The Magic of EMAL Football at PLU

I’m going to jump the gun a few months by recognizing the upcoming 50th anniversary of Frosty Westering’s introduction of EMAL football at Pacific Lutheran University. EMAL, meaning ‘Every Man a Lute,’ was based upon celebrating the day, your teammates, your commitment to them, and the joy of being on the ‘success road,’ which was distinctly different than the ‘road to success.’ He coined many sayings, like “make the big time where you are” and the term being your “best self” long before it became popular. There were no class distinctions; coaches and athletes were all addressed by their first names; seniors mentored underclassmen; freshmen weren’t stuck with all the crap jobs. This was about learning to love each other, about being a servant to each other. He coined the term ‘Servant-Warrior’ to highlight it. He pioneered the ‘Getaway,’ a team bonding 3-day camp at the ocean where they learned about each other and only non-football games were played with teams that contained all classes. He inspired the ‘Afterglow’ where, win or lose, after games players and coaches would hang out like family praising each other with fans. He retired in 2003 after 31 years at PLU with 13 conference championships, eight National Championship game appearances and four National Championships. With 303 career wins, he is still the twelfth winningest coach in Collegiate Football history. EMAL became a major, hugely positive, life-shaping experience.

After Frosty retired, his son Scott took over as head coach and continued the EMAL program in very nearly identical fashion for another fourteen seasons. He resigned in 2017, but many believe he was forced out by a female athletic director and school administration who didn’t like the ‘Every MAN a Lute’ saying even though it was a men’s sport. The administration didn’t like the gender identity and wanted to get rid of the EMAL name. I think they also didn’t like that the EMAL identity was such a success its mantra permeated campus and the athletic department. The whole league knew about it. Hell, Sports Illustrated wrote about it. I’m guessing Scott Westering resisted, and that was the beginning of the end. They used the excuse he wasn’t winning enough games, but during his tenure they were 74-54 and made the National Playoffs in 2012 and 2013. It wasn’t the lofty heights of his father’s teams, but they were good in a time where it’s become increasingly harder to attract student-athletes to Christian-oriented schools. The coach who replaced him is 6-15 over 2-1/2 seasons. Sounds like that’s really paying off.

The change generated my letter to the PLU President advocating for preserving the EMAL tradition. I got a predictably lengthy but canned, politically worded response; they didn’t get it.

My letter:

I write to express my thoughts regarding the resignation of PLU Football Coach Scott Westering. My son was privileged to play for Scott and his tremendous staff between 2007 & 2013.

I have heard concerns Scott’s resignation may have at least been in part due to his lack of involvement or ability to secure donations and the like to support PLU Athletics and the University. As a contributor to the athletic fields fund of a few years ago, I can say our contributions were an expression of support for Scott’s outstanding dedication to conveying the teachings of the EMAL tradition and legendary coach Frosty Westering. I have been, and remain, beyond impressed by Scott’s unwavering dedication to his players and the EMAL tradition of enjoying the ride, learning to stay on the success road and not the road to success, being your own best self, finding a way, and being a servant warrior in the team context. 

Even though Scott is not perfect, as indeed none of us are, he puts great effort into exemplifying and imparting his dad’s teachings. I can tell you any right-minded father, knowing what kind of men this program turns out, would jump at the chance to give his son the opportunity to learn life’s best lessons about integrity, self-esteem, dedication, and service to others as taught by Scott and his staff in the crucible of college team athletics. His program, that continues the one originated by his father, brings great honor and prestige to this University. There is nothing else quite like the EMAL program in the rest of the country. I would say the University does not do enough to promote this fabulous learning opportunity that has taught so many thousands of men, now young and old, the greatest lessons to living the best of life’s offerings. 

My son was recruited by some twenty colleges to play football. I can tell you none of them came close to offering the most wonderful environment to learn about self and trust and giving as the EMAL program at PLU. I was absolutely thrilled when he chose to play for Scott. Shouldn’t this Place, espousing to the highest learning principles, remain dedicated to the concept of great learning experiences that are highly sought after but rarely found?

EMAL is but a brick from the imagination of a wonderful man who created an incredible message. It was so great and character-forming his son felt compelled to continue its mission of molding boys into men of excellent character. It is a cornerstone; a testimony in four small words to the inclusiveness of team, to the concept that from day one everyone belongs, everyone has value, everyone contributes. And, for a team to succeed at its highest level, everyone must strive to be their own best self – EMAL is a goal.

To my mind the EMAL goal has been so effective it now permeates virtually every part of the University – football has a way of doing that, but the team concept of EMAL has taken it all to another level in the best way possible.

I recall the story of a PLU graduate who was seeking admission to the University of Washington Medical School. He went before the admissions committee for his interview. Near the end, he was asked if he had any questions. He responded by wondering why the committee had not asked him anything about his personal life and goals. In return, the doctor chairing the committee asked him a question, “You played football for Frosty Westering, did you not?” The young man said he had. The doctor replied, “Son, that’s all we need to know.”

Scott will not live forever. Maybe there will be someone who truly understands the EMAL message who will come along capable of coaching football and teaching those lessons, but that’s probably a long shot.  Why not keep Scott Westering and allow him to continue the EMAL magic of building wonderful young men?  This is no small thing, and this program undeniably works.  If the Athletic Department has improvement goals that have monetary needs, perhaps they should learn how to turn their most valuable assets into golden eggs, rather than killing the goose that lays them.

This program is so wonderful and effective.  Scott may not be the legend who founded it, but his message and his connection are still very special.

College athletics are competitive, for both athletes and coaches. No matter the level, you are expected to win. My sons all had some college sports experience. Two of them decided they didn’t want to continue committing the time required; it’s not inconsequential. My oldest, who played under Scott Westering at PLU, absolutely loved his sport. He didn’t mind dedicating at least 40 hours a week to his teammates and his craft. That’s pretty much the norm for a college athlete. That kind of commitment tends to shape who you become. And in a program like PLU’s EMAL, there was a lot of wonderful shaping and growing going on that lasts a lifetime.

When all of my son’s were recruited, we heard several times about how PLU wasn’t this or wasn’t that, about how they thought Frosty was great but didn’t believe in fun stuff at practice or that a ‘Getaway’ was productive because it ‘wasted’ three practice days that could be used for football instead. In other words, they didn’t believe it was effective. Never mind that in his 31 seasons at PLU he had an overall winning percentage of .789. Of the twelve coaches with 300 wins, only one had a higher winning percentage. That’s higher than the likes of Bear Bryant, Woody Hayes and Gil Dobie. Higher than Don James, whom I met and highly respected. Frosty and Scott Westering were the only head coaches I ever knew of who actually believed and practiced football to be a means to an end, not the other way around.

My son’s last year at PLU was the year Frosty passed away. My youngest son also played there that year. I sat next to Frosty a couple of times when I got the chance. Like my grandfather who was a minister, he struck me as a man full of grace. They dedicated that season to Frosty, finished the regular season 8-1 and made the NCAA Division III national playoffs for the second straight year.

Google Frosty Westering, click on the videos. Read the Sports Illustrated article. This man and his program were for real. You will be amazed and sad, like me, that it’s over.