And it is that belief and his passion for the game that led Labrum and his staff to suspend all 80 players from the team because of off-the-field problems ranging from cyberbullying to skipping classes.
“We felt like everything was going in a direction that we didn’t want our young men going,” said Labrum, an alumnus of the program he’s coached for the past two seasons. “We felt like we needed to make a stand.”
So the coach and his staff gathered the team together after Friday night’s loss to Judge Memorial Catholic and told them he was concerned about some of the players’ actions and behaviors off the field. He instructed them all to turn in their jerseys and their equipment. There would be no more football until they earn the privilege to play.
The coaches told them there would be a 7 a.m. meeting the next day where they would have an opportunity to re-earn a spot on the team.
“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 said. I think it really meant something to them, which was nice to see that it does mean something. There was none of them that fought us on it.”
A few days before, guidance counselors informed the coaches about a student who believed he was being harassed by football players on an online chat program.
Other issues that concerned the coaches included failing and skipping classes, and showing disrespect to teachers.
“It had gotten to a new level.” said Labrum. “We felt like we weren’t respecting the teachers, what they were trying to do inside the school. We weren’t reaching the young men like we wanted to reach them.”
So they stopped playing football and started to discuss character.
During Saturday’s team meeting, Labrum gave the suspended football players a letter titled “Union Football Character,” explaining exactly what the boys would need to do if they wanted to earn their jerseys back.
Instead of practicing during the days leading up to a homecoming game against Emery High this Friday, they were told to perform community service, attend study hall and a class on character development. They were also required to perform service for their own families and write a report about their actions.
Also, players needed to show up on time for classes, and those with bad grades must show improvement if they wanted to play.
School administrators learned of the decision to suspend the team the day before it happened, said they supported the move and saw it as more of an opportunity than punishment.
“As I thought about it, I’ve got 100 percent confidence in our coaching staff,” said Principal Rick Nielsen. “They are just excellent men. Sometimes we do think we’re bigger than the game.”
No parent complained about the decision to the administration. Most expressed support and gratitude.
One parent, Jenn Rook, admits her first reaction was to hurry off to find a coach to corner, but then her son told her what led to the decision.
“OK, that’s not so bad then, Rook said. I do support it. These boys are not going to be hurt by this...It’s not a punishment, I see it as an opportunity to do some good in the community.”
After meeting with the coach, Jeremy Libberton totally supported the coach.
After I met with him, he’s got my support,” said Libberton. “I’m encouraging my son to stand strong, to stand with the team and get through this…
One player, Gavin Nielsen says his passion for the game hasn’t diminished, but he does have a new perspective on what it means to wear the Union High uniform.
“I still have the love for it and everything, he said Monday while leaning on a shovel used to remove weeds. “But it helped me realize, it’s not all about football.”
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