Friday and Saturday Night Lights - Football

So I was reading about how some Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) football players, about 20 of them, interrupted “The Laramie Project” a play about a town in Wyoming and its reaction to the murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard, who was tortured, pistol-whipped, tied to a fence and left to die 15 years ago with heckling, laughing, and homophobic slurs. Matthew’s mother had some words about how just when you hope there change for the good bullies, and that is what these football players are, spoil things. Theirs is the kind hatred and group mentality mix that leads to violence and requires a strong response from all of us, and especially the team’s leadership to end it. Where is that other coach that I read about, Matt Labrum when we need him (or more like him) to a stand for tolerance? This Utah coach found information indicating that multiple football players were using social media site ask.fm to bully another student. Unable to find out which specific players were involved led to him suspending all 80 and requiring them each to earn back their jerseys by completing a community service project. Their suspension lasted only a day but made a positive impact. Matt Labrum proved that there is more than just football at stake in a situation like this. Character counts and the players at the University of Mississippi could use some. Shame on them and the coaches if they leave this matter unanswered. Ole Miss, are you listening?