MCRD Parris Island -- The Beaufort High School football team recently listened to a shining star who knows a thing or two about motivating young men. He's a former college football coach and a leader of Marines. He's also Parris Island's ranking commissioned officer.
Brig. Gen. Paul E. Lefebvre, the commanding general of MCRD Parris Island/Eastern Recruiting Region, spoke to the football team of Beaufort High about being a leader and what it should mean to them as individuals and a team.
The speech began with Lefebvre asking the team if they recognized a certain play. One of the students raised his hand and said"Yes, sir, that is the sweep."
The former Pennsylvania State University football coach then began to tell the team why that play became so famous.
The play was used by the Green Bay Packers, the general said. They practiced it 30 times a day.
He explained that practicing the play so many times is what made it successful during the games because the players had"faith" in their leadership.
This grabbed many of the player's attention and for the remainder of the speech each player had his eyes on the former coach.
The general shared three more stories with the students to emphasize his point on having faith in the leadership and becoming a leader of the team.
The team shouted out their team chant at the conclusion of the speech and applauded as he left the room.
"It was amazing having him here,"said Seth Konoza, the offensive tackle for the Beaufort Eagles. "I learned more about leadership and how important it is."
Konoza wasn't the only student to comment on the general's speech.
"He inspired me to step up as a leader,"said Robert Burnett, the corner back and wide receiver for the Eagles. "I'm going to have to start stepping up as a leader on and off the field."
The team's head football coach, Mark Clifford, also enjoyed the speech and said he was"excited" from the very beginning.
"I knew it was going to be great,"Clifford said. "Having someone of his magnitude come in and re-emphasize what we are talking about helped our program extensively. The kids have been working twice a day now on plays and they needed a good inspirational speech."
The students left the auditorium that day with the former football coach's words still ringing in their ears. With a shining star showing them the way, the team carried on with their day ready to be leaders.