Chapter Summary: Gilman Football Team

Chapters 15 & 16
In chapter 15 the thing that I found most meaningful was the way that Gilman football team acted, not just the players or coaches but the team as a whole. Biff continues to focus on the importance of relationships with the boys and making sure that they see what a man looks like. This trip to New York presented many challenges for the other team but none bigger than the opponent’s coach and his actions.
Gilman lost the game but won much more than just a football game. The coaches were put in a place where they were challenged by the Holy Prep’s head coach’s words and actions. After the game he yelled at his players demanding them not to shake their opponents hands. His players didn’t listen and showed tremendous sportsmanship in the face adversity. Mangerio, the head coach yelled at his players so much that it was described one time as “maximum verbal assault against boys still in the game” (p. 119). The respect that even the new headmaster from Gilman showed to the coach trying to calm him down only to be cussed out in front of the coaches and players. This coach displayed everything that Gilman was against like the poor sportsmanship, the verbal abuse on

players and even year’s later refuses to be a man and admit his mistakes.
Chapter 16 discusses the importance of having a cause beyond oneself this is defined as strategic masculinity.

In other words “Where do you find value?” (p. 124) or “Where do you find meaning?” (p. 124) and “where do you find purpose?” (p. 124) These questions will help you pin point if you help people and where your focus lies. If you focus on yourself your answers will be self focused. Compared to if you help people your answers will include helping others. Everyone has a cause and was created for a greater purpose. A cause, which is defined by Joe as, “ I guess it’s a reason or a purpose to live. You know, why you do you get up every day? I don’t know whether it justifies your life, but it certainly gives meaning to your life. And it ought to define your day-to-day existence.” (p.

127)
This cause is not one focused on personal gain or to measure up to some one or all about the number of people you have helped or the impact you made in this country or state. When this happens it becomes all about you again, which is not the point. A cause can happen through a life-changing event like Joe losing his brother. These causes will vary from person to person but they play a huge impact in society, without these people will be selfish and focus on themselves. This is why America has so many problems but yet, “We are the richest nation in the world in the history of the world.”(p. 129) Imagine what would happen if people focused on building relationships with others and striving to help others.