DWCAP: The kids I coach run the gamut from 9 years of age to 13, and I spend a lot of time talking about conduct and attitude, both on and off the field. Unfortunately, the guys like Faulk and LT are outnumbered by the TOs and the Pacman Jones of the world, and a lot of the youth players emulate the attitude and the conduct.

It’s gratifying to see certain players who give so much of themselves and they do it unconditionally.

About five years back our Mitey Mite team (the youngest age group) was invited to scrimmage a team from Murrieta at halftime during a Chargers – Rams preseason game at the Q. All of the Pop Warner players in attendance got to meet the Charger players as they came onto the field and I remember Drew Brees and Lorenzo Neal in particular greeting EVERY SINGLE KID as they came out and Neal telling the players: “This is where it all starts” (meaning youth football). The kids were literally awestruck that a pro player was talking to THEM. That did more for these kids as far as instilling a love for the game then an entire season of coaching could have.

These pro players have little to no idea as to how much of an impact they have on these kids.