Life is about making decisions. Whether they are good or bad, we learn from them, and add them to our box of “been there done that, and I’d rather not do it again”. On Friday, March 6th the Saint Dom’s family had the privilege of playing host to Mike McCoy, who came to us to talk about our decisions; the one’s we’ve made, are making and eventually will make.

Mr. McCoy has made some decisions himself: he comes from a small town in Pennsylvania, but is doing big things. He was brought up in a religious home and attended church every Sunday. The only reason he went was out of fear, superstition, and trying to please others. He attended Notre Dame University for business, but also for football. He became the UPI lineman of the year, Catholic player of the year, and 6th in Heisman trophy balloting. He soon went pro and was the number one draft choice of the Green Bay Packers and also the 2nd player picked overall. McCoy played in the NFL for eleven years: seven with the Packers, two with the Raiders and two with the Giants. When he got to the Packers a teammate helped him see the difference between religion and a personal relationship with Jesus.

Mr. McCoy talked to us about all these decisions, but I made a decision too: I had to talk to him!! Our interview went like this:

Caitlin: What is the most rewarding thing about your program “Champions for Today”?

Mr. McCoy: The feedback, hands down. It let’s you know that you’ve made an immediate impact. And you’ve helped the kids make the right decisions on tough stuff.

Caitlin: Why get involved? Why bother helping?

Mr. McCoy: In 1986, my daughter Molly was in the 7th grade, and she came home one day and told me about all the things that were happening in school. And I wanted to help her, to protect my little girl, you know, so I talked to my friend about starting a program to help kids, to let them know they aren’t alone. But we also go to prisons.

Caitlin: Wow, prisons?

Mr. McCoy: Yeah prisons too.

Caitlin: Why, what’s the point of going to prisons?

Mr. McCoy: People in prisons are the lowest of the people, they’re hurt, and they’re scared. So are their families-hurt and scared and wondering what to do. And then we are there telling them that there’s another way to be. You don’t have to go to jail; you don’t have to be scared.

Caitlin: So, prisons and schools, where else does this program take you?

Mr. McCoy: Everywhere. All over America, big cities, small towns, public schools, private schools, just so we can reach out. And we reach pretty far.

Caitlin: How far is far?

Mr. McCoy: 130,000 students. And geographically England and South Africa, soon Scotland.

Mr. McCoy is the kind of person this world needs more of, he’s just one person, but he’s making a BIG difference. No, he may not completely stop bullying and he may not stop people from doing drugs, and alcohol. However, he’s making a difference one kid at a time. When I first heard Mr. McCoy was coming to my school I thought oh great another person trying to tell me how to live. But that wasn’t it at all, his words may not matter to everyone, but I’m sure to plenty they do. To all the kids who are being bullied and thinking about suicide, his words matter. To every person in jail, his words matter. To every person wondering if they are doing the right thing and questioning themselves, his words matter. One person matters to the world, especially a person like Mike McCoy.