Basketball Coach Buzz Williams of Virginia Tech was disappointed with the overall state of respect among college basketball players. He had noticed for years that most college players would not pay attention during the National Anthem.
As we’ve all seen, some do stand in full respect. But many don’t: they sway along with the music, others look down at the floor, others even goof off and pay no attention. And we’ve all been there. Williams realized what was lacking was the reverent attitude due to those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy every day. Something we all need reminding of.
While Coach Williams couldn’t sit down every team in his league, he knew he could make a difference with his own. Thus started a beautiful Veteran’s Day tradition that showed his boys (face to face) to be respectful and to set an example for other players.
He said, “I wanted the players to understand how fortunate they were to be able to play this great game, to earn a scholarship, and to have people pay money to watch them play. Everything comes at a cost and each and every one of us is fortunate that someone else, in someway, is sacrificing something so we can go about our every day lives.”
Watch below as he teams up with some incredible Veterans to teach them, in a beautifully powerful and respectful way, what it means to appreciate freedom.
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