Lattimore at Ease About Upcoming Draft
Photo Credit: Heidi Heilbrunn -- Greenville Online
April 16, 2013
Although not in the profession, Marcus Lattimore spoke in front of largest crowd in the history of the Coaches 4 Character program at the Redemption World Outreach Center, Monday night.
Prior to the event Lattimore, who has made several personal appearances around the state in recent weeks, admitted speaking to the large group of youth attending the event was special.
“The whole thing about this is Coaches 4 Character,” said Lattimore. “My whole life I have been fortunate to have a lot of great people around me. The main thing I want them to know is what really matters. Of course academics are crucial. Of course, in sports, you want to do the best you can. But the last thing people remember is how you treat them. That’s my message.”
There have been some tough times for Lattimore in past 18 months – serious injuries to both knees that have required surgery and the death of two grandparents.
Lattimore admitted that following his second injury, when his right knee was injured Oct. 27 against Tennessee, he thought his dream of playing in the National Football League Football was over.
“They told me I wouldn’t walk for nine months, but I’m walking,” Lattimore told the audience. “They told me I wouldn’t run for two years, but I’m running. I pray every night and I know God doesn’t make mistakes. That is what keeps me smiling every day.”
Lattimore has been spending time and working out in Columbia recently. He says he will be doing just that again today.
He admits venturing inside Williams-Brice Stadium for USC’s Spring Game on Saturday, the first time he had been inside the building with fans in the stands since injuring his knee, was exciting and listening to Carolina coach Steve Spurrier call him the best football player ever to play for the Gamecocks was humbling.
“For him to even say something like that is a big honor,” said Lattimore. “There have been a lot of great Gamecocks come through. I guess he was referring to my character pretty much.”
Although the draft is a little more than a week away, Lattimore still says he doesn’t plan on watching and hopes to be alone when the team who chooses him calls.
“To tell you the truth, I’m really at ease right now,” said Lattimore. “I’ve done all I can. When I came out of school I knew what the plan was, to be able to do something for the scouts and I did that. I got through the interviews fine. Everything was great. Now I’ll just wait and see what happens.
“I really don’t have a clue, to tell you the truth. After the couple visits I took, a lot of teams like me later, a lot of teams like me earlier so I have no clue.”
• Abby McCarter and Chris Gantt, students at Sterling Middle School, each received The Coaches 4 Character Award which is given to students recommended by teachers and guidance counselors in their school for their high achievement in the classroom as well as their integrity.
By: Willie T. Smith III -- Greenville Online
Although not in the profession, Marcus Lattimore spoke in front of largest crowd in the history of the Coaches 4 Character program at the Redemption World Outreach Center, Monday night.
Prior to the event Lattimore, who has made several personal appearances around the state in recent weeks, admitted speaking to the large group of youth attending the event was special.
“The whole thing about this is Coaches 4 Character,” said Lattimore. “My whole life I have been fortunate to have a lot of great people around me. The main thing I want them to know is what really matters. Of course academics are crucial. Of course, in sports, you want to do the best you can. But the last thing people remember is how you treat them. That’s my message.”
There have been some tough times for Lattimore in past 18 months – serious injuries to both knees that have required surgery and the death of two grandparents.
Lattimore admitted that following his second injury, when his right knee was injured Oct. 27 against Tennessee, he thought his dream of playing in the National Football League Football was over.
“They told me I wouldn’t walk for nine months, but I’m walking,” Lattimore told the audience. “They told me I wouldn’t run for two years, but I’m running. I pray every night and I know God doesn’t make mistakes. That is what keeps me smiling every day.”
Lattimore has been spending time and working out in Columbia recently. He says he will be doing just that again today.
He admits venturing inside Williams-Brice Stadium for USC’s Spring Game on Saturday, the first time he had been inside the building with fans in the stands since injuring his knee, was exciting and listening to Carolina coach Steve Spurrier call him the best football player ever to play for the Gamecocks was humbling.
“For him to even say something like that is a big honor,” said Lattimore. “There have been a lot of great Gamecocks come through. I guess he was referring to my character pretty much.”
Although the draft is a little more than a week away, Lattimore still says he doesn’t plan on watching and hopes to be alone when the team who chooses him calls.
“To tell you the truth, I’m really at ease right now,” said Lattimore. “I’ve done all I can. When I came out of school I knew what the plan was, to be able to do something for the scouts and I did that. I got through the interviews fine. Everything was great. Now I’ll just wait and see what happens.
“I really don’t have a clue, to tell you the truth. After the couple visits I took, a lot of teams like me later, a lot of teams like me earlier so I have no clue.”
• Abby McCarter and Chris Gantt, students at Sterling Middle School, each received The Coaches 4 Character Award which is given to students recommended by teachers and guidance counselors in their school for their high achievement in the classroom as well as their integrity.
By: Willie T. Smith III -- Greenville Online
TEE IT UP! Golf Tournament
We Extend a Special Thank You to Our Marcus Lattimore Coaches 4 Character Program Sponsors
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Vanderbilt Coach Encourages Students to Overcome Doubt
Picture Credit: MYKAL McELDOWNEY -- Greenville Online
February 26, 2013
The position of head football coach at Vanderbilt University came with unsolicited and unflattering counsel.
“They told me I could never win there; it was the toughest job in all of college football,” said James Franklin, who was hired at Vanderbilt two years ago.
“Over and over and over again, we heard that constantly,” Franklin recalled Tuesday night before speaking at the Coaches 4 Character program at Redemption World Outreach Center.
Franklin recounted those discouraging warnings for the attentive students, parents, teachers and counselors. He then revealed how he countered each modicum of doubt with positive words of encouragement.
In two seasons, Franklin has directed Vanderbilt to consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history.
“I’m a guy that’s got a chip on my shoulder, so I like proving people wrong,” Franklin said. “That’s part of our message about how we were able to turn the thing around, by trying to take that negativity and flip it, by bombarding our guys with the same consistent positive message over and over and over again.”
Stephen Turner and Caroline Newkirk epitomize Franklin’s message of positive reinforcement. Turner and Newkirk both overcame adversity and doubt to excel at Blue Ridge High School.
Turner, a senior, returned from a broken foot to lead the Blue Ridge football team to a region championship. Newkirk missed her freshman year after knee surgery. Now a junior, she has blossomed into a team captain on the Blue Ridge basketball and tennis teams.
The resilient pair was recognized with The Greenville NewsCharacter Award.
“It was a great honor. I think a lot of Coach Franklin,” Turner said. “A lot of people told me it’s hard to come back from a broken foot. It was fun to prove those people wrong.
“Be your own person and serve others, and even if someone treats you wrong, treat them well. If you show love to them, you’ll have a reward at the end of it.”
Newkirk said, while she was sidelined for a season, she applied Franklin’s tactic of combating negativity with a perpetually positive attitude.
“Even if you’re not playing, being positive is just as important as the person that scores 1,000 points,” Newkirk said. “Don’t get down on yourself. With whatever you’re doing, have a positive attitude and encourage other people, and you will get encouragement from that in return.”
Franklin structured his message like a team meeting. At the conclusion, he posted the number of days Vanderbilt has before its season opener. He used that illustration to challenge the students to optimize each day in the pursuit of excellence.
“It’s why we all got into the profession in the first place, I would hope, to try to make a difference in people’s lives and have a chance to hopefully reach a few of these young people and give them one or two things they can connect with that maybe can motivate them to do some special things in their lives,” Franklin said.
By: Mandrallius Robinson -- Greenville Online
The position of head football coach at Vanderbilt University came with unsolicited and unflattering counsel.
“They told me I could never win there; it was the toughest job in all of college football,” said James Franklin, who was hired at Vanderbilt two years ago.
“Over and over and over again, we heard that constantly,” Franklin recalled Tuesday night before speaking at the Coaches 4 Character program at Redemption World Outreach Center.
Franklin recounted those discouraging warnings for the attentive students, parents, teachers and counselors. He then revealed how he countered each modicum of doubt with positive words of encouragement.
In two seasons, Franklin has directed Vanderbilt to consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history.
“I’m a guy that’s got a chip on my shoulder, so I like proving people wrong,” Franklin said. “That’s part of our message about how we were able to turn the thing around, by trying to take that negativity and flip it, by bombarding our guys with the same consistent positive message over and over and over again.”
Stephen Turner and Caroline Newkirk epitomize Franklin’s message of positive reinforcement. Turner and Newkirk both overcame adversity and doubt to excel at Blue Ridge High School.
Turner, a senior, returned from a broken foot to lead the Blue Ridge football team to a region championship. Newkirk missed her freshman year after knee surgery. Now a junior, she has blossomed into a team captain on the Blue Ridge basketball and tennis teams.
The resilient pair was recognized with The Greenville NewsCharacter Award.
“It was a great honor. I think a lot of Coach Franklin,” Turner said. “A lot of people told me it’s hard to come back from a broken foot. It was fun to prove those people wrong.
“Be your own person and serve others, and even if someone treats you wrong, treat them well. If you show love to them, you’ll have a reward at the end of it.”
Newkirk said, while she was sidelined for a season, she applied Franklin’s tactic of combating negativity with a perpetually positive attitude.
“Even if you’re not playing, being positive is just as important as the person that scores 1,000 points,” Newkirk said. “Don’t get down on yourself. With whatever you’re doing, have a positive attitude and encourage other people, and you will get encouragement from that in return.”
Franklin structured his message like a team meeting. At the conclusion, he posted the number of days Vanderbilt has before its season opener. He used that illustration to challenge the students to optimize each day in the pursuit of excellence.
“It’s why we all got into the profession in the first place, I would hope, to try to make a difference in people’s lives and have a chance to hopefully reach a few of these young people and give them one or two things they can connect with that maybe can motivate them to do some special things in their lives,” Franklin said.
By: Mandrallius Robinson -- Greenville Online
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR 2012-13
COACHES 4 CHARACTER SERIES SPONSORS:
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Clemson Legend Salutes Award Winners Picture Credit: BART BOATWRIGHT -- Greenville Online
December 3rd, 2012
Paying tribute to those who helped him rise from an underprivileged childhood to achieve excellence, former Clemson football great Jeff Davis told Upstate students at Monday night’s Coaches 4 Character program that it takes education to succeed in life. But he said it also takes something more. “Education has been the reason that my life has changed, that my life has been transformed,” said Davis, the captain of Clemson’s 1981 national championship team. “But if I had to express one thing more important than education, it’s character. If you’re going to be successful in life, you have to have some character. You’re going to have to have some courage, some discipline, some fight, being kind – all those things are important to your success.” Davis seemed virtually as gripping with the young crowd at Redemption World Outreach Center Monday as he was as a linebacker who went on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He engaged members of the crowd, handed out Passionate About Winning T-shirts to fans of the Tigers and University of South Carolina Gamecocks, and elicited encouragement from teachers and parents. He talked about growing up in a household that didn’t have a car, about meeting his father for the first time at age 33, and about raising six children of his own. The Clemson Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor member also saluted winners of The Greenville News Character Awards. The honorees were DaVonte Blakely and Hannah Coles, eighth-graders at Lakeview Middle School. Blakely is an A Honor Roll student and Beta Club member who plays football at Greenville High and basketball and baseball at Lakeview. He also participates in organizations such as Save Our Sons and Men Who Matter, which are designed to foster leadership skills in young men. “His character stands above reproach,” said Lakeview athletic director Bryan Little. “Students look up to him as an athlete but also as an extremely reputable person with the potential to accomplish all of his goals.” Coles is an A Honor Roll student and Beta Club member who serves as a member of Lakeview’s Student Government Association. She also volunteers at her local food pantry and pitches in on community projects. “Hannah’s strength and conviction as a student is an asset to Lakeview and her community,” said Jeffrey Dredge, an eighth-grade history teacher. by: Michael Burns -- Greenville Online Georgetown's Thompson Delivers Encouraging MessageSeptember 17, 2012
Georgetown men’s basketball coach John Thompson III believes every one is being scouted. “You never know who is watching you. You never know who is making decisions about you when you don’t even know decisions are being made,” Thompson told students attending the Coaches 4 Character program Monday night at Redemption World Outreach Center. Thompson shared that point while recalling how he was hired for his first coaching job, by his former coach at Princeton, Pete Carril, who observed Thompson’s consistent worth ethic while he was a player. Through that example, Thompson encouraged students to stay on top of their game. “Always do what you are supposed to do, the way you are supposed to do it,” he said. Thompson is the 21st speaker Coaches 4 Character has attracted to Greenville. He said he was moved by the program’s mission of inspiring and recognizing Upstate youth. “Forget whatever I ramble about, these kids should be each other’s motivation,” Thompson said before taking the stage. “You don’t need Coach Thompson. Through this program, they can look at each other, and just by bringing this group together, hopefully, somebody is touched in some way, shape or form.” Thompson said he was impressed by the two recipients of The Greenville News Character Award, Eastside High School students Wesley Johnson and Karlisha Stokes. Johnson has volunteered to assist underprivileged children at local organizations and even on a mission trip to Honduras. Stokes has logged more than 800 hours of community service at youth centers, hospitals and a center for abused women, all while holding a part-time job. Johnson said the award further affirmed his charitable spirit. “It means a lot,” Johnson said. “I wasn’t expecting all of this. It’s a big surprise and a great honor.” Stokes shared Thompson’s point on the importance of doing what is right even when you think no one is watching. “I do things for other people not to expect anything back, but because it is the right thing to do” she said. “When you see someone that needs help, you let your shoulder be a shoulder for them to lean on. I hope others can see that someone cares, someone who may not have a role model, older sister or mother figure.” by Mondrallius Robinson--Greenville Online
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Big Bus Alliance 2012-13
The Big Bus Alliance is a unique collaborative effort focusing on transporting at-risk youth to our Coaches 4 Character programs. Young Transportation of Asheville is generously providing 12 beautiful beautiful 55 passenger buses for our 2012-13 Coaches 4 Character Series. Atlanta Bread Company, Cherrydale is partnering with Coaches 4 Character to provide meals on the buses for the students. An additional 2300 students, most all of whom otherwise would not have the opportunity, will be able to attend our four 2012-13 Coaches 4 Character programs.
Students 4 Character 2012-13Students 4 Character is a special partnership between Coaches 4 Character and Clear Channel Radio focusing on students discussing character development. For the four radio programs, students from Upstate high schools will gather at Clear Channel to discuss their thoughts and feelings on character and education issues. Beginning three weeks prior to each Coaches 4 Character program, approximately 250 character sound bites from the students will be broadcast on WESC 92.5, WSSL 100.5, WMYI 102.5, and SHINE 96.7. These public service announcements also will serve as promotional pieces for the upcoming Coaches 4 Character program. A sincere Thank You is due Carolina Dental Group for sponsoring this unique initiative.
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