malzhan because he was “high school not ready for primetime.” To coach or pastor at Hughs High School, in rural Arkansas, is as small time as it gets. With the limited resources of Hughs High School, Malzhan’s  only choice was  to think creatively or lose. To feel “Malzhaned” means to have that empty feeling hit you because you think, “Arkansas already sent Alabama Bear Bryant, surely we did not just send Auburn Bear Bryant version 2.0 because we had no room for creators and out of the box thinkers.”  

    Third and most important, it is not fun to be on the wrong side of the “Malzhan Effect,” when you see future stars migrating to what appears a better system.  After all, recruiting is a big deal! Some athletes are rare talents. Others are system players. Should young people full of possibilities be frowned upon when they see a system that creates running room for them? While we offer nothing but pound and grind? Wins create wins. Success builds success. Systems win wars. Systems trump talent. However talent, heart plus systems are unstoppable. If blue chips are to come our way, we must set them up for long gains. The Bible tells us to be weary of the schemes of the devil. If the devil has systems and schemes I must assume God has better ones. To be “Malzhaned” means to be standing flat footed and saying “What just happen?” while the opponent uses systems to make you think, “I didn’t know I could lose that way.”  Systems alone will never get the job done, but systems plus heart is not to be overlooked. The powers on the hill were right and will continue to be right. To win at the highest level you must have a power game. Malzahn’s offense will be slowed down some day in the future. I just hope when it does, I have eyes to see the next delivery system that will bring power to the game. 

    I have four passions: The Kingdom of God, college football, my family and golf. I just got “Malzhaned in football.” Clearly all the dancing was on the other side of the field.  In my other three passions if I can understand: innovation is merely yesterday’s success wrapped in new packages, keep my eyes open for creators that others discard and provide systems where the next  wave of winners want to commit to then the “Malzhan Effect” will work on my behalf. Who knows with the “Malzhan Effect” on my side I may get a couple of good son-in-laws, a church full of young All-Americans and a golf swing that will keep me out of the woods.

                                                                                                                                                                                           

 Danny Duvall Pastors in Cabot, AR