Your Definition of Swagger

[theclassickiller]

There's been a lot of talk recently about "swagger" on these boards. I mentioned in a thread a week ago that I thought the swagger of Golden Tate would never again be matched and another poster commented that he could think of 10 players with more swagger than Golden had.

I disagree with that statement, and I believe it is because my definition of swagger differs greatly from theirs.

So the question is: what do you think "swagger" entails?

For example, in the same thread as I mentioned above, a few posters were commenting that jumping into the Michigan State band was the farthest thing from swagger, where I think that if you didn't have the swagger of Golden Tate, you would have tried to stop. Don't pretend like he didn't know it was the other team's band. He knew. And he jumped anyway, knowing that he should have gotten flagged, and still didn't get flagged. Probably because the refs were so blown away by his swagger, but whatever.

Anyway, discuss. What is swagger? And by your definition, who in ND history had the most swagger?

 

[IrishLax]

This a really interesting discussion point!

To me, swagger is all about taking care of business on the field in a way that exudes confidence and demoralizes the other team because they know they just got owned. In recent memory, the player that comes to mind as having the most swagger is Reggie Bush. He combined a confident attitude with dominant and game changing performances. It's about making plays that make someone go "wow" but acting like you just strolled out your front door to grab the newspaper. Yeah, it's OK to get fired up after the play... but that's not swagger... the swagger comes from letting the play do the talking. Manti Te'o big hits? Swagger. Bennett Jackson hurdles? Swagger. Dayne Crist throwing balls into the dirt when going to his left? Not swagger.

On the Irish roster the three people with the most swagger are Cierre Wood, Michael Floyd and Manti Te'o. Floyd and Te'o because they make impact plays that fire up the team and the crowd... and Cierre because of the confidence he exudes.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Swagger =

Swagger of the future=

 

[Irish Insanity]

A product line by Old Spice

Products by Scent - Swagger

 

[Whiskeyjack]

 

[NDIrishlover3]

I think a great example of swagger is that run by armando allen against michigan where he juke back after getting the handoff, spins away from michigans middle line backer (who is like the best player on their defense), and then bursts down the sideline for a first down finishing it off with a stiff arm on a michigan d-back where he slammed the guy in the ground and just stood there out of bounds staring down at him... That's swagger

 

[Buster Bluth]

To me, swagger is all about taking care of business on the field in a way that exudes confidence and demoralizes the other team because they know they just got owned. In recent memory, the player that comes to mind as having the most swagger is Reggie Bush. He combined a confident attitude with dominant and game changing performances. It's about making plays that make someone go "wow" but acting like you just strolled out your front door to grab the newspaper. Yeah, it's OK to get fired up after the play... but that's not swagger... the swagger comes from letting the play do the talking. Manti Te'o big hits? Swagger. Bennett Jackson hurdles? Swagger. Dayne Crist throwing balls into the dirt when going to his left? Not swagger.

/thread

Recruits opening their mouths all of the time on twitter is not swagger, it's swag. And Swag is a cheap joke compared to the real thing.

 

[AlbuquerqueIrishFan]

Scoring a td like you've been there before and you'll be there again by just standing there when you cross the goal line - statuesque. That's so pimp.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I think Tate and Floyd are a perfect example of positive v. negative swagger- or at least useless v. useful swagger. I think Tate had a lot of swagger, but I really never got the feeling that he was much of a leader or that it rubbed off on the other guys. It came off to me, right or wrong, as about the 1-on1 matchup. I think Floyd, on the other hand, has more of the swagger that rubs off on the rest of his team. He seems to love his teammates. This is coming from a person who thinks Golden Tate is one of the best athletes I have ever seen (combination of speed, balance, hands, quickness, coordination, and game awareness)

Cam Newton had the good swagger last year (if not good character!). His teammates seemed to feed off of all his antics. Tebow had it too. A classic moment that sticks in my head--I forget when it was-- was when he drew that big unsportsman like conduct penalty after he did something really awesome for doing the Gator Chomp. The fact that he was flashing his team's sign--and not just pointing at himself--was awesome.

On this team, I think the positive swagger guys are going to Riddick, Lynch, B. Jackson, and maybe Hardy. Wood and Daniels are swagger guys too, but the jury is out whether its going to be "All eyes on me," or "Fear the Irish."

T'eo is so good that you could mistake him playing football for displaying swagger. I think he is a lot more like a Barry Sanders "let my actions do all the talking" type guys.

 

[koonja]

My definition for swagger would be similar to the U.S. Supreme Court's definition of porn...

I don't know how to define it but I know it when I see it.

 

[Rhode Irish]

j/k

 

[tadman95]

There was a description of Jack Nicklaus in his prime and I paraphrase,

'You knew he was going to beat you, he knew he was going to beat you, and he knew that you knew he was going to beat you'.

Quiet, confident, and inevitable.

 

[military_irish]

swag·ger (swgr)
v. swag·gered, swag·ger·ing, swag·gers
v.intr.
1. To walk or conduct oneself with an insolent or arrogant air; strut.
2. To brag; boast.
v.tr.
To browbeat or bully (someone).
n.
1. A swaggering movement or gait.
2. Boastful or conceited expression; braggadocio.


Its official definition doesn't sound like it is much of a good thing. But I know the meaning has evolved like many others have.

 

[BeauBenken]

Someone with swagger always:

1. Holds their head high.
2. Let's their play do most the talking.
3. Knows they're better than you.

 

[GreatGolson]

For my definition, skip to 2:37....


<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Cqybv_l_o7g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[IrishLax]

swag·ger (swgr)
v. swag·gered, swag·ger·ing, swag·gers
v.intr.
1. To walk or conduct oneself with an insolent or arrogant air; strut.
2. To brag; boast.
v.tr.
To browbeat or bully (someone).
n.
1. A swaggering movement or gait.
2. Boastful or conceited expression; braggadocio.


Its official definition doesn't sound like it is much of a good thing. But I know the meaning has evolved like many others have.

I see your actual dictionary definition and raise you the Urban Dictionary definition:
Swagger
Swagger is to to move with confidence, sophistication and to be cool.
Swagger is to conduct your self in a way that would automaticaly earn respect
To dress in a very stylish and quirkily fasionable way would suggest one is swagger.

 

[NDinL.A.]

The famous story of Larry Bird walking into a room that held his fellow competitors before the 3 point shooting contest and saying, "Which one of you guys is playing for 2nd place?" And then he went out and won the damn thing like he (and his competitors) knew he would.

That is swagger.

 

[TDHeysus]

Someone with swagger always:

1. Holds their head high.
2. Let's their play do most the talking.
3. Knows they're better than you.

they also usually have a 'me-first' attitude, and usually talk a gang of ****. ND had a player a couple years ago that thought he was better then most on the team, this guy didnt even celebrate TD's with his teammates on numerous occasions, was it swagger?

No team that has tons of swagger lasts for very long. Look at recent history, when programs become successful, its evitable a certain amount swagger sets in. Once it gets out of control, the clock starts ticking on your program, and its only a matter of time before the entitlement sets in. Once entitlement sets in, you lost all your control as a coach. Then the arrests happen, then the headlines, then NCAA reams your bunghole.

 

[military_irish]

I see your actual dictionary definition and raise you the Urban Dictionary definition:
Swagger
Swagger is to to move with confidence, sophistication and to be cool.
Swagger is to conduct your self in a way that would automaticaly earn respect
To dress in a very stylish and quirkily fasionable way would suggest one is swagger.

Touche.

 

[Seanthornton]

Joe Namath in 1969 after the Jets beating the Colts in the Superbowl waving were #1 with his finger as he goes into the tunnel. / swagger / iconic.

The whole Notre Dame Football team after the game raising there helmets to the student section and singing the alma-mater.


KEEP THE FAITH !!!

GO IRISH !!!

 

[Jerry]

I think swagger is a team that runs out of the tunnel knowing they are going to win. They don't need smoke or fireworks or a big poster to bust through to show they mean business, the swagger just oozes out in confidence.

Once the game starts you let you play do the talking whistle to whistle. Posing after TD's, staring guys down and doing a little dance after a big tackle is all show boat stuff to me.

 

[HawaiianIrish]

Swagger to me is being cool, confident and cocky.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Well according to the "U," they invented "swagger," in the 80's and it entails:

1) Taunting opponents
2) Committing crimes
3) Choreographing touchdown celebrations (so far from swagger I don't know where to begin)
4) Starting fights
5) Accepting illegal benefits

And most importantly in their eyes:

6) Being black

 

[Kingbish01]

When I think swagger I think " Here's what I'm gonna do...you know I'm going to do it...and your going to try very hard to stop me....and you're not going too" Michael Jordan is a prime example....10 seconds left down 1...MJ is taking the shot, everyone KNOWS he is taking the shot.....AND you still can't stop him. I thought Jeff Samardzija had a ton of swagger....So did Golden, but I agree with Irishlax...Reggie Bush had swagger...Cam Newton, D. Macfadden, M. Crabtree...Those guys dominated and looked good doing it. To me thats swagger. Just my opinion.

 

[TDHeysus]

Well according to the "U," they invented "swagger," in the 80's and it entails:

1) Taunting opponents
2) Committing crimes
3) Choreographing touchdown celebrations (so far from swagger I don't know where to begin)
4) Starting fights
5) Accepting illegal benefits

^ what swagger leads to.

ISH - Choreographing TD celebrations is another way to throw it in your opponents face, its another way to taunt, or demoralize your opponent; thats where the swagger comes in.

I dont get off on demoralizing an opponent by any other means other than kicking his *** on the field all game long, where in the 4th qtr they want no part of me. That is the type of demoralizing I would like to see, not from taunting or sh*t talking.

Watch the replay of the SunBowl if you have it. Towards the end of the 3rd qtr, Miami wanted no part of ND at all. Miami was demoralized because they were getting their arses kicked in just about every phase of the game. no taunting, no BS from ND; just ND handing out beatdowns and letting the play on the field do the talking.

 

[Rocket89]

The famous story of Larry Bird walking into a room that held his fellow competitors before the 3 point shooting contest and saying, "Which one of you guys is playing for 2nd place?" And then he went out and won the damn thing like he (and his competitors) knew he would.

That is swagger.

And....he walked away with his hand up after his final 3 pointer with the ball still in the air cause he knew it was going in. One of the iconic moments in swagger history.

 

[ryno 24]

Two swaggers

old school swagger- doing your job and not talking but everyone knowing your the best- tim brown, jerry rice, Lou Holtz

New Swagger- being awesome talking some crap but always backing it up

 

[TDHeysus]

And....he walked away with his hand up after his final 3 pointer with the ball still in the air cause he knew it was going in. One of the iconic moments in swagger history.

I just wanted to make a distinction that swagger in a professional setting is something different than in a college, non-professional setting.

Amongst his peers, Larry Bird was famous for talking sh*t, but he was equally famous for backing it all up. Thats one reason why no one ever really challenged Larry Bird publicly, except for Chuck Person, or 'Chucky' as Larry used to call him.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I really hate the off-season.

August 5th can't get here soon enough.

 

[Rocket89]

I really hate the off-season.

August 5th can't get here soon enough.

Soon enough my friend. Soon enough.