Football coach Bill Courtney says an 'army of normal folks', not government, will save the country

Volunteer football coach and small business owner Bill Courtney said that the only thing that will save America is normal folks getting involved in the community as the government has failed time and time again amid growing cultural and economic issues. 

"The only thing that's going to change this country and really bring us back together is we the people," Courtney said on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show. "When an army of normal folks use their passion and their abilities in areas of need, they see those needs and they fill it."

Courtney is also the subject of a 2011 documentary called "Undefeated" which shows the stories of underprivileged high school football players at a high school in Memphis, Tennessee. 

The documentary is about how Courtney uses his coaching skills to mentor and train the students to become not just better football players and win games, but men to have success outside of football. 

"People say tough times build character," he said. "I don't think that's true. I think what builds character is your work on the fundamental tenets of character, commitment, integrity and all those things. Then when difficult times happen, that's an opportunity to see your character revealed."

The documentary, which has won an Oscar for Best Documentary feature, isn't just about winning and losing football games, according to Courtney. 

"It's about not allowing yourself to be a victim [and] not allowing yourself to be defeated by your circumstances, and I think that's why the movie has resonated so well with people for so long," he said. 

He also discussed how it is important to put in place a plan if you have a dream, along with a solid foundation. 

"I just believe if you adhere to solid, fundamental tenets as your foundation from which you go, [and] attack any dream with a plan, that you have a really good opportunity to find success," he said. 

Besides being a volunteer football coach, Courtney is the CEO of Classic American Hardwoods, which is a lumber company in Tennessee that employs over 100 people.

During a "Just the News, No Noise" interview, he emphasized the importance of community and normal everyday Americans coming together. 

"Become involved in your community, become involved in your culture [and] become involved in your society," Courtney said. "Understand what's really going on in the schools, but also understand what's really going on in some of these kids' lives......lives that come from really difficult circumstances and why they may be getting on the wrong track."

Americans as of late have been divided on many issues, whether they be cultural or political. 

"We need to quit waiting on somebody to come rescue us from the government," Courtney said. "We need to quit being victims of circumstances. Recognize we have passion and abilities and areas of need every day."

He said that if everyday folks start filling the needs of each other, the trajectory of the U.S. will begin to change.