Warner’s message to UNI hoops: Enjoy last season’s success

CHICAGO - Former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner enjoyed a weekend in Seattle last month rooting on his alma mater Northern Iowa Panthers in the NCAA basketball tournament.

Warner spoke to the team before their win against Wyoming about enjoying the moment. He also has a message for the Panthers, who lost 66-53 to Louisville in the round of 32.

'I think it's always easy to look at the last game and let it define your season,” Warner told The Gazette on Wednesday. 'So I think my message to teams afterward always is, don't let one game take away everything you accomplished through the season.

'We had one year we went to the Super Bowl and lost, and it was almost like a disappointment. We spent the whole off-season trying to right the wrong of losing in the Super Bowl instead of winning it. You lose sight of the moments that you get. The ways that you've grown and the successes that you've had.”

Warner's 2001 St. Louis Rams were considered a potential dynasty-making team two years removed from a Super Bowl win. Warner was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player, and the Rams were a heavy favorite against New England. But after Warner rallied the Rams to tie the game late at 17-17, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady guided New England to a game-winning field goal on the final play.

Northern Iowa basketball finished the season 31-4 and ranked 14th in the final USA Today/Coaches poll. The Panthers set a school record for wins and were seeded fifth, which also was a program high.

'Life at the end of the day is about experiences and enjoying the moments that you get,” Warner said. 'Sports is unbelievable at sharing moments that nobody else gets to experience that you'll never have again. That will be my message to the UNI team is enjoy what you did this year. Yes, the last game, we didn't play our best, we didn't win. But enjoy this moment because you went (31-4). How many teams get to go (31-4) in a season? How many teams get to grow and experience and have the things that you did. Understand that that is a moment in time. Don't let that carry over into your off-season where your mind-set is completely different.

'Enjoy that season for what it was, but when it's time to let that go, let it go. Now you gear up and you start over again.”

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