Call to Williamsburg
By Baya Burgess

After spending time with the middle school boys on the football field, (from left) Kantrel Smith, Tabetha Housekeeper and Jonathan Heralus leave Williamsburg City School. University of the Cumberlands football players mentor middle schoolers every Friday.

"One clap on set. Set." The single synchronized clap fills Gatliff Chapel at the University of the Cumberlands to its high ceiling with noise for a moment, then turns the room silent. The players wake the rest of the way up, faster than the morning sun climbs up and through the stained glass windows. A projector shines the word TRUST on the screen. The football players listen carefully to their coach. It's the day before their game.

The warmth of the people of Williamsburg called husband and wife Shan and Tabetha Housekeeper to move there in 2022. She is superintendent of Williamsburg Independent Schools. He is the University of the Cumberlands head football coach. Together, they lead young men into adulthood.

Shan Housekeeper coached Hunter Zirkle, 18, after Wednesday's practice. Hunter was suspended for two games because of misconduct on the field. “He needs hope,” Shan says. Shan fights for players to play when they are willing to "fight for themselves," Tabetha says.
Both Tabetha and Shan call young men to be agents of success in their own lives.

Tabetha gathered the middle school boys in the auditorium and, afterwards, the high school boys in the gym, when the school discovered the n–word written in the boy's bathroom. She asks them to tell her what happened in the bathroom, and several raise their hands to tell her. She asks them to propose solutions to hatefulness and vandalism at school, and they do. She invites them to speak out by texting her, and they do. "You are leaders, not followers," she says.

On Fridays, Shan's players play football with the middle school boys. When the University of the Cumberlands wins a home game, Tabetha cooks for them. "We have to lean on each other, trust me, or we couldn't do these jobs," Tabetha says. Tabetha says she wants to give everything she has to her work. She does not want her life to end with more she wishes to have done. "I wanna finish on empty."

Shan shouts out commands to Michael Banks-Mason (left) and Takoda Jones at practice. Shan says the tools he teaches will have an impact on their lives after football. “They’re going to be able to go to their area and impact people in a better way,” Shan says.

Tabetha watches her son Zyler play football. She and Shan chose unique names for their three children: Zyler, 16, Zaden, 16, and Zimrie, 12, to stand out against all the names of their students.

Shan coaches Hunter Zirkle after practice is over. Shan encourages him to keep working at football to overcome his struggles and has multiple one-on-one meetings with him during the week of the game.

Senior Chasity Adkins reads to a kindergartener after they were paired together for the year. Tabetha enjoys spending time with the seniors the most, and will have met with all of them individually to discuss their aspirations before the end of the year.

Tabetha discusses the bathroom vandalism with the middle school boys in the auditorium.

During the trick-or-treat party at the school, Tabetha shakes hands with Lincoln Mills. She dressed as a taco for the party and wore an inflatable hippopotamus costume to school the next day.

Shan gives Zyler notes during the high school game. Tabetha, Zimrie, and Zaden are in the stands, and Zaden is playing in the band.

Tabetha helps Zimrie with her math homework. Tabetha says Zimrie and Shan are best friends.

Tabetha and Shan kiss while posing for a picture in the university’s locker room.