The Opening Drive 5/25: The Message That Carried Through
Memorial Day, a message in the spring of 2014, and a team that proved what preparation and brotherhood actually look like.
Memorial Day is about remembrance.
It’s about honoring those who served, those who sacrificed, and those who were part of something bigger than themselves.
That meaning doesn’t belong to football.
But every once in a while, a message rooted in that reality finds its way into a locker room—and when it does, it has a way of sticking.
In the spring of 2014, that’s exactly what happened inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
The Visit
Following a spring practice, the Ohio State Buckeyes football sat in silence as Marcus Luttrell (Retired Navy Seal & Inspiration behind the movie, “Love Survivor”) addressed the team.
For roughly 20 minutes, there were no distractions. No movement. Just a message grounded in experience.
Luttrell spoke about preparation. About training at a level that makes the hardest moments manageable. About operating when things go wrong—not if, but when.
His words weren’t motivational in the traditional sense.
They were instructional.
Train harder than you play.
Prepare for the worst.
Trust the man next to you.
Inside that building, those ideas weren’t new.
But hearing them from someone who had lived them under the most extreme circumstances gave them a different level of weight.
The Story Behind the Message
Luttrell’s perspective came from Operation Red Wings in 2005, where he was part of a four-man SEAL team operating in Afghanistan.
That mission changed everything.
During the operation, the team was ambushed, outnumbered, and cut off from communication. In an effort to call for support, Michael P. Murphy—the team leader—made a decision that defines the meaning behind Memorial Day.
Murphy left cover and moved into an exposed position to get a signal and transmit a call for help.
He understood the risk.
He made the call anyway.
Murphy was mortally wounded during the attempt, but the communication he sent ultimately led to support being dispatched to the area. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
The story isn’t about comparison.
It’s about understanding what words like responsibility, preparation, and brotherhood actually mean when they’re tested.
The “Murph” Standard
Every Memorial Day, that same mindset is remembered through the “Murph” workout—named in honor of Michael Murphy.
1-mile run
100 pull-ups
200 push-ups
300 squats
1-mile run
Originally a workout Murphy performed himself, it has become a tradition across the country (I am completing my 6th Murph today, pray for me!).
It’s not designed for comfort.
It’s designed to test discipline, resilience, and the ability to keep going when things become difficult.
That’s the point.
From Spring Message to Fall Reality
The 2014 Ohio State team didn’t have a straightforward path.
Adversity showed up early and often:
A season-ending injury at quarterback before the season began
A backup stepping in—and then another change later in the year
Constant outside doubt about whether the team could sustain success
The structure could have fractured.
It didn’t.
The response remained consistent:
Preparation stayed the same
Roles were understood
Trust within the team held
When the situation changed, the standard didn’t..
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The Result
By the end of the season, Ohio State stood as national champions.
Not because everything went right.
Because when things went wrong, they operated the right way.
Execution under pressure.
Trust in the system.
Accountability to each other.
Those aren’t slogans.
They’re outcomes of preparation.
Final Thoughts
The visit from Marcus Luttrell didn’t win Ohio State a national championship.
But it reinforced the mindset required to navigate everything that came with that season.
Memorial Day isn’t about drawing comparisons.
It’s about understanding the weight behind words like sacrifice, preparation, and brotherhood.
In the spring of 2014, that message was delivered inside a football facility.
By the end of that season, it showed up in how a team responded when everything around them changed.
And that’s where the connection lives.
Not in the moment.
In the response.
Buckeye Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh content.
