Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, 'My father died this morning. The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent. It was the end of his last football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram. This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in a game. His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games. The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul to every practice, and at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed. When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a 'walk-on.' Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him. He was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became a senior.Īll through high school he never missed a practice nor a game but remained a bench-warmer all four years. But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there. But his father continued to encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to. This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school. This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relationship.Įven though the son was always on the bench, his father was always standing with cheering.

At all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played. But being half the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart.

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