Posted on 01/30/2009 4:38:41 AM PST by Caleb1411
They played the oddest game in high school football history last month down in Grapevine, Texas.
It was Grapevine Faith vs. Gainesville State School and everything about it was upside down. For instance, when Gainesville came out to take the field, the Faith fans made a 40-yard spirit line for them to run through.
Did you hear that? The other team's fans?
They even made a banner for players to crash through at the end. It said, "Go Tornadoes!" Which is also weird, because Faith is the Lions.
It was rivers running uphill and cats petting dogs. More than 200 Faith fans sat on the Gainesville side and kept cheering the Gainesville players on—by name.
"I never in my life thought I'd hear people cheering for us to hit their kids," recalls Gainesville's QB and middle linebacker, Isaiah. "I wouldn't expect another parent to tell somebody to hit their kids. But they wanted us to!"
And even though Faith walloped them 33-14, the Gainesville kids were so happy that after the game they gave head coach Mark Williams a sideline squirt-bottle shower like he'd just won state. Gotta be the first Gatorade bath in history for an 0-9 coach.
But then you saw the 12 uniformed officers escorting the 14 Gainesville players off the field and two and two started to make four. They lined the players up in groups of five—handcuffs ready in their back pockets—and marched them to the team bus. That's because Gainesville is a maximum-security correctional facility 75 miles north of Dallas. Every game it plays is on the road.
This all started when Faith's head coach, Kris Hogan, wanted to do something kind for the Gainesville team. Faith had never played Gainesville, but he already knew the score.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
There are links to several other articles about the game at the school’s website:
Please tell Mark that this Texan is button busting proud of him and his team and thier families.
So proud to be a Texan (by the grace of God).
What a touching and wonderful story! Thanks a lot!
Thank you for the Ping to this Heartwarming Story, Lonestar, and for Posting it, Caleb1411; God’s Blessings Abound. (Thank You, Lord!)
here’s more...
No Carley, my idea or purpose is not to just flame away and several have sure presented some well thought out points, I’m sure I was too hasty. I work within the County Court at Law system in our rural Texas county and no, we should be cautious of labeling those within the judicial system (behind the bars, serving time) as “losers” which causes me to think RE: Mad Dawg’s comments.
I like Mad Dawg’s thinking on the value of the “self-esteem” issue which on second blush, has certainly been ruined by shallow and vapid thinking (great choice of words too).
That’s a well-reasoned thought Mad Dawg, I also like your summation, I hadn’t thought from that perspective (some evangelizing going on). To be sure, if the team has done some sowing and if we take the long view (the best way IMO)then it certainly is for the right reasons, regardless, with that view in mind there were good, solid intentions so we hope and pray for the best results.
I was hoping that some of the ‘kids’ realized that there is another path to be taken in life. That there are people who actually care about them.
If you work in the court system you must see some pretty sad cases where kids with the right family or mentor could make something of themselves.
I was in LE for 31 years and now I find myself on the “other end” (seeing the results), it’ll break your heart, some seem not ready to get back on track but there are quite a few that turn around but then they have to deal with their backgrounds impacting (usually negatively) their dreams and asperations.
Some will persevere on however so those are the ones you reach out to, not by enabling them further but sometimes a good listener is just as effective.
You’d be amazed at the number of retired cops going into some sort of prison ministry or outreach and they mean it, they walk the walk.
Glad to hear that people are getting involved in mentoring. Not just walking away but as you say, walking the walk.
Families have children and they are abandoned nearly at birth. An inconvenience at best.
I am glad that this Christian School did what they did for the prisoner kids. I think it sent a powerful message.
What could the Christian School kids say if they won the game. Compared to what they did FOR the other team.
Thank you, bro. Stay safe.
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