In September 2002, as Steve Spurrier began his first season as head coach of the Washington Redskins, THN launched one of its most distinctive features: Sun Tzu and the Art of Coaching.
Writer Eric Johnson took Spurrier’s well-known admiration for The Art of War and turned it into a weekly column. Each installment examined the previous game through the lens of Sun Tzu’s principles, delivered in the distinctive “Shaolin Redskins / Ol’ Ball Coach / Master Sun Tzu” voice that became the series’ trademark. The goal was simple: show the parallels between the ancient Chinese strategist and the Fun ’n Gun coach who kept a copy of the book on his desk.
Here is every installment from the 2002 season.
2002 Season
Week 1: Drunken Cardinal Technique
Spurrier’s debut ends in triumph. The column looks at the need for good information (the kicker situation), the value of offering bait (Stephen Davis’s heavy workload after a pass-heavy preseason), and how the Redskins stood alone atop a broken NFC East alliance.
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Week 2: Eagles Over the Valley
A heavy-hearted post after a thorough loss in Philadelphia. Lessons center on readiness and preparation, the overwhelming momentum of a skilled attack, and the importance of organization, circumstances, and dispositions.
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Week 3: The Candlestick Flickers
Hope returns after a hard-fought game in San Francisco. Topics include an army free of “diseases,” the need for consistently effective orders while learning a new system, and how the upcoming bye week arrives at the perfect time to address strengths and weaknesses.
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Week 4 (Bye): The View from the Mountain
A broader look from the mountaintop during the bye. Spurrier’s focus on self over the enemy, the proper role of the “sovereign” (owner Daniel Snyder), and Sun Tzu’s framework for forecasting victory.
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Week 5: Knocking Over Titans
Celebration after a convincing win and the emergence of Patrick Ramsey. Courage as a quality of command (Ramsey and Stephen Davis), the use of deception on a trick play, and the team finally reaching the point where the right players are in the right places.
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Week 6: The Marching of the Saints
Spirits crash after a turnover-filled home loss. Lessons on living off the enemy (turnovers as gifts), the need for self-discipline amid penalty flags, and the general’s duty to assemble the army and throw it into a desperate position.
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Week 7: Cool Reception on the Tundra
A cold loss in Green Bay. Reflections on the constant change of conditions in war and football, the difficulty of creating a true home-field advantage, and the need to unify the determination of the army.
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Week 8: Taming the Colts
A strong home win built on the ground game. Spurrier adapts his methods to the situation, the offensive line opens holes “where there is no enemy,” and the coach’s fair, performance-based handling of troops.
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Week 9: The Osprey Cries
A defensive-minded 14-3 victory over Seattle. Victory as the essential object (not style points), wearing the enemy down without allowing points, and the dangers of a reckless opposing general.
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Week 10: At the Mercy of the Spotted Cat
A disappointing loss in Jacksonville. Tom Coughlin’s prudence versus Spurrier’s approach, the importance of knowing your own troops’ capabilities, and the growing sense that the season is entering “death ground.”
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Week 11: Giants in the Mud
A rainy, muddy loss to the Giants. Weather as a fundamental factor, the need to control impatience and avoid swarming attacks, and the challenge of keeping troop morale from becoming dulled.
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Week 12: Catching the Ram
A hard-fought, high-stakes win over the Rams. Mixing the direct and indirect approach, using the extraordinary force to win, and throwing the troops into a position where they dig deep and perform at the highest level.
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Week 13: ’Twas a Turkey
A dark Thanksgiving collapse against the Cowboys after an early lead. The column examines how an army can be robbed of its spirit, the fine line Spurrier walks with player discipline and chemistry, and his recommitment to coaching “his way” rather than reacting to outside criticism.
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Week 14: A Giant Step Back, a Giant Step Forward
Another loss, this time to the Giants, but signs of growth. Spurrier begins asserting broader control as a true head coach, returns to the style that made him successful, and finds new energy from younger players as the season winds down.
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Week 15: The Expected Eagle Strike
A loss in Philadelphia that still offered encouragement. Patrick Ramsey’s strong arm (described as “incendiary missiles”), the season-long turnover problem, and a fourth-quarter fight that showed the young players refusing to quit.
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The Original Introduction
The series was first introduced here:
Steve Spurrier, Meet Sun Tzu
A weekly column comparing Steve Spurrier’s approach to coaching with Sun Tzu’s approach to warfare. Spurrier is an avowed fan of the military philosopher of ancient China, and it is clear that the ol’ Ball Coach gathers inspiration from his writings.
Great stuff within.. Enjoy the 2002 archive.
HTTR.