Emmanuel Forbes told a Mike Leach story this week.
Forbes, who played at Mississippi State under the late head coach, told Fred Smoot that the next team meeting after a loss to Alabama, players were in for a great surprise.
Leach took out a children’s book and read it to the Bulldogs team. Forbes recalled hearing the little train saying, “I think I can, I think I can.” Forbes continued that not only did Leach read the book to the team, but that he started again and read the children’s book five times to the team and then asked some related questions as well.
Emmanuel Forbes on Scary Terry 😈
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A couple of days later, a little message had been placed on everyone’s locker reading, “I think I can, I think I can.” Leach wasn’t quite finished. The next day shirts arrived for everyone with the little engine on the front saying, of course, “I think I can, I think I can.”
Leach’s reasoning? Forbes recalled that Leach told the team, he didn’t really see in them that they thought they could win the game against Alabama.
Smoot was direct, asking Forbes if he has found anything that will help increase his playing weight. Smoot told Forbes he needs to start eating steaks and work with the weights to put on needed weight to his frame.
Smoot recalled he watched film and attempted to pattern his game after Deion Sanders. Forbes replied that when he was in high school he would watch film of Jalen Ramsey. “I am physical, and I can tackle,” insisted Forbes.
Smoot warned Forbes that teams will want to attack his slim frame and want to run outside at Forbes. Forbes seemed to think it was simple, “Honestly, it’s mental, just being locked in every play.”
Forbes feels playing at Mississippi State prepared him for the mental awareness he will need in the NFL. “Honestly, I’ve been in the playbook and been watching film, and it’s literally like the same thing. The only thing different is the terminology.”
