After Penn State scandal, football parents have new lessons to teach

There's no thrill like a big score.

"Everybody here has gone to elementary school together. They went to middle school together. They're here at Boynton High School together. This is family," said Lori Roderick, a Boynton Beach High School parent.

But when is it OK to stand up to a family member?

Teaching that lesson is suddenly a bigger deal to Phyllis Upshaw-Vickers.

"If they feel like it's going to jeopardize the program, they may not say everything that's going on and as a parent, you have to dig a little deeper," said Upshaw-Vickers, a parent of a football player.

Her son has grappled with bullying in the locker room.

"If anything happens, always be open to your parents, so they can address the issue if they feel uncomfortable about anything," she said.

But high school stands will turn to college stadiums, and it's possible that players will grapple with new pecking orders.

Some will play at schools that have football teams that are as big a deal as Penn State.

Greta Lambert's son is choosing from giant football schools like Ohio State and Wisconsin.

In the few days since the Penn State story broke, Lambert has had to hammer into her son, destined for a big-school, a familiar lesson to take with him.

Sometimes the things that seem like they're the biggest deal - team colors, protecting leaders and winning - aren't at the top of the list.

"You always tell them to be truthful and honest, and anything that happens you always tell," she said.

The assistant principal at Boynton Beach High School says they've gone over that lesson with all the student-athletes in the last week - that character will take you much further than anything else.