Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart.
Practice after practice, he gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, he rarely got to play. At every game, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench.
He lived alone with his father, who was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game. Even when the son entered high school as the smallest in his class, his father encouraged him but made it clear he didn't have to play.
The young man loved football and decided to persevere. He was determined to try his best at every practice, hoping to play in his senior year. Throughout high school, he never missed a practice or game but remained a benchwarmer. His faithful father was always there with words of encouragement.
In college, he tried out as a "walk-on." Everyone doubted he would make the team, but he did. The coach kept him on the roster because he put his heart into every practice and inspired his teammates with his spirit and hustle.
Thrilled, he called his father, who shared his excitement. For four years of college, this persistent athlete never missed practice but never played in a game.
Near the end of his senior season, before a big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read it and fell silent. "My father died this morning," he mumbled. "Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach told him to take the week off and not to come to Saturday's game.
Saturday arrived, and the team was struggling. In the third quarter, ten points behind, the young man quietly slipped into the locker room, put on his gear, and returned to the sidelines. "Coach, please let me play today," he pleaded. Reluctantly, the coach agreed.
To everyone's astonishment, this unknown player did everything right. He ran, passed, blocked, and tackled like a star. His team began to win. In the final seconds, he intercepted a pass and ran for the winning touchdown. The crowd erupted. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders.
After the game, the coach found him alone. "You were fantastic! How did you do it?"
The young man looked up, tears in his eyes. "You knew my dad died. But did you know he was blind? Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play. I wanted to show him I could do it."