Dungy draws crowds at book signing

Joe Bender, general manager of the IU Bookstore, was pleasantly surprised Thursday morning when he unlocked the doors at 8 a.m. and saw the massive number of people in line down the hall and weaving into the Indiana Memorial Union hotel hallway.

Former Indianapolis Colts head coach and best-selling author Tony Dungy signed more than 500 books during his stop at the IU Bookstore in the IMU on Thursday.

Once the store opened, fans could buy copies of Dungy’s three books, including his newest, “Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance.”

“He’s another positive football coach being bold to present a positive message,” said Jane Hoeppner, widow of former IU football coach Terry Hoeppner. “God is using him in a pretty positive way.”

Dungy arrived at the bookstore after meeting current IU football coach Bill Lynch and men’s basketball coach Tom Crean. Although Dungy was scheduled to leave the bookstore at 2:30 p.m., he stayed about 25 minutes longer to finish signing books for the first 500 people.

After the signing, Dungy visited the IU men’s basketball team before leaving for a book signing in Carmel, Ind. On Friday, Dungy will fly to Tampa, Fla., to finish his book tour.
Dungy said winning and losing is a big deal, but it’s not everything. He said he would rather hear from a fan that one of his players talked to and encouraged.

“His book is not just a short-term message, but a life message,” said Jan Long Harris, associate publisher and acquisition director for Tyndale, Dungy’s publishing company. “It’s what he wants to tell the world.”

Dungy said he received phone calls and letters from fans telling him his book “Quiet Strength” inspired them. He said he decided to write the new book for young people to talk about what he said life is all about: relationships with other people.

“I want young people to read it and think about what’s important,” Dungy said.

Dungy said he remembered when he was in high school and college, the focus was on what he was going to do and how he was going to make money. His plan was to be a business major and work as a professional athlete. He said students should focus on what they want to do and how they will achieve it.

“Society’s definition of success is not always the best one,” Dungy said.

Even in football, there are people whom society views as significant because they make a lot of money, but society often overlooks those who don’t make as much money yet do significant things, Dungy said.

Dungy said his new book uses straightforward examples of how to be uncommon.
“It’s not about football, but there are football stories to illustrate and make the point,” Dungy said.

Sophomore Courtney Seger said she looks up to Dungy because he came to success in an uncommon way, is not over-aggressive and doesn’t forget his morals. Seger came to the book signing to have Dungy’s children’s book “You Can Do It!” signed for her niece.

Dungy said his newest book was hard to write because he had to decide how he would get the message across, whereas “Quiet Strength” was just a chronicle about his life.
“He’s just such a remarkable man. I don’t know anyone like him,” Long Harris said. “It seemed to us that he had more to say.”

Long Harris said her hope for Dungy’s newest book is that schools, churches and other groups will use it to inspire young people for many years.

Hoeppner said Dungy sends out the message that there is nothing that can’t be overcome.

Freshman Stacy Pearson, an Indianapolis native and Colts fan, said she rushed over to the bookstore as soon her class ended. She said she wanted to have books signed for family members as a Valentine’s Day surprise.

Pearson was part of the last group to have its books signed. Bender said about 600 people attended the signing, but only 500 had their books signed because of time constraints. He gave his business card to those who were unable to have their books signed by Dungy so they can contact Bender and exchange their copies for signed ones Tyndale will send to the bookstore.

Once the book tour is over, Dungy said he will take time to relax.

He said he plans to stay in contact with and help young people.

“I didn’t retire to do nothing,” he said.