Students Honored at Coaches for Character Event

October 6, 2014

Furman University football coach Bruce Fowler won a pair of Southern Conference championships as a player with the Paladins in the late 1970s. He won eight more during 18 years as an assistant at Furman, and last season won his first in three seasons as head coach at the school.

On Monday night at the Redemption World Outreach Center, Fowler spoke to hundreds of local elementary, middle and high school students about some of the things that have helped him become successful.

Fowler had five messages for the students: Do your best; be brave enough to do the right thing; be great timekeepers by making the most of your free time; be compassionate; and never give up.

When it came to doing your best, Fowler shared an inspiring story about one of his former players, John Keith. Fowler called Keith, who went on from Furman to the San Francisco 49ers, the "best player I ever coached."

Fowler, who added that Keith was also probably the toughest player he ever coached, said that one day during a film session he accused Keith of not trying hard.

"We were walking out and he wasn't talking to me. All of a sudden I look over and he had tears running down his face," said Fowler. "He looked at me and said, 'Coach, I always do my best,' and he did. It meant that much to him."

Fowler was thankful to have the opportunity to speak Monday. He talked about teaching many of the same aged students that were in attendance when he taught and coached at Wren Middle School right after graduating from Furman. Fowler also pointed out that his two children each attended Wade Hampton High School.

"When I got asked to come speak to you, it was as big an honor as anything that I've had the opportunity to do," Fowler told the students. "It's because we share the same community.

"I hope and pray that what I say will make a difference to you and have an impact on your life, because I believe you're really important and I believe that you can make a difference in our community."

Winners of The Greenville News Coaches 4 Character Award were Analis Bailey and Jackson Boyd, who are both seniors at Riverside High School. Riverside assistant principal Stephanie Smith spoke about each student and helped present the awards.

The next Coaches 4 Character event will be held Dec. 1. The guest speaker will be Vanderbilt baseball coach Tim Corbin. Corbin, a former Clemson assistant, guided the Commodores to the 2014 College World Series championship.


By: Scott Keeler -- Greenville Online

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