Thank you Guru and moderators for not deleting this thread.

 

I have asked everybody who insists on buying me a Christmas present to please make a contribution to an orphanage instead of spending their money on me. I have more than I could have ever hoped for, and I hope that each of you feel the same as me.

 

Please also remember that highschool football has meaning beyond wins and losses.

 

I agree with everything that you said here. The adults in my family all contributed to a military charity for Christmas...an awesome gift for me, as I too have everything I need.

I don't know...these "guys" are kids that, though they made mistakes, are still kids. If the purpose of their incarceration is to rehabilitate them and get them on the right path, the team mentality of football might do that.

 

I certainly don't excuse any actions that they took that caused them to end up incarcerated, but if all these boys ever see in their life is negativity (which may or may not be the case, but sounds like it if their families have disowned them) then how do we get them back on track?

 

I don't really know where I stand on it myself. I just can't help but think about the crimes these young men committed to end up in a maximum security state run school, I in vision these kids doing things that have changed people's lives forever, I also think about how most schools require kids to keep there grades and attendance in order before they can play football and these kids couldn't even keep their record clean yet they get to play football... But I also know these kids need to be rehabilitated so their not a further burden to the taxpayers and legal system and I can't think of anything better to that than football...

There’s one thing I know for sure, it was definitely a good gesture by the coach and fans and it certainly won’t hurt the young men to see that people care about them…:thumb:

I guess this article can hit you both ways, while I respect what the opposing coach and fans did, I'm not sure I approve of these guys getting the opportunity to play football...

If this experience keeps just one kid out of adult prison, I'm all for it.

If this experience keeps just one kid out of adult prison, I'm all for it.

 

I agree.

 

It was a great story. It reminded me of a similar story at Boyle County back in '81 and '82. Ed Rall took a kid on the team that originally was incarcerated at the local Juvenile Detention Center. He was eventually taken into Foster Care by a local family and Football was his lifeline at that young age. He developed into a nice football player but a better person. I've often wondered what happened to him later in life but for those 2 years he had more of a purpose than he ever had before in his life. He also had a team.

 

Thanks for the exception and the read. :thumb:

Thanks for sharing offside!

I guess this article can hit you both ways, while I respect what the opposing coach and fans did, I'm not sure I approve of these guys getting the opportunity to play football...

Makes you wonder if some of these kids lives would of turned out differently if they would have received some of the same love and support they were shown during this game by their family and friends when they were growing up.

Wow. Talk about following Jesus' teachings. What a life lesson everyone involved learned from this game. Simply remarkable.

Makes you wonder if some of these kids lives would of turned out differently if they would have received some of the same love and support they were shown during this game by their family and friends when they were growing up.

 

 

My thoughts exactly!

 

What an amazing man this coach is to do this, to care so much about kids even if they aren't his to coach. Hats off to the fans who agreed to do this as well, and support him in his endeavor. I know that they will have reached at least one kid, if not more. Just knowing someone does care can make all the difference in the world. Thinking that no one cares, especially as a teenager, can make one not care themselves.

 

I also think it's great that the Grapevine kids have the opportunity to participate in football, and try to live as "normal" a life as they can, given the circumstances.

 

I hope all associated with both programs have the best of fortune in the future.

I guess I'm like True Blue...all teary-eyed...I'll echo what so many have said already: If this helps one of those 14 to turn their life around and avoid adult prison, then the efforts of these fine folks will not have been in vain.

 

BGP moderators - thanks so much for not deleting this thread. I don't think it really violates the spirit of rule #9, anyway! :thumb:

 

CM

Wow! That is all I can say. This is a truly touching story.

What a touching story! It's good to see that there are still some in this world that care enough to look beyond what's on the surface of another.

Great story. Just great.

Talk about "bridging" a gap! This is what is so special about sports (especially at this level). There are so many lessons to learn (and teach) and everyone can learn (or teach) them. I have never had a day while being involved in high school football when a player (or another coach) has NOT had something I could look at and learn from.

 

The real emotional part in this great story for me was the appreciation those young men had for what the Faith fans, players, and coaches did for them.

Nice Read

Pretty awesome sounds like the fans that done this understand the true meaning of sports and sportsmanship.