Living proof: Steelers' Tomlin tells college graduates to 'dream wildly'

This is what I like about Tomlin's rise. He didn't care about the unimportant things. He cared about what he knew he loved, and finding a way to make a living coaching football. Which brings us to his speech in Williamsburg on Sunday. His 16-minute address had five points. One: He congratulated the graduates for making it through such a rigorous academic place. Two: He reassured them that the training -- academically, socially and work experience -- they gained on campus would enable them to succeed in the outside world. Three: He encouraged them that they'd survive the ups and downs of the world and succeed -- and there would be many ups and downs.

As he said to me: "In football, the first five minutes of action don't decide the outcome of the game. Never. Same thing in life. Life's about sustaining, rebounding, responding. The breaks are the breaks. Deal with 'em.'' Four: He tried to challenge them to leave the world better than they found it; success isn't measured in money, but rather in the mark you leave in the world.

Five: Dream.

"Ever notice when we're kids, we dream wildly? And then when we grow up, we start dreaming realistically? Why is that? The way I've lived my life since I left William & Mary is to be that big-time dreamer. It's how I got where I am today.''

This is what Tomlin told the class of 2008 at William & Mary :

"The one common bond that the really successful people I've met have is they're ridiculous dreamers. I'm a ridiculous dreamer. Continue to dream. Don't let the reality of the world diminish those dreams.''

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VMI , Memphis , Tennessee-Martin, Arkansas State , University of Cincinnati . Then five years with the Bucs under Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden , then a year in Minnesota as defensive coordinator.

Then a job interview with the Steelers . Pittsburgh officials will never admit it, but he was an afterthought at the start, a guy who -- as a black coach -- helped the franchise fulfill the Rooney Rule, named after the owner of the team, Dan Rooney . The league, spurred on by Rooney , mandates that each team interview at least one minority candidate. The Steelers had two strong in-house candidates, and everyone thought one of them -- offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt or offensive line coach Russ Grimm -- would get the job.

Then Tomlin came in for an interview. At a way-too-young 34, he spoke respectfully but bluntly. It was the only way he knew. The Steelers ' president, Art Rooney II, asked him about benching a respected veteran in Minnesota , Fred Smoot , for a promising rookie, wondering how he had justified taking a healthy vet out of the lineup for an unproven kid. Tomlin said it was because the kid, Cedric Griffin , was better, and he had to go with his gut.