Mind Strength – The MVP Who Never Started
Jul 13, 2026
In 2015, Nick Begg was nowhere close to seeing the field after recently making a position move to defensive end at Washington State. Yet somehow, he kept making the travel squad.
Why?
Coach Leach noticed Nick’s contagious energy.
It showed up everywhere—in the weight room, on the practice field, and on game day. Nick earned a travel spot as Scout Team Player of the Week. The following week, he wasn’t on the trip—and that’s when everyone realized how much of an impact he was having.
The energy on the sideline felt different. Flat. Something was missing.
Coach Leach noticed.
From that point on, Nick traveled with us the rest of the season as our unofficial “Energy Bus Player.”
Nick didn’t play any significant defensive snaps that year, but his impact was felt throughout the entire team. His positive attitude and enthusiasm became a powerful undercurrent to the culture we were building and played a bigger role in our turnaround than most people realized.
One player. One person. One source of energy.
That’s all it takes to impact a team.
Be the “energy bus” player for your team. Bring enthusiasm. Encourage others. Lift people up. Energy is contagious—and so is leadership.
Master Your Energy. Elevate the Group.
Easy Easy,
-Luke Falk