A Response : Coaches as Preachers

After reading Erika’s post on Coaches and Preachers I began to think about other parts of popular culture where coaches and preachers function in the same way. I am not a sports fan, however I am familiar with the tv series Friday Night Lights. The show provides good examples of how injury can affect young athletes (which is why we were suppose to watch it in class). The show revolves around a football team in Texas. The Coach of this team, Coach Taylor is depicted as a preacher, just as Erika discussed with her examples. The football team player’s looks up to Coach Taylor as a means of motivation on and off the field. For example, Coach Taylor works with one of his former players in order to help him train after his injuries so that he can get into college on a football scholarship. In this example we also see the power of commitment to helping other that a preacher would. Coach Taylor did not have to help, however he wanted to show him that hard work and determination would pay off. By training this athlete Coach Taylor proved that hard work could pay off, as the player did eventually get a scholarship and a chance at playing professional football in his future.

Coach Taylor works with his former player, Smash, after his injury. 

Coach Taylor coaching the East Dillion Panthers, a new team who have few resources and little football spirit. However through work with his team and their community this changes. 

As the series continues Coach Taylor begins coaching in a depressed area of Texas. When this happens Coach Taylor does things that help this depressed area become safer, like putting the lights on at night in a park that is notoriously dangerous. He also hosts a football team between his team and the rest of the community, which helped unite the young men.  This dedication to improving the community once again show the function of Coach Taylor as a preacher, as he goes above and beyond his coaching duties to motivate an entire community, just as a preacher would.