Utah high school football coach suspends entire team

A high school football coach suspended his entire team for a "lack of character." (Denver Post via Getty Images)

A Utah high school football coach suspended his entire team because players were showing a "lack of character," reports the Deseret News' Amy Donaldson (via USA TODAY).

Matt Labrum, coach of Union High School in Roosevelt, Utah, had all 80 players turn in their jerseys after last week's 40-16 loss. Some players reportedly had been skipping class or had been involved in the cyberbullying of a fellow student.

“We felt like everything was going in a direction that we didn’t want our young men going,” Labrum told the Deseret News. “We felt like we needed to make a stand.”

Labrum met with players Saturday and gave them a letter outlining what they needed to do to earn their way back onto the team.

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An excerpt from the letter (via Donaldson):

"The lack of character we are showing off the field is outshining what we are achieving on the field. It is a privilege to play this wonderful game! We must earn the opportunity to have the honor to put on our high school jerseys each Thursday and Friday night!"