Servant Leadership Takes Root on the Field
Under the guidance of new head coach Chris Harrell, the Walker High football squad has swapped extra practice drills for a different kind of training ground. The ‘2 Mile Crew’ program invites the team to devote a few hours each week to service projects that benefit the broader community, turning the locker room into a classroom for humility and teamwork.
The initiative focuses on tangible, short‑term tasks such as cleaning the interior of a local church, polishing police patrol cars and tidying up school buses. Each activity typically lasts only a couple of hours, but the impact is immediate, leaving neighborhoods cleaner and giving the players a direct sense of contribution.
Harrell explains that the program is designed to embed servant leadership into the players’ mindset, teaching them that leadership is as much about listening and helping as it is about strategy on the gridiron. He hopes the experience will open doors to additional projects that can extend throughout the school year.
Players have embraced the extra commitment, noting that the longer days are offset by a genuine feeling of purpose. Many report enjoying the work and appreciating the chance to give back, while also seeing the experience as a stepping stone toward becoming better people off the field.