When We Let Boys be Boys (Get Out Your Hankies!)

Okay, if you’ve seen this before, maybe you can remain composed through the end. Otherwise — good luck. The Free-Ramge angle? Um…I’m not sure, except that let’s not underestimate kids. Ever. – L.

Pass it on!

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13 Responses to When We Let Boys be Boys (Get Out Your Hankies!)

  1. Oleg November 11, 2013 at 3:15 pm #

    This video is not available in your country

  2. Fleagle November 11, 2013 at 3:25 pm #

    There is no free range angle, but it’s a great story.

  3. Coasterfreak November 11, 2013 at 3:29 pm #

    We see so many teens being stupid and self-centered and obnoxious (and heaven knows I was that way when I was a teen even though I was taught differently), that it just really makes my day when I see kids acting like this. And not just one or two kids, either, a whole group of them on board with making ONE PERSON’S day — and in the process, making EVERYBODY’S day.

  4. Ben November 11, 2013 at 3:59 pm #

    Maybe it sounds strange, but I actually hope these kids don’t continue with football. I’d like to see that sort of people running the country… It would be a better place.

  5. Katie November 11, 2013 at 4:23 pm #

    I saw this awhile ago and it is just so sweet. It may be stretching it – but the free range is that the parents of the very special boy that got the touchdown let this kid play football. Not just be a manager but play. Good for them for getting there child out there to do something he obviously loves.

    I have a S.N. nephew and I truly believe that the children with whom he is “mainstreamed” get as much out of him being there as he gets from them. These children learn a whole different level of compassion and human dignity.

  6. Matt in GA November 11, 2013 at 8:45 pm #

    The free range angle is that the team members did this on their own. They planned this “behind the coaches’ backs”, and executed the plan themselves. That’s what’s awesome about the whole story, that these boys discovered their own capacity for empathy and friendship, and they grew from the experience.

  7. Reziac November 11, 2013 at 8:46 pm #

    I hope these kids DO continue playing football — because teamwork is a whole lot better ethic than what we’ve got in today’s politics. Come out of their football years with that mindset and no matter what they do, they’ll benefit the world.

  8. Jennifer L.W. Fink (@jlwf) November 11, 2013 at 8:49 pm #

    I’ve been sharing this all over the place. There’s so much bad news re football, and so many parents who are leery to let their kids play due to concerns of injury and a potentially toxic culture. This video shows the flip side: Football isn’t all bad, and good can come of it.

  9. Crystal November 12, 2013 at 9:18 am #

    Love it!

  10. lollipoplover November 12, 2013 at 1:16 pm #

    The free range vibe I get from the Olivet Eagles is that kids left to their own devises (“scheming and conspiring in between classes”) can do amazing things that impact the lives of others. Like letting someone experience a touchdown. I also wonder what all of the hugging and touching bans in schols these days do to kids like Keith Orr (who “struggles with boundaries”) and would probably be booted out of school for his active hugging and touching.

    So many families struggle with the school systems and what values they teach our kids. Sending a learning disabled student “mainstream” takes guts because kids can be really mean. If only all high school football teams could take a kid like Keith under their wings.

    One of my favorite books this year is “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio because it’s the kind of book that makes you want to hug everyone, just like I feel like doing after watching this video.
    It’s cool beans.

  11. Kay November 12, 2013 at 1:43 pm #

    Yes, Matt in GA, that is the free range angle, their compassion was not orchestrated by adults which proves kids are able to think. This is a beautiful story, I’m showing it to my kids.

  12. Dad November 12, 2013 at 9:06 pm #

    Free range angle? How about the fact that kids are smarter, more caring, better than we (as a society) expect? That when left to their own devices can and will rise to the occasion, do the right thing, make us proud? That they don’t need to be coddled and sheltered but instead given the opportunity to shine?

  13. Melissa November 18, 2013 at 10:01 am #

    I also really appreciated the honesty (and humility) of the boy who admitted that he wouldn’t have come up with a plan like this, and that he was against it at first. Not only did the kids responsible make the little guy’s day (year/life/whatever) with their touchdown plan – they may have completely altered the life path of THAT “cool” boy too.