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This is a story about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart. Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played.
Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. The father never missed a game.
The boy was still the smallest of his class when he entered high school. His father continued to encourage him and also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to. But the boy 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 father was always in the stands, always had 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 news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and got season tickets for all the college games.
The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always put his heart and soul into every practice and at the same time, provided the other members of the team with the spirit and hustle they badly needed. This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in a game.
It was at the end of his Senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around the young man's shoulder and told him to take off as much time as he wanted.
The next Saturday, the big game was not going well for the young man's team. In the third quarter, 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 at first pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his "worst player" in this playoff game. But the young man persisted and finally, feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in.
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This unknown, who had never played, was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He played like a star. His team began to triumph.
The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, the young man 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, 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 dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play and I wanted to show him I could do it"
