If you live in Utah and watch the news, you probably
heard the story about Spencer Hadley. I was so extremely impressed by him that
I couldn’t help but to write my feelings about his courage. Here in Utah, the
rivalry between high schools and colleges is pretty intense. I remember in high
school, my friends and I would always go to Jordan High and cause some ruckus on
their football field. When I was in college, I didn’t really participate in any of that
because I sort of think it’s stupid…and most of the time, it gets out of hand,
and someone ends up getting in trouble. Recently, a University of Utah fan
emailed the University of Utah football coach and said something along the
lines of, “I am a die hard Utah Utes fan and have pictures of BYU Linebacker
Spencer Hadley partying frequently in Las Vegas. We have pictures as recent of
last night of Hadley in Vegas with BYU booster Jacob Stocking.” First of all,
WHY? Why would someone even bother doing that? I understand you aren’t a fan of
BYU football, but why are you trying to ruin somebody’s reputation?
Anyways, the U of U football coach forwarded the email
to the BYU football coach and Spencer ended up getting suspended for partying,
simply because it is against BYU honor code. BYU has an honor code every
student must agree to before enrolling, even before applying. Part of that
honor code consists of not drinking or doing drugs, period. Therefore, when people
break the honor code they can get suspended or expelled from the school.
The night before the big game between the U and BYU, the BYU football team went to a prison nearby to talk with some of the inmates. Spencer wasn’t
planning on going because he was so embarrassed, but the coach talked him into
going, and he sat there in the prison when one of the inmates asked if he could
talk to them. Though nobody planned on it, even Spencer, Spencer stood up and
talked to the inmates. By the time he was through speaking, most of the inmates
were in tears. Here are two sentences I found that Spencer supposedly said.
“I know who I am. I know who you are. We’re all children
of a Heavenly Father. All of us in this room have made mistakes. Not one of us
qualifies as being the vilest of sinners. Yet having made mistakes I know that
we can change and we can come back and right the wrongs that we’ve done.”
“I’ve done some things that have embarrassed my family,
my teammates, my school and even my church. But I believe in redemption.”
How amazing is this kid? I have made mistakes, a lot lately.
And you know, I look up to him SO much. You don’t see that very often, someone
admitting what they did, and gaining the courage to stand up for themselves,
learn from it, and help others do the same. What an AMAZING kid this Spencer
Hadley kid is. If we could all learn from him, and become like him in the way,
the world would be a much better place.