By Nancy McTygue on behalf of the Davis Blue Devil Football Backers

As parents of current Davis High varsity football players, we write to offer an alternative perspective to Joan Blake’s Nov. 20 opinion piece. While we agree that the time and effort required for football are substantial, we believe it is equally important to note the significant number of benefits our sons have received as members of the team.

Often overlooked but arguably most important has been our sons’ character development. The football program has taught a diverse group of young men the power of working together in pursuit of a common goal, the rewards that are gleaned from hard work, and the importance of integrity and dignity, even in the face of defeat.

Each of us can highlight a specific moment during this past season when our sons persevered in spite of a seemingly overwhelming challenge, cheered on their teammates when they had a rough game, and willingly sacrificed social activities in order to not let their teammates down.

It is also important to point out how central the team has been in our sons’ academic development. Contrary to what one might assume, achievement in the classroom is celebrated on a daily basis in the football program. The coaches offer tutoring in a variety of subjects on a regular basis, consistently require grade checks to ensure that players struggling in the classroom focus their attention on their studies first, provide individual mentoring and accountability, and publicly recognize those who have managed to excel both on the field and in the classroom after each grading period.

All varsity players remained academically eligible to participate in athletics this fall. Many student athletes on the varsity team have consistently maintained over a 3.5 GPA and a talented few regularly exceed the 4.0 level — during the football season.

We know, better than most, the sacrifices our sons have made in order to play varsity football at Davis High. We realize this level of commitment and sacrifice is not for everyone and that the benefits our sons have reaped from their participation might not be enough for every potential student-athlete.

In the end, however, we remain so very grateful to Coach Steve Smyte and his staff for their hours of individual mentoring, thoughtful organization, and dedicated commitment to personal growth.

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