Be careful who you follow

I would not call this a favorite story of mine, but I recall it to make a point. It was during our sophomore year in high school and we were playing our last varsity basketball game in Lufkin, Texas. We had just gotten beat and were on our return trip to Tyler when we stopped to eat. We would usually eat afterwards on most of our away games. 

On this particular night we stopped in Jacksonville. Our meal usually consisted of chicken fried steak, French fries, salad and tea. As we were beginning to leave the restaurant someone came up with the bright idea that we should all get a cigar. Coach Bell was still eating, so we each got a cigar from the cashier as we began to leave. Coach Bell would always sit in the front of the bus and light his cigar on most of our return road trips. Our plan was to light ours when he lit his. This we did with precision. The smoke was so thick on the bus (The Blue Goose) that you could not see your hand in front of you. We made it for most of the trip until Coach Bell turned around to give us instructions about where to put our uniforms when we got back to the gym. What he could not see (for all the smoke) was the back of the bus. He had the driver to turn on the lights and he identified seventeen of us with cigars.

 When we arrived at the gym, he informed those of us who had the cigars to remain on the bus. It was then that he proceeded to whip seventeen of us that night. Each cigar smoking player received three licks. This whipping took place near the midnight hour. Notice I said whipping. It was not a paddling. In those days they were whippings.

 This was not my first from Coach Bell but it was the only one that took place near the midnight hour. Following the crowd is sometimes costly. I wish this was the only time that I followed the crowd or the majority in making a bad choice. My decision to conform was counter to good judgment. Leadership sometimes requires independent thinking. But, as a sophomore, I wanted to be accepted.