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I played a little in high school football and...as a sport I have nothing but praise

At least the way it was played in high school, you know...back in the good old days.

On or off the football field our coach had certain behaviors he’d expect

His main teaching no matter how we did was to treat everyone with respect.

If you knock them down you help them up, if they score, “Great Job” is what you say

Because we learned in football as in life there is a gracious way to play.

I never played past high school (I wasn’t the superstar I thought I would be)

But I still love watching the game today though I’m often appalled at what I see.

Yes, the game is still worth watching that’s a fact I cannot overstate

I do have a problem however with the ways some players celebrate.

It appears in the years since I played football some gamesmanship has passed away

And some of the players have forgotten there’s a respectful way to play.

Players mock and they ridicule and they try to humiliate and shame

It seems to me along the way they’ve forgotten it’s just a game. 

If a player makes a tackle it’s not enough that we applaud

He bursts out in the open and acts like he’s a God.

If another scores a touchdown he begins to pound his chest

He runs and jumps and flails and shouts just like a man possessed.

Since when does doing what’s expected cause you to flex, and shake and scream

You’d think they succeeded by themselves instead of as a team.

Certainly there’s a place for celebration in the game of football today

But if my high school coach was watching I know exactly what he’d say.

He’d say, “Players please remember that no matter what ensues

You must show as much dignity when you win as you show those times you lose.”

Football has a grace and beauty that will oftentimes amaze

But when it comes to sportsmanship and honor, I long for the good old days.