A new initiative has been introduced to Concordia Athletics. The team was the first to pilot and participate in the Cobber Playbook for Change, a pioneering peer-to-peer bystander advocacy program. It’s designed to empower young men on the football team to engage in meaningful dialogue about social issues such as race, gender, religion, and mental health.

Currently, the program is designed for young male athletes; however, the goal is to expand the training so it can be used for women’s teams and other groups on campus.

Dr. Kelly LaFramboise, Concordia’s director of inclusion, helped develop the training along with Jennifer Barker, director of student conduct; Becca Quimby, the former NCAA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Designee for Concordia Athletics; and Terry Horan, the head coach of the football team.

“We wanted to develop something that emphasized mentorship within the team,” LaFramboise said.
 

To accomplish this, Horan and LaFramboise meet with members of the Unity Council, a leadership team of players voted in by the captains and head football coach at the beginning of each season. 

Members of the Unity Council helped advise the best way to talk to members of the football team and make the training as effective as possible.

Horan said their role during training was to facilitate conversations in small group discussions aimed at breaking down barriers and challenging the stigma surrounding sensitive topics. 

“Ultimately, this innovative approach not only strengthens camaraderie among players but also cultivates a community of advocates who are committed to fostering respect, inclusivity, and support within their team and beyond,” he said. 

LaFramboise highlighted the importance of including members of the team in the development of this program because they are the ones impacted by it. She said listening to their input helps create ownership and makes training more effective because the experience is more genuine. 

“The players shared very honest and vulnerable responses during training. I was very touched by their willingness to take everything to heart and take on leadership roles,” LaFramboise said. “Since the training, I’ve heard from several players about situations where they put everything into practice and spoke up when they heard something they didn’t like.”
 

Collin Thompson, a senior captain of the football team and Unity Council member, has seen the positive impact too. 

“I saw several times when a teammate stepped up and did the right thing for someone else as a direct result of what we learned and practiced,” he said. “It also opened a lot of eyes to the struggles and situations going on around campus and, in turn, allowed us to be more mindful of how we handle ourselves.”

The football team took this training seriously and, with their active role in creating the Cobber Playbook for Change, coaches and teammates alike hope the impacts will be lasting.

“I was really proud of our entire team for truly wanting to make a difference within our team but also throughout our college community,” Horan said. “The Unity Council members did a great job leading the training sessions, and I couldn’t have asked for it to go better.”

LaFramboise said that Concordia athletes are held to a higher standard because they frequently interact with the community. The Cobber Playbook for Change offers players the chance to develop leadership skills and grow the culture of inclusion and diversity on campus, she said.

“For a program like this to work, it involves a serious commitment. I saw so many fellow student-athletes put a lot of hard work and effort into being a part of the organization and implementation of this,” Thompson said. “It’s not going to happen all at once, but the hard work and commitment of all who take part in something like this will lead to positive change around campus and in life overall.”

 

Written by Alyssa Czernek '25