On Target Letter of
Ty Detmer, NFL Quarterback

Brigham Young University
1984 National NCAA Football Champions
60 Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, Utah 84602
July 20, 1991

Dear Boy Scouts of America,

I envy each of you at this moment!

How I wish I could join you atop one of our beautiful mountain peaks. We would share the glory of nature together. We would share stories about our journeys up the mountain and about our tired muscles. We might even compare blisters and laugh about our aches and pains. But mostly we would sit back and savor the view.

I want to congratulate you on reaching for and attaining your goals. You made it to the top. You teamed up with thousands of other Varsity Scouts to send beams of light across the state and across this great nation. You worked hard individually and collectively, and now you can relax and be proud of your accomplishments.

As a quarterback, I often receive much of the credit when our team wins. Many people seem to forget that football is a team sport. Every time I drop back to pass, I have at least five offensive linemen blocking for me. If they are effective, I can stand in the pocket and look downfield. Meanwhile, the receivers and running backs are trying to get away from their defenders. If they run the right pass patterns, somebody will be open. All I have to do is find the open receiver and throw him the ball. My job is really quite easy if the other players do their jobs properly.

Life, like football, is a team sport. There are many people trying to help you win. Your parents are like coaches. They've been teen-agers before; they've played the game. They know what you're going through, and they want to help you avoid some of the same mistakes they or their friends made when they were teen-agers. You have teachers, advisors, and Scout leaders who are trying to protect you from many of the world's evils like drugs and alcohol. You have friends and bothers and sisters who love you and want to see you reach you full potential in life. With a team like that behind you, it's tough to fail.

I would encourage you to look around this morning. You are on top of the world. You can see almost forever. Nothing compares to the view. It's a wonderful feeling, isn't it? It was hard getting there, but you did it! Remember the satisfaction that comes from setting your goals high and accomplishing them. Dare to dream about success and winning, and then go out and work hard to make sure your dreams come true. But never forget your 'teammates' and 'coaches'. They deserve much of the credit for your success.

Have a wonderful, exciting day! May God bless you always.

Sincerely,

Ty Detmer