Disappointed coach suspends all 80 players on his football team

[jtuck004]

On Friday night, all 80 members of Utah's Union High School football team were asked to turn in their jerseys and helmets. Second-year head coach Matt Labrum suspended his entire team over concerns about their off-the-field behavior, after receiving reports that some players had been cyberbullying other students, while others were skipping class or being disrespectful to their teachers. "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," Labrum told the Deseret News.

At a team meeting, all the players were given a letter titled "Union Football Character," which explained that they would have to earn their jerseys back by performing community service, taking a class on character development and helping their own families. They also had to write reports about what they'd done to improve themselves. "We must earn the opportunity to have the honor to put on our jerseys [every week]," Labrum wrote in his letter. As a coach, he's already earned our respect

Here

I wish this wasn't such a standout from what I think is the norm, but regardless, I thought it was kinda cool. There are towns where that might have gotten the coach fired...

[Ohio Joe]

1. There are some towns this would get the coach assaulted...

or worse. When I lived in Ohio... They took their high school sports more then serious.

[awoke_in_2003]

2. They would lynch him in Steubenville. nt

[MADem]

3. Very surprising.

I wonder if they were any good?

It's easier to stand on principle if your team kinda sucks, and hangs in the losing column most of the time.

It's harder to make a real "sacrifice" if they're a winning team, and are championship caliber.

I think the coach has the right idea, though.

[Heidi]

4. Union's 2012 record was 5-6.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865584306/High-school-football-preview-Teams-in-new-3A-North-are-loaded-with-experience.html?pg=all

[MADem]

15. Not a "championship season" but not a total rout, either.

Maybe they'll start playing a little better after this business!

[cui bono]

5. Not at all the story I was expecting to read.

Thought this was going to be about some hot headed coach who was disappointed in the team's game performance.

I like this story much, much better.

[jtuck004]

6. I thought the same thing...pleasantly surprised. n/t

[treestar]

13. Yes, same here.

[Delphinus]

7. This took me by complete surprise!

I am so glad I clicked through to read it!

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Good job coach!!!

[Laelth]

9. That's impressive. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[LWolf]

10. I hope he hired a team to provide security.

That's lynching behavior in some towns.

[MineralMan]

11. Good for this coach!

I hope he's ready for the hate mail and death threats he's certain to get. People are rabid about HS football sometimes, and some parents count on football scholarships to pay for their kid's college.

But, this is exactly the right thing to do and will teach an important lesson to the team members, and maybe even others.

[LeftinOH]

12. Unfortunately, this is an unheard-of exception.

Some of the worst bullies I knew were on the football team in HS (but not all of them, of course). And that was before the internet.

[cali]

14. It is, but it may be a catalyst as well

One can hope.