Level 1:
Buddy Teevens was a football coach for Dartmouth College. He got hurt really badly in a bike accident. He tried to get better, but he couldn’t. He died six months after his accident. Before he was a coach, Buddy played football and hockey for Dartmouth. He was really good at it. When he became a coach, he made the game safer. He made a robot for football practice. This robot stopped more people from getting hurt. Buddy was a good man. His wife, kids, and grandkids miss him. The people at Dartmouth miss him too. They will remember him at a football game.
Level 2:
Buddy Teevens, a football coach at Dartmouth College, passed away due to injuries from a bike accident. He fought for his life for six months but unfortunately didn’t survive. Before coaching, Teevens was a successful football player and even received notable awards. As a coach, he brought about significant changes in football practices, making the sport safer. He even helped create a robotic tackling dummy to prevent injuries. Coach Buddy’s death is a great loss for Dartmouth and for the sports world. His family, students, and everyone at Dartmouth College will fondly remember him.
Full Story:
Dartmouth College’s head football coach, Buddy Teevens, known to his players as Coach, passed away six months after a devastating bike accident. At the age of sixty-six, Teevens succumbed to his injuries.
In March, while riding his bicycle in St. Augustine, Florida, Teevens was tragically hit by a pickup truck. His wife, Kirsten, shared periodic updates about his condition. She announced in April that her husband’s injuries were severe, including damage to his spinal cord and the amputation of his right leg. Consequently, Teevens was unable to continue his tenure as a coach.
”It is with great sadness that we inform you of our beloved Coach’s passing,” the family statement read. “This has been a difficult time for our family, and we’re grateful for the outpouring of love and support. Your kind messages have greatly helped sustain us during this time.”
Before transitioning to a coaching role, Teevens played as a quarterback for Dartmouth and was even named the Ivy League Player of the Year in 1978. He was also a member of the school’s competitive ice hockey team. His dedication to Dartmouth shone through in his decision to coach their team for 22 seasons, which solidified his legacy.
His coaching record stood proudly at 117-101-2, impressive numbers that demonstrated his commitment to the sport. He was known for pioneering new ways to make football safer for players. Dartmouth President Sian Leah Beilock and Athletic Director Mike Harrity praised Teevens for this in their letter, saying, “Coach Teevens changed the game. His focus on technique over brute force revolutionized practices.”
Contributing to this legacy was the invention of a robotic tackling dummy, a visionary piece of engineering designed to reduce injuries during practice. The Mobile Virtual Player, as it’s known, was not only adopted at Dartmouth but also by other college programs and even NFL teams.
Acting coach Sammy McCorkle tearfully delivered the news of Teevens’ death to the team after Tuesday’s practice. Saturday’s game against Lehigh confirmed to proceed as planned, with a moment of silence to remember the late coach.
”Dartmouth Football has lost a pillar of the community,” McCorkle told his team, his voice heavy with emotion. “Coach Teevens dedicated his life to this team and worked tirelessly to make football a safer sport. His loss will be felt by us all.”
Part of the game will include a post-game gathering of remembrance, allowing the community and the team an opportunity to come together, share their memories of Teevens, and pay their respects. The Teevens family have been incredibly touched by the community’s overwhelming kindness and support, as they stated, “The love that has been showered on our family will always be remembered.”
In addition to his contributions to the world of sport, Teevens is remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He leaves behind a grieving wife, two children, and four grandchildren who mourn his loss. They also inherit his legacy, reflecting a life lived with passion, determination, and love for football, his beloved Dartmouth, and his dear family.
The story of Buddy Teevens serves as a stark reminder of life’s unpredictable nature and the unanticipated tragedies one might confront. It also sets an example of how one can make an indelible impact through dedication, innovation, and love for one’s work. His contributions to the sport of football and Dartmouth College will continue to resonate and inspire the generations to come. His is a legacy that lives on in the hearts of all those who knew him and the sport he so dearly loved.
Questions:
Question: Who was Buddy Teevens?
Answer: Buddy Teevens was the head football coach of Dartmouth College. Before he became a coach, he was a quarterback for Dartmouth and was named the Ivy League Player of the Year in 1978. He also played for the school’s competitive ice hockey team.
Question: What happened to Buddy Teevens six months ago?
Answer: Buddy Teevens was involved in a serious bike accident while riding his bicycle in St. Augustine, Florida. He was hit by a pickup truck.
Question: What was significant about Buddy Teevens’ coaching method?
Answer: Buddy Teevens was known for pioneering new ways to make football safer for players. He focused on technique over brute force, which was a revolutionary practice. He contributed to the invention of a robotic tackling dummy to reduce injuries during practice.
Question: How is the Dartmouth community remembering Buddy Teevens?
Answer: Dartmouth College has planned to proceed with their game against Lehigh as scheduled, and they will hold a moment of silence for Coach Buddy Tevens. After the game, they will also hold a gathering of remembrance to pay their respects.
Question: What replications has the Mobile Virtual Player found outside of Dartmouth?
Answer: The Mobile Virtual Player, a robotic tackling dummy, has been adopted by other college programs and even NFL (National Football League) teams.
Question: In your opinion, what is Buddy Teevens’ greatest legacy?
Answer: Opinions will vary. Some may argue that Buddy Teevens’ greatest legacy was his commitment to making the sport of football safer through his pioneering coaching methods and invention of the Mobile Virtual Player. Others might remember him for his outstanding performance as a quarterback, winning the Ivy League Player of the Year in 1978.
Question: How significant do you think the loss of Buddy Teevens would be to the Dartmouth football team and the wider Dartmouth College community?
Answer: Again, opinions will differ. However, it’s likely that the loss of Buddy Teevens will be greatly felt by the Dartmouth football team and the wider Dartmouth community. His contributions to the sport, to player safety, and to Dartmouth College itself leave a significant gap. His dedication to the team, his pioneering approach to coaching, and his drive to improve player safety have undoubtedly left a lasting impact on the community.
Fill in the Blanks:
- Buddy Teevens was a football coach for ___________ College.
- Six months after a serious ___________ accident, Buddy Teevens passed away.
- The injuries he sustained in the accident were severe, including damage to his ___________ cord.
- Teevens’ innovative safety methods have left a lasting ___________ in the sport of football.
- After Saturday’s game against Lehigh, Dartmouth College will host a ___________ of remembrance for Coach Teevens.
- Through his dedication to making football a safer sport, Teevens made an ___________ impact in the world of football.
Refer to the main text to fill in the blanks:
[Dartmouth College’s, bike accident, spinal cord, legacy, gathering of remembrance, indelible impact]
Vocabulary:
- Dartmouth College: A famous university in the United States.
- Bike Accident: An event where someone gets hurt while riding a bicycle.
- Spinal Cord: It’s like a big, important cable in your body that sends messages from your brain to different parts of your body.
- Sustain: To keep going or continue.
- Legacy: Something that someone leaves behind when they die. This could be work they did, changes they made, or anything they are remembered for.
- Gathering of remembrance: A meeting where people come together to remember someone who died.
- Indelible Impact: A change that is very big and that will always be remembered.
