Chip Kelly and Deion Sanders Show Compassion For Accused Locker Room Thieves
Football coaches are often stereotyped as hard-nosed, disciplined people, and for good reason. Football is a tough sport, both physically and mentally. Coaches need to lead by example for their team. But coaching at the college level requires the awareness that your players are young, and still figuring out who they are. They will make mistakes. Some are big mistakes and some are small, but both should be met with proportionate discipline and compassion.
A few weeks ago, four teenagers on a football recruiting visit to the Rose Bowl for the UCLA-Colorado game allegedly stole items belonging to players from Deion Sanders' Colorado football team. The total dollar value of all the stolen items combined entered into the 5-digits, reportedly.
Since then, local authorities have been in contact with the accused. But this week, both head coaches of the two involved teams have come out and stated that while the actions of the accused are not acceptable, the accused should not be
"This shouldn't ruin their lives," UCLA head coach Chip Kelly offered, according to Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times. "I think any mistake at that age, I think it’s a very valuable lesson for them to learn".
Kelly's comments echoed similar sentiment that Deion Sanders also stated days prior.
"Let's not abort the rest of their opportunities and lives because of a mistake," Sanders opined in a press conference. "Because if we were to really, do a roll call of mistakes at the age of 17 and 18 in here, I'm sure everybody would tip out of here with their head down like we're in church."
Great points from two respected leaders of men.
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