Just go ahead and give him the Coach of the Year award.  This lesson will stick with these boys much longer than a complete football season.

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

Full SI Article

Original Article

A bit more on the letter:

During Saturday’s team meeting, Labrum gave the suspended players a letter titled “Union Football Character,” explaining exactly what the boys would need to do if they wanted to earn their jerseys back.

“The lack of character we are showing off the field is outshining what we are achieving on the field,” the letter said. “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!”

Instead of practicing during the days leading up to a homecoming game against Emery High this Friday, they were told to perform community service, and attend study hall and a class on character development. They were also required to perform service for their own families and write a report about their actions.

The players were told they also need to show up on time and attend all of their classes. And those with bad grades were told they must show improvement if they wanted to play.