By Gavin Lapaille

By now, you all have heard the story of Max Gilpin, the Pleasure Ridge Park High School football player that died at practice last August. His coach, Jason Stinson, was recently indicted on reckless homicide charges in relation to Gilpin’s death.
The story is certainly nothing new. Every year a handful of high school kids die while at football practice. What makes this one different from a national perspective is Stinson could end up spending time in prison because of the incident.
Locally, the story has been talked about for months. I’m not going to pretend to be completely unbiased on this issue, being a graduate of PRP and knowing Stinson. I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Gilpin or his family, but his death was a huge loss for the community and one that will not be forgotten.
I can still look at the issue with an open mind. The outrage comes from whether or not Stinson or anyone on his staff denied Gilpin water on that dreadful day, and if they complied with all other rules set forth.
Whether or not that happened, a presumably healthy young man died at football practice. This shows there is a problem with something, even if Stinson and his coaching staff didn’t break any rules in the process.
The main argument made to defend Stinson is every other high school football coach makes an effort to toughen up his players. They say things like they will not quit practicing until someone quits the team, not actually meaning in a literal sense what they’re saying.
Then there is the spirit of athletes, who sometimes think going for an extra water break shows weakness and will bring ridicule from teammates and coaches. Players will always feel as if they can keep going, keep running and keep pushing themselves to be better, even if physically, they can go on no further.
Gilpin’s death needs to bring change to the way football practices are held, and the way players are treated by coaches and teammates.
We are long past the days of Bear Bryant’s “Junction Boys” where only the ones who survived were considered strong. The athletes are much bigger, faster and stronger now than they were then, but we’re also considerably smarter as a society. We should be able to figure out a way for parents to send their children to football practice without the fear they may never return.
That might mean lowering the temperature teams practice outdoors in. That might mean limiting how long and often a team can practice in the summer months. That might mean making more mandatory water breaks.
It also might mean completely changing the mindset of every single person who has ever stepped foot on a football field. Where saying “I’ve had enough” is acceptable, and asking for more water is assumed. Just because everyone does something a certain way doesn’t make it right – our history has shown us that over time.
It might be too late for Gilpin, but it’s not too late for the millions of others who will suit up next season and beyond. And that right there is reason enough to change everything necessary to make sure this never happens again.