12/04/24
December 31, 2009
What if a high school played a whole football season and almost nobody came to watch?: The remarkable story of the Roosevelt High Roughriders and their coach, Christian Swain.
posted by paulus andronicus to football at 04:38 PM - 6 comments
Great story, thanks so much for posting.
posted by beaverboard at 11:35 PM on December 31, 2009
I agree, thank you for posting this story. It came as a good inspiration at the closing of a tough year.
posted by Demophon at 11:52 PM on December 31, 2009
Fantastic story - and a great kick-off to the New Year for me.
posted by Joey Michaels at 02:01 AM on January 01, 2010
Interesting story, but there was one detail that stopped me in my tracks. When Roosevelt football players suffered concussions, the volunteer trainer had to find free clinics to treat them because most lacked health insurance.
It should be illegal for schools to field football teams without arranging medical care for serious injuries like concussions.
posted by rcade at 10:58 AM on January 01, 2010
I could have sworn this was a work of fiction, but it's better than that. In my ministry related studies, the themes that were repeated were "community" and "helping others one at a time". Coach Swain turned a bunch of kids who could have easily given up into a community, and by so doing helped them all to be better. I think I might have had a light bulb turn on in my head.
posted by Howard_T at 09:41 PM on January 01, 2010
This is the kind of story the news should put out so everyone can learn it. And it's not about all the people that helped, it's about the kids that used the chance they were given to live and learn. Also see it everyday in Flint Michigan, some schools falling apart, little to no heat, broken windows, to few teachers. While schools 5 miles away with half the student body have pools, tennis courts, new modern gyms and weight rooms, the list goes on and on. Just because you are poor does not mean you shouldn't have a chance.