Every morning Crimson players assemble for a 6:30 a.m. lift. That kind of commitment requires enormous amounts of daily discipline. It tests personal fortitude and builds familial feeling.

The rest of football involves sacrifice, too. In one sense, the whole purpose of the game is sacrifice: to follow group orders even at the expense of personal pain. Repeatedly you make this decision, and you do so next to 10 other players who are willing to do the same.

Everyone knows that it’s noble to constrain self-interest for the sake of some positive outcome. Fewer people acknowledge that the mere act of constraining self-interest is noble. But I believe this to be true.

Football discipline may (and does) amount to points on an electronic board. But this discipline still has inherent value. It strengthens determination and underlines the importance of community. It pushes players to become men of character.

In no way should this realization acquit football. It does not negate the need for improved player protection, and it certainly does not prove that the benefits of football outweigh the costs. But when considering the question of football, one must acknowledge the essential dignity of the game along with the essential violence.

There’s a reason that so many players leave the sport, rightfully angered by the cruelty and danger. But there’s also a reason that so many stick around, choosing to wake up at 6:30 a.m. just so they can work hard—again and again and again.

–Staff writer Sam Danello can be reached at sam.danello@thecrimson.com.