Taking a stand against youth violence

At Cleveland St. Ignatius, as is the case at all Jesuit educational institutions, the maxim  ‘Men for Others’ or ‘Men and Women for Others’ is more than a motto – it is a mission statement of service to those in need.

And following a recent violent incident involving a Cleveland-area teen, several Ignatius football players decided it was their mission to stand up against youth violence.

On Sept. 5, Cleveland Rhodes senior Justin Winemiller was brutally beaten by a group of teens on the Westside of the city. Winemiller suffered a broken jaw and was forced to have it wired shut to heal properly.

Ignatius senior running back Christian Sanders approached Wildcats defensive backs coach Tyrone White about what could be done. White, who authored the book Parenting a Winner: Eight Proven Strategies to Help Your Child Win in Sports and in Life, is an authority on youth violence prevention programs and trains professionals that work with young people.

“(Sanders) came to me and said the things that are happening to young people are just tragic and we need to do something to stop it,” said White, a 14-year veteran of the Ignatius coaching staff. “I asked him if he meant it when he said that to me. He said he did and I asked him if he would be willing to roll up his sleeves and make a stand and he said he was.

“That is how it started. It was not my initiative. I have just supported them in something they are passionate about.”

White put Sanders and senior running back and Louisville recruit Kevin Johnson, senior defensive back Markus Primes, junior linebacker Ryan Gibbons and junior running back Robert Grebenc in touch with the service organization Rotary International.

In conjunction with Rotary International, the players gave a presentation to Whitney Young High School in Cleveland on youth violence.

Then they turned their attention to Winemiller.

More Ignatius players and students joined the cause raising money for Winemiller and presenting him with some Ignatius football gear last week. He was also the guest of honor at last week’s 49-20 win over Inkster (Mich.).

Prior to the game, both teams held a moment of silence and the Ignatius players presented Winemiller the game ball after the win.

Ignatius head coach Chuck Kyle, a 27-year veteran at the helm of the Wildcats and an Ignatius alum, was in full support of his players’ actions, according to White.

“I have to give all credit to Chuck Kyle,” White said. “When the players brought this idea to him, he did not back up at all and was full-throttle about it.”

But in the wake of the celebration last Saturday, news broke early Sunday morning that University of Connecticut cornerback back Jasper Howard had been stabbed to death in an altercation after an on-campus dance, according to the Associated Press report.

Howard, 20, was an expectant father.  

“(His death) just furthered fueled our passion to speak out against this so that people are working within their communities to sensitize people,” White said. “I feel like we have been desensitized with all the violent rhetoric, violent music and violent movies.”

The Connecticut players will wear decals on their helmets with Howard’s initials on them for this week’s game against West Virginia and the Mountaineers will wear decals dawning Howards No. 6. There will also be a moment of silence before the game.

Ignatius, ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 22 in the country by USA Today, will follow suit.

Jesuit counterpart Cincinnati St. Xavier is set to travel to Cleveland this week to play Ignatius for the annual rivalry matchup and both the teams will honor a moment of silence for the families and victims of youth violence before the game as well. The players will also wear No. 6 decals, donated by Rotary International, on their helmets.

“I think it’s important that any young man that plays the game of football realizes it’s just a game,” St. Xavier head coach Steve Specht said. “I think we teach a lot of values and it’s about competing and understanding we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.”

Inkster quarterback Devin Garner, a Michigan recruit, has taken the mission across state borders by lobbying to get the Wolverines to wear the helmet decals this week against Penn State, according to White, and the movement is beginning to gain national attention as ABC's Good Morning America and ESPN have contacted Ignatius, according to White.

The Ignatius players have two more presentations planned in the Cleveland area for November.

“By spearheading an effort like Ignatius is doing, it goes to show there are more important things in the world than the game of football.”

Specht and Kyle coached together last summer in the football Junior World Championship winning a gold medal for the United States. Specht, who has won two Division I state titles at St. Xavier, was the defensive coordinator and Kyle, who has won an unprecedented 10 state titles, was the head coach.

“If I learned anything from Coach Kyle this summer, it’s a game played for kids,” Specht said. “We’d rather take a backseat and we want it to be about the kids.”

Ignatius (8-0) and St. Xavier (7-1) have won the last two Division I state championships but Specht understands the similarities between the two schools extends far beyond the lines of competition.

Similarities that are deeply rooted in the vocation upon which both institutions were founded – as evidenced by the efforts planned to raise awareness for youth violence at this weekend’s game and in the future. 

“We’re both preaching the same mission,” said Specht. “The kids are being taught the same things, they believe in the same things, the core values are the same and we’ve both been successful in the past and that makes it so much more refreshing.”

St. Xavier is ranked No. 5 in the state and No. 12 in the country by USA Today.

“We want to bang heads on the playing field and we’re going to work like heck to beat each other up in the football game but, ultimately, that is not why we’re here. We’re here to serve others and do better things for the community.

“There aren’t going to be any cheap shots and there isn’t going to be any taunting on the field. It will be a clean, hard-played football game as they always are. After the game, our kids are going to shake hands with each other win or lose.

“It has always been like that and I am really looking forward to it.”