A Different Spin on Youth Football Banquet

On the mornings that I set aside to write my columns, I turn off all distractions to the outside world. It's just me and Acoustic New Age on Pandora Radio.

So it wasn't until late into Wednesday morning that I'd heard that Bristol Central High School had been locked down. Even if I didn't  have a goddaughter attending the school as a freshman, it still would have sent an icy chill down my spine.

The details are still trickling in, but it involved a threat by a student involving various weapons. And by the time you read this there's a good chance you'll already know the entire story.

This column was going be dedicated to my "feel good" night at my last youth football banquet after a 15-year association. And I'll still share some of that wonderful evening with you. It's just that now it seems to have lost a little of its innocence when you think of the utter havoc that was being planned only one town away at my former high school.

I'm certainly not smart enough to discuss what variables in a person's life might cause them to want to act out in such a violent manner. It's got to be incredibly complicated. My own simplistic rationalizations on the subject blame a number of factors. And if all were equal, the questions would undoubtedly be easier to answer. But much of how people react under similar circumstances seems to be a mystery still. While everybody certainly hurts at one time or another, not everyone can be healed by a simple Band-Aid.

As mentioned earlier, Tuesday night was a celebration recognizing the accomplishments and good sportsmanship of over 300 youth football players and cheerleaders.

What I didn't expect was the outpouring of love from fellow board members, coaches, players, cheerleaders, and parents. The evening turned into much more of a goodbye than the farewell speech that I had prepared. I was truly moved to tears.

All anyone can ask for as a longtime volunteer is to hope that they leave some sort of a legacy behind. Wanting to leave a legacy does not necessarily imply the need to ego-boost. It's simply the desire to establish something that will continue to breathe even after you've walked away from it.

I hope my legacy to my league is The Distant Replay Award. It's been my labor of love since handing out the first one 12 years ago. The premise behind the award is to promote a sense of lineage within the league.

Distant Replay is a book that details the 25th Anniversary Reunion of the 1966-67 Green Bay Packers as recounted by Hall of Fame guard Jerry Kramer.

Kramer’s underlying message is one of togetherness and the satisfaction of knowing that you can always return home. As stated on the inside flap of the book, “It is the love story of a bond among men that has endured for two decades.”

Each year we welcome the previous season’s recipient as a guest speaker to our annual banquet to share some of his experiences since leaving us. He also has the honor of passing along the copy of Distant Replay that he has had in his possession for the past year. There is space inside the book for each recipient to write a message for those that follow.

The award is presented to a "retiring" player who has excelled both on and off of the football field. He is a positive influence for his classmates as well as his teammates. He is not necessarily the most talented football player on his team. He is respected by his peers; unselfish, unassuming, and unspoiled. He leads by example.

Players are nominated by their parents, other parents, family members, teachers, members of the community, coaches, and other players. There is no competition involved. It is simply a means of promoting a family that extends beyond rosters, seasons, victories, or town borders. It is more like an invitation to all former players, regardless of hometown or future high school, to come back for a visit, throw the football around, and say hello to the family.

A panel of parents vote on the recipient. At the banquet I read a portion to the audience that was submitted about each nominee.  After all nominees are on the stage the previous season's recipient is welcomed back. When he is finished addressing the crowd, the winner is announced and presented with the book as well as a gift. All nominees are given hats, customized blankets, and framed certificates.

Tuesday night some past recipients came back for a surprise visit including the first, Carl Morrissey, who now resides in the Boston area. Past winners are from Avon, Farmington, Burlington, and Canton, but many are now attending colleges throughout the country.

I specifically remember the satisfaction of knowing that these young men were all in a good place in their lives and headed toward the beginning of making their dreams come true.

And then came Wednesday morning at BCHS when the day began to unravel toward a close encounter with disaster. A young man had terrible plans. Maybe he also once played youth football, attended a banquet, and went home with a trophy. Regardless, something isn't quite right. I just wish I was smart enough to know exactly what that is.