Middleton's words helped the team embrace the ethos of rugby in the province and get back the hard attitude associated with Otago teams of the past.
"We said at the start of the season that we have to keep fighting and make the public proud of us," coach Steve Martin told the Otago Daily Times after the win in the team's first Air New Zealand Cup game.
"We did this tonight and kept having a crack even though the game appeared dead and buried.
"That was the sign of a team that has got the spirit and fight."
It was the 229th game between two proud rugby provinces and was a typically hard-fought game right to the final whistle.
Chris Noakes kicked a long-range penalty goal to win the game for Otago in the final seconds.
Otago deserved to win because it scored three tries to one, but Southland first five-eighth Blair Stewart kicked five penalties and a dropped goal to keep his side in the game.
Otago's plan was to play for territory, play a controlled game and attack through the backs inside the Southland half.
The tactics worked in the first spell when Otago kept Southland pinned in its own half for long periods, and played pressure rugby to maintain control.
The phase play was accurate and Otago had the edge in the scrums and line-outs.
The pressure led to the only try of the spell, scored in the left-hand corner by hooker Jason Macdonald in the 16th minute after second five-eighth Aaron Bancroft had thrust through the centre.
There were signs that Otago could take complete control and put Southland to the sword.
The lead at half-time was only 10-9, but things looked promising for Otago.
A dangerous run by winger Lucky Mulipola, who was pushed out in the corner inside the first four minutes, suggested that Otago was on top.
He made a dangerous run up the centre soon after.
But Southland, in a dream for most of the first spell, came out firing after the break to play with passion and attack Otago.
The first sign of this came when Otago had attacking scrums close to the Southland line after 5min and 7min.
On both occasions Southland pushed the Otago scrum back and spoilt attacking opportunities.
The first 15min of the new spell belonged to the Southlanders, who played with aggression and ran the ball back at Otago.
A try to lock Daniel Ramsay gave the Stags a 14-10 lead and what looked like a stranglehold on the game.
Lock Tom Donnelly, Otago's best forward, not only took five two-handed takes in the line-out but was also lively around the paddock.
His work at the breakdown after 17min handed the momentum back to Otago.
Donnelly grabbed the turnover ball after a midfield ruck and charged upfield.
Sharp handling by the Otago backs gave Mulipola the space he needed to score in the right-hand corner and Otago was back in front.
Seven minutes later Otago scored again after Seko Qaraniqio grabbed two-handed ball at the back of the line-out and the backs completed the move, with centre Brett Mather scoring the try after two phases.
The accurate phase play and crisp and accurate passing was a feature of Otago's game.
The attack plan worked perfectly in the first spell but was let down in the second half because of the inaccuracy at the set-pieces.
"But three tries to one. I've got to be pleased with that," Martin said.
"If we'd done a few things better in the second spell we might have scored the fourth try and [got] the bonus point."
Otago lock Ross Kennedy added a strong physical presence to the game. Captain Craig Newby brought spirit and courage and a steely determination to the Otago team, while No 8 Paul Grant and Qaraniqio stood up in their first starts in an Air NZ Cup game.
First five-eighth Noakes with his accurate punting, halfback Toby Morland and Mulipola were the best of the backs.
Otago 25 (Jason Macdonald, Lucky Mulipola, Brett Mather tries; Chris Noakes 2 conversions, 2 penalty goals), Southland 23 (Daniel Ramsay try; Blair Stewart 5 penalty goals, dropped goal).
Half-time: Otago 10-9.
Referee: Chris Pollock (Wellington).
Crowd: 8500.
