Remember the Titans

All of the athletes are covered in mud, sweat, and pain. Their eyes were as if forty pound dumbbells hung underneath. The fear of the unknown was written on everyone’s face. The unexpected stop in a clearing was to be another one of Coach Boone’s expected crazy workout moments. The huffing for breath and the vomiting by the players was overshadowed by the dreary dense fog. The density was that of despair. As the sun raised over the meadow the shadows of tombstones appeared. This wasn’t any place! “This is Gettysburg,” announced Coach Boone. “This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg!” A question of misunderstanding arose in their faces. Coach Yoast was amazed at the sight, for his eyes were wide and attentive to what Coach Boone was going to say. This was the first sign of respect for the colleague. The breaths begin to slow as Boone tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg. The confused faces turn into engaged minds. Soaking the words in like a new born baby soaks in his mother’s words. “They fought the same battle we our fighting today amongst ourselves.” The sadness in Boone’s eyes cry the need to be one. “Listen to their souls, killed my brother with malice in my heart and hatred destroyed my family.” Staggering in his walk to join his men he exhorts them. “If your listen take a lesson from the dead, if we don’t come together right now on this hallowed ground we too will be destroyed, just like they were.” The team stands together taller in humility. Coach Boone’s final words “I don’t care if you don’t like each other right now but you will respect each other and maybe learn to play this game like men.”