To have the kind of year you want to have, something has to

Hear the words of Bobby Bowden, the great coach whose wisdom reached beyond the field of play: “To have the kind of year you want to have, something has to happen that you can’t explain why it happened. Something has to happen that you can’t coach.” This is not merely a statement about sport, but about life itself. For he reminds us that human effort, discipline, and planning carry us far, but not to the summit alone. To achieve greatness—the kind that lingers in memory—one must also be touched by the mysterious hand of chance, of providence, of the unexplainable.

The meaning of this quote lies in the recognition of limits. A coach may train his players, a man may prepare his plans, a woman may hone her craft. Yet beyond all practice and preparation lies the realm of the unforeseen: the lucky break, the timely opportunity, the inexplicable moment that turns defeat into triumph. Bowden, with decades of leadership, saw this truth often: games won not by perfect execution alone, but by a moment that defied reason, a play no one could script. Such moments, beyond calculation, mark the difference between an ordinary season and a legendary year.

The origin of Bowden’s words rests in the world of football, where he built dynasties and witnessed both victory and loss. He knew the power of coaching—the drills, the discipline, the relentless pursuit of excellence. But he also knew that sometimes the ball bounces strangely, the weather shifts unexpectedly, or a player finds within himself a strength he had never shown before. These cannot be taught; they simply arrive, like gifts from beyond. And without them, the highest heights remain out of reach.

Consider the story of Alexander the Great. Trained by Aristotle, disciplined in war, and guided by vision, Alexander conquered vast empires. Yet even he was aided by moments that cannot be explained by preparation alone—unexpected alliances, sudden weaknesses in his enemies, the loyalty of soldiers who followed him past all reason. His greatness was not only in his strategy, but in the uncoachable, unexplainable turns of fortune that met him along his path.

Bowden’s words also speak to humility. For if victory depended only on the coach, pride would swell unchecked. But to acknowledge that greatness requires forces beyond control is to bow before mystery, to admit that no one is master of all outcomes. This humility is wisdom: it frees us to give our best, but also to accept that some things are beyond us. And when the miraculous arrives—when that unexplainable moment blesses us—we receive it with gratitude, not arrogance.

The lesson for us is clear: labor with all your might, prepare with diligence, sharpen your skills as though the outcome depends on you alone. Yet keep your heart open to the unexpected, for it is in those moments, unplanned and uncoached, that destiny often reveals itself. Do not despair when plans fail, for the unexplainable may yet turn the tide. And when success comes, do not boast as though it were solely yours—remember the mystery that walked beside your effort.

Therefore, let us act with faith and courage. Let us train, study, and strive, but also embrace the truth that life’s greatest victories are never fully in our hands. Let us welcome the unpredictable, for it may be the very thing that lifts an ordinary year into a season of wonder. And let us honor Bowden’s wisdom, passing it down to future generations: that the path to greatness is forged not only by discipline, but by the uncoachable, unexplainable moments that crown human effort with glory.