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"Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent." Fed up with his players' off-the-field behavior, Utah high school football coach Matt Labrum suspended all 80 members of his team and made them help out in the community in lieu of practice until they could earn the privilege to play again.
After their last game, Labrum gathered up his players and said he was unhappy with many of their actions, ranging from failing and cutting classes to cyberbullying. He then told them all to turn in their jerseys and equipment.
At the team meeting a day after the mass suspensions, Labrum passed out a letter titled "Union Football Character," telling the boys what they had to do to get back on the field, including performing community service, attending study hall, going to a character development class, and writing a report on their actions. They were also required to memorize this quote:
"Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast is not given to us. We have to build it, piece by piece — by thought, by choice, courage, and determination."
"We felt like everything was going in a direction that we didn't want our young men going. We felt like we needed to make a stand," said Labrum, who attended the school and has been its coach for two years. "The lack of character we are showing off the field is outshining what we are achieving on the field. We want student-athletes that are humble to learn and grow through adversity and success on and off the field. We looked at it as a chance to say, 'Hey, we need to focus on some other things that are more important than winning a football game.'"
http://fxn.ws/19H6yW0
After their last game, Labrum gathered up his players and said he was unhappy with many of their actions, ranging from failing and cutting classes to cyberbullying. He then told them all to turn in their jerseys and equipment.
At the team meeting a day after the mass suspensions, Labrum passed out a letter titled "Union Football Character," telling the boys what they had to do to get back on the field, including performing community service, attending study hall, going to a character development class, and writing a report on their actions. They were also required to memorize this quote:
"Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast is not given to us. We have to build it, piece by piece — by thought, by choice, courage, and determination."
"We felt like everything was going in a direction that we didn't want our young men going. We felt like we needed to make a stand," said Labrum, who attended the school and has been its coach for two years. "The lack of character we are showing off the field is outshining what we are achieving on the field. We want student-athletes that are humble to learn and grow through adversity and success on and off the field. We looked at it as a chance to say, 'Hey, we need to focus on some other things that are more important than winning a football game.'"
http://fxn.ws/19H6yW0
