Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell

BETHEL PARK, Pa. — A football coach in Pennsylvania canceled his team’s scheduled weightlifting session on Monday after a snowstorm blanketed the eastern part of the country.

When there’s a snow day or school is closed, Bethel Park football players typically meet in the workout room at 9 a.m. But instead of hitting the gym on Monday, the team hit nearby neighborhoods to help dig people out of the snow.

“It brought tears to my eyes, and I just feel like it’s a really great thing for them to do on their day off,” said Bethel Park resident Greg Hardy.

Hardy was getting ready to shovel his driveway when he was surprised that it was already being done for him.

“My wife said, ‘You don’t have to bother.’ And I said, ‘Why not?’ I looked outside and there they were, two snowblowers and five young gentlemen,” Hardy said.

They were all players from the football team who were just following orders from their coach, Brian DeLallo.

DeLallo, who’s both a football coach and teacher at Bethel Park High School, tweeted out that Monday’s weightlifting workout was canceled and to find an elderly or disabled neighbor who needs their driveway shoveled. He specified that this was an act of kindness, saying the team shouldn’t accept any money for their service.

“If you go on Twitter, you see high schools all over western Pennsylvania doing this. I think it says more about the kids and coaches involved in our game and gets kids out to help our community. That’s what it’s all about,” DeLallo said.

The players took their workout seriously and went door to door throughout their neighborhoods.

“We have been going house to house around the neighborhood seeing who still needs their driveway shoveled, and we tell them we will do it for free,” said freshman Jack Bruckner.

It was a workout that the team welcomed.

DeLallo said his players were texting photos of each other clearing driveways, one after another, first thing in the morning.

“It’s great to see the kids buy-in and get out there. They’ll shovel all morning, and then, hopefully, they’ll go sled riding in the afternoon and get to be kids,” DeLallo said.

And for neighbors like Greg Hardy, he’s now forever a Bethel Park football fan.

“They wouldn’t take anything! And I wanted to tell them, ‘Next fundraiser, put me down for whatever they need!’ It just made my day,” Hardy said.

The good news here is a coach, and his team made a difference. Today’s JohnKu talks about service. I hope you have a great weekend.

Service by John W. Howell © 2022

A coach takes the lead,

His team makes his word golden . . .

Service looks like this.

86 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News”

  10. Brilliant coach!! The teens got their exercise and learned through the process, and the team now has faithful followers. Absolutely brilliant. I love this post, John, and your haiku is the frosting on the cake! ❄❄⛄❄❄

    Liked by 1 person

  16. I’m so glad this story made the national news. I’ve seen it because it’s local to me, but this coach and these kids deserve the national recognition. As someone who’s had her walk and car taken care of by neighbors, I know what a blessing it is to have the help.

    Another wonderful Fri-yay. Thanks, John.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. I heard this report on the news and found it a wonderful story. Teaching young people how to serve via leading by example seems to be the best way to go. I’ve long thought high school service clubs should undertake similar projects — raking leaves in the fall, putting up and taking down Christmas decorations, pulling weeds in the spring, etc. Would be helpful to those who can’t do such work for themselves. Thanks for your part in re-publicizing it, John.

    Liked by 2 people

  20. This is such a great story, for so many reasons. What’s interesting is that it probably helped with team-building, along with all the other good it did. It may have helped a few of those kids realize that working together as a team to achive a goal works off the football field, too.

    Liked by 2 people

  26. Great way to build character while helping others. Our son coaches college football, and I know the coaches always organize a couple of days during the year where they’re helping the community.

    Liked by 2 people

  34. You hear the phrase “Leader of young men” used far too often in college football, for coaches who don’t deserve the kudos. But this man, he deserved the kudos and then some.

    Liked by 1 person

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