As proud as I am of the Tribe's accomplishments on the field, I'm most proud of the character and perspective emodied in our players. In the gallery below OT Mike Salazar, and LBs Evan Francks, Wes Steinman and Dante Cook spent a day working with kids in area summer camps. There will be more of this over the next couple of weeks, with the team spreading out the week of August 2 to spend time with area youth football teams who begin practice then. Tribe players are involved in community service year round, and all you need do is look at the faces of the players and the kids to see that both sides get alot out of this.
These boards are always quick to publicize problems with players, so let's use this thread to celebrate the real character of our teams. The vast majority of our guys are true role models who work their tails off and are caring, and giving people. Tell us about your players, and all they do for your school, and your community.
4SF...many moons ago, my first job was working at a hotel in Newark where W&M stayed the night before a game. I had the opportunity to cross paths with Jimmye, and he was a total class act. Talked to me for 15-20 minutes in the hotel lobby on his way to meetings, and I've always admired the Tribe since then (no matter how serious the rivalry has been over the years). Having guys like Jimmye in the conference is all part of what makes the CAA great. An overall class act, and an excellent coach/strategist to boot. I'm not surprised to hear about all the great things W&M players do off the field with the class act they have heading the program.
UD players also spend time at summer camps as you mentioned, but every week during football season, a group of 10-15 different guys take turns going to the Ronald McDonald House/AI duPont Children's Hospital in Wilmington to visit the kids and their families. Keeler gets a lot of flack for an awful lot of stuff, but he has these guys actively involved in the Northern Delaware community.
We all want to see our teams win, but seeing these young men develop into contributing members of the community and using their talents and time to make a positive impact on others with no ulterior motives is even better.
Many moons ago while in high school I attended a basketball camp a couple of summers where John Wooden spoke. He always emphasized character and developing life skills over basketball. It was a lesson that disappointed me at the time, but I would get later in life that is most valuable.
Congratulations to all the coaches and players that take the time to give back. We need more like you.
Very nice post Tribe4SF, with all the negative publicity athletes (and football players in general) receive, it is nice to see some positive things happening that are getting reported by the PR department.
[QUOTE=Silenoz;1533896]My brother is playing high school ball in Missoula and a former Griz is one of the coachs. He's brought in Colt Anderson, Shann Shillinger, Marc Mariani, and others to help with drills and speak to the kids. Very nice move by them all.[/QUOTE]
there are a lot of great young men in college football especially at the FCS level. Here is one from CSU
Lancaster Nominated for 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
July 20, 2010
Courtesy of the AFCA
NORTHBROOK, Ill. – July 20, 2010 – To honor the distinguished group of college football players who stand out for the positive influence they have in their communities, Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced the 112 student-athletes nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. It is the most ever in the 19-year history of the award.
When I played we gave back to the community by purchasing beers at the local bars after all games.
Today things are different...
KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island football head coach Joe Trainer and the Rhody football team will host a bone marrow registry drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday on the URI student quad.
Members from the 94 HJY/920 WHJJ street team will be on hand promoting the event from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
For the second-consecutive year, Trainer and the URI football program have partnered with the National Marrow Donor Program to take their efforts to the national level.
Last year the drive generated over 250 new individuals to the national registry.
In the event of rain, the bone marrow registry drive will be held in the Memorial Union from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information on the bone marrow registry drive, contact the Rhode Island football office at 401-874-2406.
The URI football program also sponsors and takes part in an Autism Awareness Walk each spring.
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Conclusion, 1854
Joe Nathan an SBU Alum '97 and 4 Time Major League All-Star relief pitcher helped finance (500K) our new baseball field.
Named Joe Nathan Field it will be ready for its first pitch in the spring of 2011. Complete with field turf, lights and new stands.
