Article about Zak Stout's return and his dad

Okay, second try. On the first try, I went to hit the submit button, but accidentally hit the close this window button. Terrible brain fart.



http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars/58425415-88/stout-byu-zac-gary.html.csp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



The start of the article talks about a phone call Zak's dad, Gary, received one morning, about two years ago. On the other end was Zak telling his dad that he had been involved in a fight in a restaurant and was kicked off the team. That's a fine "And a great top of the morn to you sir" call to get for any dad.

But for Gary Stout, the moment was meaningful in a much more profound way. Certainly, it was far different from that dreadful morning in November of 2012 when his son called, crying in front of him for the first time since he was a young boy, to tell him that he had been kicked out of BYU for his role in a Halloween night brawl at a 24-hour fast-food restaurant.



"He called and said, ‘Dad, I am so lost right now,’ " Gary Stout said. "As a father, do you know how hard that is to listen to?"

As a dad of five sons, that would be so damn tough on me. I'd probably end up crying also.



There's a lot of good stuff between that part and the very end, but the very end is a great quote. I wish people would realize that stupid actions can sometimes be the start of something great if treated properly. Good experiences come from good judgement. Good judgement comes from bad experiences. Bad experiences come from bad judgement.

Zac Stout recently spoke at a fireside (religious devotional meeting) in Texas before the Cougars beat the Longhorns 41-7 and said he couldn’t have done it without the support of several people, especially his parents, his bishop and Tidwell and Mendenhall.



Gary Stout said the morning he got the call from his son about the dismissal, "and realizing I played a role in what happened," he told Zac that that would turn out to be the best day of his life.

Typically I don't bother to read the comments since I realize that BYU haters will be shooting off their mouths and offal will be pouring out in great abundance out of those pie holes, and if I do read the comments, I typically just SMH and walk away, but this time I couldn't.



Somebody by the name Naval-Vet said the following:

There were actually 4 tdS players involved in that fight. And while I presume Joe Sampson had since earned his degree by now, what about the other two walk-ons? Why weren't they given another chance to return to the "whY?" as well? Were they not as "righteous" as Zac Stout, or might "grace" not be afforded to players at ybU if they come with fewer than 3 stars?

Talk about somebody who steps in it before they even get their mouths open and they are the worst enemies to their cause/agenda.



I couldn't just walk away this time. NV had made an accusation that was based on his own vacuous concept of BYU, BYU football, the BYU football team, and the BYU football team coaching staff.



This is how I responded and if I'm wrong in any of this, please let me know, or if there is any additional info which is of worthwhile.

Naval-Vet, do you know something I don't know about those other two players, Alex Jackman and Matt Santos? Santos was, AFAIK, a walkon who played on the scout team in 2010, the incident happened in 2012, but never played in a game and I can't remember about the other, but I think he was affiliated with the team somehow. Do you know if they weren't given another chance to return to the Y and, if they weren't, do you know why or is that accusation just frustration and anger bubbling out from you?



There is a Matt Santos on the team right now and I believe it's the same person.



So Naval-Vet, what gives with those accusations at the end? Did you even try to get any info before you started pointing the accusing finger or did that even cross your mind?

:sulk: :sulk: :sulk:

A couple of comments. The article ended with his dad saying he played a role in what happened, and the article did not elaborate. I wondered if page 2 was missing when I read it last night. Sounded like there was an interesting point to be made . Maybe I read it wrong. Maybe the dad just meant his feedback you quoted was a hand in Zac turning it around. I thought he meant he had a hand in why Zac put himself in such a position in the first place.





Re Naval Vet, he spouts that anti LDS stuff all the time. I believe the article, which did not name the other two fighters indicated that they were already former players at that time. Might have read that wrong, too. But it named 2 players and referenced 2 unnamed former players.



This article did not comment on alcohol, but I recall their being alcohol involved for some - possibly not all.



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That guy isn't worth acknowledging. I don't understand how other veterans don't shut him up. He's a total bigot and makes the Navy look bad.



That is a great article on Stout though. The magnifying glass college players are under at their stage of life would be pretty difficult.