Tale of Two Christian Schools
Chances are, you saw the story out of Dallas about the Christian school whose girl's basketball team played a school for developmentally challenged kids...and beat them 100-0. The school is embarrassed about that now, but the damage is done; not only to the school, but to any Christian who believes compassion and respect are important qualities.
Texas prep hoops team might forfeit 100-0 win
I'd like to give you another story that shows a different side. This story is real. It was written by the talented Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated and it inspires me every time I read it:
High school football is big in America, but I suppose there is no place where it is bigger than in Texas. Friday nights there are legend.
The fans scream; the stands are packed; cheerleaders with pom-poms jump and sway to the beat of the school bandand everybody joins in the chants and stomps their feet on the metal stands until you are sure they will collapse.
This is the frenzy of Texas high school football.
But there is one football team in Texas that is a little different. When they play on Friday night, their stands are empty, no band, no cheerleaders, no mass of parents or townsfolk wearing the school colors and waving banners and flags. They take the field without anyone cheering them on. When they score a touchdown, which rarely happens, there is no wild celebration behind them… All of it seems hollow and muffled in contrast to the tidal wave of roars and drums and chants that come from the opposing side.
They are the Tornadoes of the Gainesville State School, a fenced, maximum-security facility. The young men who go to Gainesville State are there because they have made some major mistakes in their lives. But the players who are on the team are there because they have worked hard and have earned enough good behavior points that gives them the privilege to leave the facility and play football on Friday nights—always an away game for them—always a home game for their opponents—and almost always a loss. They don’t have a weight program or training equipment or high-paid coaches and assistants. They don’t have a large pool of players to draw from. The school has 275 boys, but many are too old or too young or can’t or don’t meet the “criteria” to play. And they don’t have the support of a town and a mass of parents and family and reporters and bands and cheerleaders.
That is, until November 7th. Something changed. They played Grapevine Faith Christian School.
A few days before the game, the Gainesville coach, Mark Williams received a call from Faith Christian coach, Kris Hogan, asking him if it would be okay if Faith formed a “spirit” line for his team when they ran on the field. Mark said, “Sure, that would be a real encouragement to the kids.” He thought that the line would consist of a couple of the JV cheerleaders, but when they took the field, there were a hundred people in it and it stretched to the 40-yard line, filled with Faith Christian parents, fans and varsity cheerleaders, complete with a banner at the end for them to burst through that read “Go Tornadoes!”. And then, those parents and fans sat in the stands behind the Gainesville players and when the Tornadoes broke the huddle and went up to the line they could hear people cheering for them, by name. When they got a first down, “their” fans erupted.
You see, coach Hogan had sent an email out to the Faith Christian parents and students asking them to consider doing something kind for these young men, many who didn’t know what it meant to have a mom and dad who cared, many who felt the world was against them, not for them. Hogan asked that they simply send a message that these boys were “just as valuable as any other person on earth.”
So half of the Faith Christian fans were now sitting on the visitor’s side of the field, cheering for the Gainesville team, and in some cases, against their own sons. –Cheering for a team decked out in mismatched old uniforms and helmets. –Cheering for boys who wouldn’t go home that night and have a smiling dad slap him on the back and feel his mom put her arms around him and say “I’m so proud of you son!” –Cheering for the underdog.
This was a Friday night like no other for the Tornadoes. In the locker room, the players were confused. “Why are they cheerin’ for us, coach?” “Because, men, they want to encourage you. They want you to know that they care about you…that you have value.”
Coach Williams said the boys were stunned. For many of these kids, it may have been the first time that anyone had shown them, so visibly, unconditional love.
They were down 33 to nothing at the half. Williams encouraged his team to set a goal for the second half: to score a touchdown against this vastly superior team. And when the boys from the State School took the field again, with their fans cheering them on, everything started to click. And they did score. Not once but twice.
And the fans went wild.
Coach Williams was asked what the bus ride was like on the way home and he laughed and said that they were all asleep—their bellies were full. That’s becuz after the game, the parents brought a whole bunch of food over to the guys: hamburgers, fries, candy, sodas…and included in the meal sack was a Bible and a personal letter of encouragement from a Faith Christian player. But then, he said, they formed a line for us out to the bus. And the parents patted them on the back and said, “Nice game” and “Look forward to seeing you guys next time.”
As they left the field that night, Coach Williams grabbed Coach Hogan and said to him: “You’ll never know what your people did for these kids tonight. You’ll never, ever know.”
Texas prep hoops team might forfeit 100-0 win
I'd like to give you another story that shows a different side. This story is real. It was written by the talented Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated and it inspires me every time I read it:
High school football is big in America, but I suppose there is no place where it is bigger than in Texas. Friday nights there are legend.
The fans scream; the stands are packed; cheerleaders with pom-poms jump and sway to the beat of the school bandand everybody joins in the chants and stomps their feet on the metal stands until you are sure they will collapse.
This is the frenzy of Texas high school football.
But there is one football team in Texas that is a little different. When they play on Friday night, their stands are empty, no band, no cheerleaders, no mass of parents or townsfolk wearing the school colors and waving banners and flags. They take the field without anyone cheering them on. When they score a touchdown, which rarely happens, there is no wild celebration behind them… All of it seems hollow and muffled in contrast to the tidal wave of roars and drums and chants that come from the opposing side.
They are the Tornadoes of the Gainesville State School, a fenced, maximum-security facility. The young men who go to Gainesville State are there because they have made some major mistakes in their lives. But the players who are on the team are there because they have worked hard and have earned enough good behavior points that gives them the privilege to leave the facility and play football on Friday nights—always an away game for them—always a home game for their opponents—and almost always a loss. They don’t have a weight program or training equipment or high-paid coaches and assistants. They don’t have a large pool of players to draw from. The school has 275 boys, but many are too old or too young or can’t or don’t meet the “criteria” to play. And they don’t have the support of a town and a mass of parents and family and reporters and bands and cheerleaders.
That is, until November 7th. Something changed. They played Grapevine Faith Christian School.
A few days before the game, the Gainesville coach, Mark Williams received a call from Faith Christian coach, Kris Hogan, asking him if it would be okay if Faith formed a “spirit” line for his team when they ran on the field. Mark said, “Sure, that would be a real encouragement to the kids.” He thought that the line would consist of a couple of the JV cheerleaders, but when they took the field, there were a hundred people in it and it stretched to the 40-yard line, filled with Faith Christian parents, fans and varsity cheerleaders, complete with a banner at the end for them to burst through that read “Go Tornadoes!”. And then, those parents and fans sat in the stands behind the Gainesville players and when the Tornadoes broke the huddle and went up to the line they could hear people cheering for them, by name. When they got a first down, “their” fans erupted.
You see, coach Hogan had sent an email out to the Faith Christian parents and students asking them to consider doing something kind for these young men, many who didn’t know what it meant to have a mom and dad who cared, many who felt the world was against them, not for them. Hogan asked that they simply send a message that these boys were “just as valuable as any other person on earth.”
So half of the Faith Christian fans were now sitting on the visitor’s side of the field, cheering for the Gainesville team, and in some cases, against their own sons. –Cheering for a team decked out in mismatched old uniforms and helmets. –Cheering for boys who wouldn’t go home that night and have a smiling dad slap him on the back and feel his mom put her arms around him and say “I’m so proud of you son!” –Cheering for the underdog.
This was a Friday night like no other for the Tornadoes. In the locker room, the players were confused. “Why are they cheerin’ for us, coach?” “Because, men, they want to encourage you. They want you to know that they care about you…that you have value.”
Coach Williams said the boys were stunned. For many of these kids, it may have been the first time that anyone had shown them, so visibly, unconditional love.
They were down 33 to nothing at the half. Williams encouraged his team to set a goal for the second half: to score a touchdown against this vastly superior team. And when the boys from the State School took the field again, with their fans cheering them on, everything started to click. And they did score. Not once but twice.
And the fans went wild.
Coach Williams was asked what the bus ride was like on the way home and he laughed and said that they were all asleep—their bellies were full. That’s becuz after the game, the parents brought a whole bunch of food over to the guys: hamburgers, fries, candy, sodas…and included in the meal sack was a Bible and a personal letter of encouragement from a Faith Christian player. But then, he said, they formed a line for us out to the bus. And the parents patted them on the back and said, “Nice game” and “Look forward to seeing you guys next time.”
As they left the field that night, Coach Williams grabbed Coach Hogan and said to him: “You’ll never know what your people did for these kids tonight. You’ll never, ever know.”
Add a Comment
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Comment by Jeremy Smith on January 23, 2009 at 11:30pm - This is an amazing story and you tell it so well Kidd! I LIVE for inspirations like this!
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Comment by Tracy G on January 23, 2009 at 9:07pm - Why don't we ever see great stories like this in the paper?
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Comment by Duncan<3 on January 23, 2009 at 8:37pm -
This was a great story. I was in the drive thru this AM balling. The lady thought I was crazy and offered me more napkins :)
It's amazing what people can do when they use their energy in a positive way. I think it's great of you to have shared this story as well as the 100-0 story. Thanks you made my day and I have emailed the story to all of my friends!
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Comment by Kristin on January 23, 2009 at 3:27pm
- My Grandparents own the 40 acres directly to the east of the Gainesville state school. I grew up in gainesville. Left at 18 to go to college at DBU. I grew up on my gp's land, to the sound of those boys playing ball. This story truly touched me. Thank you for sharing.
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Comment by Nicole on January 23, 2009 at 2:37pm - That was such a touching story this morning when you were reading it. I cried the entire way to work.
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Comment by Margaret Davis on January 23, 2009 at 1:44pm
- I was on my way to work when this came over the radio. It just goes to show you that there is still people out there that has a heart. Yes the boys have made some mistakes and they are paying for them, but they should have people turning their back on them. My hat is off to the Christian school and to the parents and family members to those who did this.......The story made me cry but in a good way...
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Comment by Dallas on January 23, 2009 at 12:23pm
- Thanks for the amazing story! It moved me so much I shared it with all my friends and coworkers. Keep doing such a wonderful job.
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Comment by C on January 23, 2009 at 12:02pm
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When I heard this story I will admit it was an amazing act of kindness and I am all for second chances, but I don't feel it's inspirational. This particular school must we not forget is filled with many different types of criminal offenders. Here are the requirements to be in this maximum security facility school.
The Texas Youth Commission classifies offenders based on the most serious offense documented in the youth's records. The following are TYC's classification categories and corresponding offenses:
Sentenced Offender
Includes all youth given specific, or "determinate sentences" by courts. The sentence begins at TYC and, depending on the youth's progress, may be completed in the adult prison system. Eligible offenses include murder, capital murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, intoxication manslaughter, aggravated or attempted aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, aggravated assault, aggravated or attempted aggravated robbery, felony injury to a child, elderly or disabled person, felony deadly conduct, aggravated or first-degree controlled substance felony, criminal solicitation, second-degree felony indecency with a child, criminal solicitation of a minor, first degree felony arson, or habitual felony conduct.
Non-Sentenced Offender Categories
Type A Violent Offender: Youth classified for committing or attempting to commit murder, capital murder, aggravated sexual assault, or sexual assault .
Type B Violent Offender: Youth classified for committing or attempting to commit criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, felony or aggravated assault, indecency with a child, injury to a child, elderly or disabled person, child abandonment or endangerment, felony deadly conduct, felony aiding suicide, first- or second-degree tampering with a consumer product, arson, robbery or aggravated robbery, burglary with intent to commit a violent offense, intoxication assault or manslaughter, participating in a riot at a TYC facility, or assault with bodily injury to TYC staff.
Chronic Serious Offender: Youth adjudicated on at least three separate occasions for having committed a felony.
Controlled Substance Dealer: Youth classified for felony-level drug manufacturing or delivery.
Firearms Offender: Youth who possessed a firearm during the offense for which classified.
General Offender: All other youth - generally sent to TYC for non-violent or property crime offenses.
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Comment by Leslie K. on January 23, 2009 at 11:06am
- Kidd - as a parent whos children attend Dallas Christian School, I was moved and inspired by the Rick Reilly story you read this morning. I forwarded the article to our Head Football Coach and told him because of his leadership, I could see our school family doing the same thing! I don't say this to brag, but DCS is an amazing school full of families that have Jesus in ther hearts, and inturn, shows that love to other. Again, MANY thanks!!
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Comment by Rogers on January 23, 2009 at 11:04am - I enjoyed this story. I use to work for the state school in Giddings, TX as a corrections officer. As a staff member our days were not always the best. Everyday we were faced with unpredictable and sometimes life threatening behavior of youth who could care less who you were, let alone if you cared. Many scorn and rejected by family, friends and society. We didn't always get to hear too many good things happening across the state when it came to the youth in our care and this is one that got missed. However, this story show us when people set aside prejudices and stereotypes and just be human, it can make a big difference in the lives of so many, especially the youth. Thank you for reminding my of what I missed most from my time working with the youth. stay golden and continue to be a blessing.
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