FOOTBALL
MOM
This teenager lived alone with his
mother, and the two of them had a very special
relationship.
Even though the son was always on
the bench, his mother was always in the stands
cheering.
She never missed a game. This
young man was still the smallest of the class
when he entered high school.
But his mother continued to encourage him but
also made it very clear that he did not have to
play football if he didn't want to.
But the young man loved football
and decided to hang in there.
He was determined to try his best at every
practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he
became a senior.
All through high school he never
missed a practice or a game, but remained a bench
warmer all four years.
His faithful mother was always in
the stands, always with words of encouragement
for him.
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.
The coach admitted that he kept
him on the roster because he always puts his
heart and soul into every practice, and at the
same time provided the other members with the
spirit and hustle they badly needed.
The news that he had survived the
cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the
nearest phone and called his mother.
His mother shared his excitement
and was sent season tickets for all the college
games.
This persistent young athlete
never missed practice during his four years at
college, but he never got to play in the game.
It was the end of his senior football season, and
as he trotted onto the practice field shortly
before the big playoff game, that the coach met
him with a telegram.
The young man read the telegram
and he became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he
mumbled to the coach, "My mother died this
morning. Is it all right if I miss practice
today?"
The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder
and said, "Take the rest of the week off,
son. And don't even plan to come back to the game
on Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going
well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten
points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped
into the empty locker room and put on his
football gear.
As he ran onto the sidelines, the
coach and his players were astounded to see their
faithful teammate back so soon.
"Coach, please let me play. I've just got to
play today," said the young man. The coach
pretended not to hear him.
There was no way he wanted his
worst player in this close playoff game. But the
young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry
for the kid, the coach gave in. "All
right," he said. "You can go in."
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone
in the stands could not believe their eyes.
This little unknown, who had never
played before, was doing everything right. The
opposing team could not stop him.
He ran, he passed, blocked and
tackled like a star. His team began to triumph.
The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds
of the game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran
all the way for the winning touchdown.
The fans broke loose. His
teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such
cheering you've never heard!
Finally, after the stands had emptied and the
team had showered and left the locker room, the
coach noticed that the young man was sitting
quietly in the corner all alone.
The coach came to him and said,
"Kid, I can't believe it. You were
fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you
do it?"
He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes,
and said, "Well, you knew my mom died, but
did you know that my mom was blind?" The
young man swallowed hard and forced a smile,
"Mom came to all my games, but today was the
first time she could see me play, and I wanted to
show her I could do it!"
Author Unknown
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