During my two-decade college teaching career, experience— always the best teacher — taught me to identify the number-one ability of students whose attitude held them back and do all possible to maximize that ability. Although challenging and not always successful, for some it was a life-changing experience. I know… it happened to me way back in 1961.
In high school, I wanted to play football, but weighed only 97 pounds. Just one look at the other players, and I knew I was doomed to be a bench warmer. Their uniforms fit well, but Mama, an expert seamstress, had to cut swatches from my jersey until it fit over the shoulder pads and tapered down my rail-thin torso. She sewed loops on the pant’s top so that a tight belt would prevent their falling to my knees. The helmet was beyond her skills, and after being tackled in practice I often arose looking through one of the ear holes.
