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Libertyville Coach Quits After Motivational Skit Backfires
An attempt to shock his football players into a combat-ready, pregame mentality cost Dale Christensen a 21-year career Wednesday when the Libertyville coach handed in his resignation.The headline called it a "skit"
Christensen staged a fake shooting at the school before the team left for its Class 6A state semifinal playoff game at Loyola last Saturday.
"Immediately after it happened, I knew I had gone too far," said Christensen, who asked a Libertyville student to shoot a starter's pistol at him and when Christensen fell to the ground, he smeared ketchup on his shoulder. Players ran for cover and called police.
"I was so wrapped up in getting the kids ready for this game, I didn't stop to think about shootings at other schools," Christensen said. "I agree, it wasn't appropriate. But there's more to it than some fanatical coach staging a fake shooting.
"At Libertyville, we put a premium on psycho-physiological stamina. Every person has deep physical reserves, and it takes a strong mental perseverance to tap into it. To expose the athletes to this process, I related several stories the day before the incident."
Christensen told them about World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker's surviving 21 days after his plane crashed in the Pacific while on his way to a meeting with Gen. Douglas MacArthur early in World War II. Christensen also showed them a film of Colorado coach Bill McCartney's inspiring his team with stories of heroic acts during the Vietnam War.
"Preparing for a football game is about the closest we get in our society to the military," Christensen said. "Now, what inspires an individual to risk his life to save another? How do you overcome fear? I asked the players if their parents were in a life-threatening situation, could they run 10 miles, non-stop, for help?
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