It hearkens back to the days when someone with God-Given talent could make a team pretty much by showing up. Then, comes the sports-romance story where the protaganists just outworks and outhustles, acheiving more through pure grit.

that's right. . .grit.

So, a coach who has less talent available (easily quantified with the way star rankings work these days), can "motivate" his team and fan base by saying that they'll win with mechanics, execution, and finesse.

It occasionally works