This gem comes courtesy of Matt Jackson via twitter earlier today:
Texas Football met on Sunday, February 24, for its annual fine dining meal at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in downtown Austin. The dinner, an anticipated tradition in the football program, takes place during each student-athlete’s first year on the team, during which etiquette coach Mary Ellen Oliver instructs the young men on proper and respectful conduct while at special events.
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The annual event started as a combined effort between Coach Brown’s wife Sally, academic/life skills counselor Jean Bryant, and Oliver. Sally had noticed during Coach Brown’s tenure at North Carolina that his players constantly looked to her for guidance on what to order and how to act while at banquets and special events.
“Knowledge is power. We want to give them the skills they need so they can be successful. And it helps all the way through life – it will help them with their careers, family, children – all of it,” explained Bryant.
While the format of the event has largely remained the same, one way it has evolved over the years includes Oliver discussing technology etiquette. She touched on the importance of knowing when cell phone use is inappropriate, and provided examples on how to respectfully approach use of technology in social settings.
Even as sophomores, wideout Cayleb Jones and linebacker Dalton Santos both already recognize the long-term value of such an event.
“Miss Mary Ellen taught us certain skills, so if you’re at a formal event, you know how to conduct yourself or what to order. For example, if a lady is present, stand up if she’s excusing herself from the table,” said Jones. “Certain skills that we learned tonight we’ll use for the rest of our lives in business meetings and at formal events.”
Emphasis supplied by me.
Cayleb Jones has, of course, been in the news lately, and not for his newly honed etiquette skills:
Texas sophomore wide receiver Cayleb Jones was charged Tuesday with felony aggravated assault of a Longhorns tennis player, with police saying he fractured the victim’s jaw with a punch outside a downtown nightclub.
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According to police, Jones punched Joseph Swaysland after Jones confronted Swaysland and Texas volleyball player Katherine Bell on Feb. 22. She told police she had been in a relationship with Jones that ended badly and that Jones had previously threatened to fight Swaysland.
Bell said Jones told her he didn’t want to see her speaking to any men, notably the victim, according to a police affidavit in support of the arrest warrant. The charge is a second degree felony with a punishment range up to 20 years in prison.
At next year’s Longhorn Etiquette Dinner, look for Mack Brown’s staff to offer instruction on how to conclude relationships gracefully (without breaking anyone’s bones, getting arrested, being suspended from the team, etc).