Payton Gets It

Brousing the headlines of NOLA.com, I came across one that jumped at me: "New Orleans Saints Invite Vandebilt High School Football Team to Friday's Practice".  I don't have inside informantion on who's decision this was but it has Sean Payton written all over it.  I say this after having read Payton's book. I get the sense that Payton knows not only that theres more to life than football, but he also knows what football can do for someone's life.
In case you didn't hear or if you live outside our state, Vandebilt Catholic is the school devastated last September when their starting QB and safety, along with two female students, died tradgically in a single vehicle accident while returning home from an LSU football game.  It was also reported that, horrifically, the students texted their parents at 12:45 am to tell them they were close and would be home soon.  When they did not show up by 3 am the parents started their own search. As a parent, this is THE nightmare.  I can't help but feel Sean Payton, as a dad, was touched by this and extended the invitation.  I'm always touched by such signs of good will because is shows that under the hard nosed , intense exterior of an NFL coach, it's somehow comforting to me knowing he is aware of the world outside the cocoon his profession places him.
Sean Payton is such a coach, he gets it. He has demonstrated this multiple times since becoming Saints head coach. He is willing to use his position to affect the lives of those in hardship.  Whether its instilling joy into a young boy stricken with a terminal illness, busing his team to assist Katrina victims rebuild their house or bringing in a group of young men whose lives have been turned upside down, Payton gets it.
And I'm glad he gets it!  Because it displays the human side of the people who get praised or cursed every week depending on the score of a game.  In some cases criticism comes even after a victory.
I'm glad he gets it becuase I'm a Sean Payton fan.  I would want someone that I'm a fan of to behave insuch a way.
I'm glad he gets it.  He knows how ingrained into the culture football is in this part of the world.  Bringing in these young men and the families of the victims could in no way ease the grief they are feeling, but this will be a good sign of support to get the healing process jump started.
It's a nice touch by a football coach who gets it.
And I'm glad he gets it.


While I'm at it, God bless the families and teammates of the those students lost way to soon.