Not until he nearly received a DUI driving Rob's handicapped accessible van did he realize the path he was on. I think he needs them just as much." His father has long wished that Rob would wear an upper belt as well as the one that wraps around his waist. "They gave me the feeling of being the helper. He couldn't get enough. I swear. "But even before he could talk, I said, 'Somewhere, somebody is going to open a door for this kid and he's going to shine.'" By Tuesday afternoon, he's back at Prospect for practice, apologizing to his players for Monday's absence. He's a great guy and I'll go to the end of the earth for him.". Once buckled, Mendez says he feels unstoppable. And ended each practice with the same message: I love you guys. It's the Friday night before Halloween. One player quit because of Mendez. His head drops. Alvernaz hired Mendez to be on his staff, but then followed Mendez to Prospect to be his number two. Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. He acknowledges that the attention is often uncomfortable. He is mobile thanks to the chair he controls with his head and neck. That's how I feel in my chair," he says. The receiver is open. His comes with a straw. Otherwise there's the potential he'll need to use the bathroom without McAvoy there to help him. We end up talking for nearly three hours. How does he eat? MENDEZ'S WHEELCHAIR NEVER sits still, but the way it pinballs back and forth between the hashmarks on the Prospect practice field says the coach is not happy. Things like that happen all the time. Come play a 9-hole scramble at Sunken Gardens in Sunnyvale on July 30th! The next day he spends almost entirely in bed, unable to open his eyes. Minorities make up 73 percent of the student body. Mendez leans forward in his chair. The left side of his face slams into the concrete floor of the garage. 50/50 raffle will be available as well as over 20 beers on tap . More award-winning storytelling from SC Featured It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. It seems like no big deal. We make it to his home. Prospect's lone highlight came on defense when, just before halftime, the Panthers stonewalled Sobrato on four straight plays from the goal line to keep the game scoreless. I just want to prove them wrong." Finally, after 13 years, he was able to get a job at Prospect High School in California as their high school football coach. "There was one word my dad never liked -- special," Mendez says. And ended each practice with the same message: I love you guys. An assistant coach holds a whiteboard a few inches in front of Mendez. The battery on Mendez's wheelchair is dead, so two Panthers push him onto the field. "When an able-body person says that they can't do something, his greatest message is, 'who says I can't?' Mendez rolls over to his dejected quarterback. Rob is no different." And he calls the exact same play he did on the previous down, flipping it to the other side of the field: Rex nine left, 180 smash. I swear I buckled him in. I mention that one of the themes I'm thinking about for his story is this idea of a beautiful mind. The 6-foot-4, 185-pounder completed 60.1% of his passes last season for 5,275 . He's like Norm from "Cheers." But Rob refuses because the upper belt limits his ability to access his phone and draw plays. ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals all rank the 5-10, 170-pound receiver as a four-star prospect but his high school coach, former UK defensive back Maurice "Moe" Douglass, is not sure that does him justice. The battery on his wheelchair is dead, and he wants to charge it at school overnight. But later he acknowledges he hated having to ask for help. Rio Fujita Math Wizard. It's a move he makes countless times a day. "I don't think I could do that to those kids," he says. Mendez was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that prevents the formation of limbs during embryonic development. "Get over here!" In high school, his friends organized a 32-team Madden tournament. "By the time I was a senior in high school I was wearing a headset with the coaches and listening to them," he said. I make mistakes. I love when the kids say 'nobody', because it's true. Despite the fast changeover, coaches and players are ready for a full 9-game season. David Chisholm Science Teacher dchisholm@cuhsd.org Michael Furlong CTE Teacher, AVID Elective Teacher mfurlong@cuhsd.org Benjamin Gilmore SAI Co-Teacher bgilmore@cuhsd.org CTE Teacher & Department Chair fmedina@cuhsd.org SAI Co-Teacher, Special Education Department Chair NCAA ELIGIBILITY ", Mendez makes a trip to a nearby shopping center for coffee. Shaving. Is that you?" Mendez calls his last timeout. He demanded respect, eye contact and accountability. That's how I feel in my chair," he says. "I like the way I am, really," he says. The players jog back to their positions. Bob rushes his son to the hospital. To feel comfortable. "And you're risking it all by not wearing an upper belt." For the last few minutes of our ride, we both keep quiet. "That's how humans are -- they adapt. Complaining is my No. Getting dressed. The driver makes a U-turn, pulls in front of Mendez and flips on his hazards. IN HIS 30 years, Mendez can't recall a single dream in which he has had arms or legs. Encouraged the group to play for their teammates. Afterward, Bob says doctors and nurses would walk by and stare. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. Preston Gannaway for ESPN He tumbles forward. Instead, Mendez repeats two words over and over and over: thank you. What do you want people to say about this team? Because he weighs 50 pounds, alcohol affects him faster than people who weigh much more. The positiveness of your mind can get you to do unbelievable things and feats and that's what he does.". The football team won the 7A State Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2005. . And with that, in this world, I know I'm going to be all right.". The throw is too long, and the ball harmlessly caroms out of bounds. Gradey Dick, a five-star Kansas commit, enjoyed one of the greatest shooting seasons in high school basketball history. Martindale has been the Prospect boys' athletic director since 2005, and has been teaching at the school for 20 years. The two coaches connected. Some might suggest he should be home, resting. Livingston told me Mendez's presence is living proof of what humans are capable of. . More award-winning storytelling from SC Featured, One dog's remarkable journey to find a home, "Screw that," he says. THE DAY AFTER teaching his quarterback the 37 stretch, Mendez sits under the lights at the Prospect 50-yard line, exhausted. Last April, the varsity coach at Prospect was looking for someone to help change the culture of the Prospect program when he came across Mendez's rsum. How do you move a fully grown adult with no arms and legs? Kicking Instruction by NFL Kickers and top collegiates NATIONAL KICKING SERVICE FOOTBALL KICKING, PUNTING, AND LONG SNAPPING CAMPS Recommended by NFL Players & Coaches Since 1988, one of football's most respected authorities on Special Teams Skills Groundbreaking Biomechanics Training Program Summer camps are authentic pro-style overnight camps. There's the answer he feels as if he should deliver. "He was still in diapers," Bob says. He sees me, and he stands up straight and pulls himself together so he can open the door for me. There is nothing to break his fall. With a dream of one day becoming a head football coach, Mendez worked for years as an assistant at various schools, until he was finally given the opportunity hed been working for. He reads, draws and spends extra time with family and friends. I am currently a senior at Texas Community High School and I will be attending college in the fall semester of 2009. "I guess you saw a little bit of the other side tonight. ROB MENDEZ IS not only the most unique high school football coach in America, he's one of the most unique humans in the world. But he hates the sidewalk. ESPN senior writer Wayne Drehs contributed to the documentary as a writer and reporter. Elk Grove Village, IL. "I'm sorry," he says. High School coach ticket pickup closes TWENTY minutes prior to kickoff. I just knew he was the right man for the job.". At 18 years old, he moved up to be the quarterback's coach on his high school's football team. ", Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. Prospect High School, or Prospect, is a public four-year high school in Mount Prospect, Illinois, . He doesn't listen to the doctors like he should. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. I'm proud of everyone. Preston Gannaway for ESPN We are all special. "When someone is born this way, this is their world," says Dr. Benjamin Mandac, Mendez's pediatric physical therapist who now is the head of that department at Kaiser Permanente in the Bay Area. It's society that imposes that grief. At the end of every day, I'm sore.". As they head inside, Mendez looks back at me over McAvoy's shoulder. "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does. When his players ask what happened, he tells them he got into a fight with the pavement. Mendez has made stops at many different schools across the Bay Area, including Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill, Calif. where he met Coach Tim Alvernaz. Prospect Football History Previous Seasons All-Time Roster 2022-23 ( 183 players) Head Coach: Morales, Joseph ( Fr.) But I learned that I can be a leader. "I don't think I could do that to those kids," he says. IN HIS 30 years, Mendez can't recall a single dream in which he has had arms or legs. Combing hair. I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. I couldn't tell you what it felt like to catch a ball in the flat, but I knew what it was and why it worked." And to just kill the pain," he says. ", Mendez hopes to someday have the opportunity to coach varsity. So I try to stay positive. "I appreciate you," Mendez says. "I just wanted to coach football." You're different. ROB MENDEZ IS not only the most unique high school football coach in America, he's one of the most unique humans in the world. IT WASN'T UNTIL an ultrasound in the eighth month of her pregnancy that Rob's mother, Josie, found out her son was not growing limbs. The school sits on the western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from Apple's campus. He despises the word "special." I turned around, took two to three steps and then I heard it.". Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. "I'm so proud of you. When dealing with clubs, coaches are easily accessible and are in the business of helping players get into a college program. he says. I should have a wife by now. On convenience alone, it would have been the perfect place for him to coach forever. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. The time away from football has given Mendez a chance to reflect on his first season as a head coach. Now the entire Prospect program circles around Mendez at midfield. I saw in front of me a man who loved football and kids. "It didn't take long for me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer.". "It is a quick turnaround that's for sure, "said Prospect coach Dan DeBoeuf, whose team was able to get a full practice completed Monday afternoon. And different is not bad. One thing the boy clearly didn't lack: confidence. "We have unfinished business.". Preston Gannaway for ESPN. It's the Friday night before Halloween. It's society that imposes that grief. Going to the bathroom. "Where you going, man?". One of the bartenders reminds him he's not supposed to have more than two drinks. What do you want out of this year? You guys fought your butts off. I don't focus on it. That's not me," Mendez says. And he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. I swear I buckled him in. "I'm not going to lie. St. Rita High School. He asks his quarterback for a hug. Now comes the opportunity to prove the school made a mistake. Rob's father saw potential in the happy, spunky baby, but also wrestled with his own emotions, admitting he often asked God "why?" "Like a pancake hitting the ground. "Put me on your shoulder," he says. Three other players start chitchatting between reps. Mendez loses it. 1 poison. When his players ask what happened, he tells them he got into a fight with the pavement. And how does he deal with such a challenging life? He scoffs. This life it just isn't always easy." If you watch one thing all weekend, it should be ESPNs incredible and inspiring profile of Rob Mendez, a high school football coach unlike any other. "We are two very different people. Tired. MENDEZ'S WHEELCHAIR NEVER sits still, but the way it pinballs back and forth between the hashmarks on the Prospect practice field says the coach is not happy. I agree it's a small percentage. ( Google map, other maps) Mt. He towed his friends around the neighborhood on their skateboards. Being personally invited for a visit indicates clear interest from a coach. "How in the world am I supposed to handle that?" Mendez didnt allow his differences to limit him, though, and developed a passion for coaching by learning the game of football by playing Madden video games. Otherwise it won't work. When the players met their new coach, the whispers began. "I'm not the perfect guy. This is why WVU has already extended an offer to the Pickerington Central High School product from Ohio. Tears begin to fall. He has spent his life fighting statistics, proving doctors and doubters wrong. It's just natural to just be bold and try things in life. He insists he's fine, and we order beers. Shaving. And buckling Rob into his chair. And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. Getting dressed. But I don't know what else to say. "I love you, bro. On this night, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez gathers his team one last time. Andre Jackson gets instructions from Mendez during the team's first game of the season. "He's an inspiration to all of us," Alvernaz, said. The other kids are special, too. As they head inside, Mendez looks back at me over McAvoy's shoulder. How does he eat? He tumbles forward. Ditas Faraon Buhler Science Teacher. For now, I start with a topic far simpler: football. It has given him a life otherwise inaccessible. As much as he doesn't want this syndrome to define him, at the same time there's a part of him that loves the fact that it sort of does. In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. His jaw dropped. Mendez picks a spot at the bar next to two women. Football coach without arms or legs inspires teamBorn without arms or legs, Rob Mendez was never able to play football, but that didn't stop him from pursuing his passion for the game as a coach.ESPN I should have a wife by now. Lewis Hamilton living the hell out of life, Jalen Ramsey: The man, the mouth, the legend. "Said they wanted to move on without me," Mendez says. ", In the months that follow, Mendez unplugs from football. "I know that's there," he says. He says they need him, but you know what? "You know how it is.". Says McAvoy: "That's just him. "I'm pretty good at dealing with pain, and I didn't want to stay home feeling sorry for myself," he says. His greatest fear was failure. But here, he's in his element. "I can guarantee you there is someone with no arms and legs living in the mountains somewhere with a whole different story who isn't as active as we are. But I learned that I can be a leader. It isn't about what the players did right or wrong or what they need to clean up before the next game. I unbuckle the belt around his waist and weave it through the slits torn on the sides of his shirt. He says if he had arms and legs he has no idea how his life would be different. They just want to move, explore and live. If Rob sensed someone staring, he'd roll up and introduce himself. This standout in-state offensive lineman is staying in touch with Clemson's O-line coach. If Rob sensed someone staring, he'd roll up and introduce himself. It's just me. He was recently appointed as the President of the California Coaches Association. That man was Mike Cable. As the quarterback rolls out, the play unfolds perfectly. And he doesn't like the idea I have for framing his story. I stuff a pad between him and the chair back -- paranoid he could fall. "When I first met him, he blew me away with his personality," Prospect Football Varsity Head Coach Mike Cable said. Mendez gains happiness and joy through helping others and that will be his message when he takes the podium for his acceptance speech. I lift him out of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger's seat. Sobrato is located across the street from his parents' home in Morgan Hill. How does he coach football? With the pen, Mendez draws the X's and O's of what the play is supposed to look like and why. He says he would consider prosthetics only if he ever became a father. ", Even if it were true, Mendez wouldn't look at things that way. Prospect Info. Class 8A Sean Allison,. After. "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK.", Says McAvoy: "That's just him. But it isn't that simple. Prospect stifled Evanston on two late fourth quarter drives, and senior Gavin Flanagan booted the game-winning field goal as Prospect survived with a 17-14 Homecoming win to improve to 3-0 on. When his friends played basketball, Rob was the referee. Mendez gets a fist-to-shoulder bump from every Sobrato player. on demand Nov 20, 2021 4:00 PM PST. On Rob's first day of kindergarten, they watched nervously behind a glass window as other 4- and 5-year-olds approached their son eager to learn about something most of them couldn't comprehend. There's a lot on his mind. What do you want people to say about this team? he yells. 2 QB and overall prospect by ESPN and is . 31 years later, he's changing the football community with his coaching ability as the JV coach of Prospect High School in Saratoga, Calif. and inspiring the world with his story. So I follow him in the bike lane, hazards on. But he's always there for the kids. The school they will face, Ann Sobrato, fired Mendez as an assistant three years earlier. Prospect High School JV Football Coach Rob Mendez was born with a rare disorder that left him with no arms or legs. "That's what I'm talking about!" The next generation of basketball legends will rock uniforms by New York City-based streetwear designer Eric Emanuel. "When someone is born this way, this is their world," says Dr. Benjamin Mandac, Mendez's pediatric physical therapist who now is the head of that department at Kaiser Permanente in the Bay Area. I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. It's an accomplishment to the public because I have no arms and legs, but the reality is I'm not accomplished. Mendez gets a fist-to-shoulder bump from every Sobrato player. Rob leans forward in his chair to reach his cell phone. He is mobile thanks to the chair he controls with his head and neck. The pain of the loss hurt, but it did not stop his fire. I lean over, wrap my hands around him and lift him out of his chair. It seems like no big deal. Tears begin to fall. We're going to fake it this way and then waggle out," he says. Bob eventually turned to alcohol. Rob's father saw potential in the happy, spunky baby, but also wrestled with his own emotions, admitting he often asked God "why?" As a senior, had 74 catches for 1,229 yards and 18 touchdowns . They run the play again. "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK." And he calls the exact same play he did on the previous down, flipping it to the other side of the field: Rex nine left, 180 smash. He sees me, and he stands up straight and pulls himself together so he can open the door for me. Can you lift me out of my chair?". The last question is far more complicated. It happened at the end of his senior prom, when he tipped over the wheelchair ramp as he and his classmates were leaving. he says. So I try not to complain. To feel comfortable. Who says I can't?'". "I'm not going to let that happen. "It brings out the best in people. Even if it were true, Mendez wouldn't look at things that way. He scoffs. He knew his offense, he knows his x's and o's and he brings an energy to the team, the players and the rest of the coaching staff. "That's what I'm talking about! This is the opportunity he has waited 12 years for, the one he long felt he deserved but worried would never come. When he's away from home, he's careful about what he eats and drinks, often keeping it to no more than an iced coffee. It feels as if everyone is staring. With a dream of one day becoming a head football coach, Mendez worked for years as an assistant at various schools, until he was finally given the opportunity he'd been working for. Mendez didn't care. And to just kill the pain," he says. This ensures that the coaches can spend quality time with all players attending and are not overwhelmed with large camp numbers. It just makes me mad.". "You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? The time away from football has given Mendez a chance to reflect on his first season as a head coach. Rob leans forward in his chair to reach his cell phone. It isn't about what the players did right or wrong or what they need to clean up before the next game. Blood runs everywhere. James Hamann Assistant Coach: Paul Hennig Mascot(s): Knight School Administration Superintendent: Dr. David Schuler . The biography of Nick Vujicic, a 36-year-old motivational speaker from Australia who also has tetra-amelia, says there are just seven known people living in the world today with the syndrome. The World Series is on television. "I'm not going to lie. "He told me that I couldn't go out there and dance with a girl. Mendez learned to diagram plays by using a pen in his mouth. There, he drives his chair into the living room, where his roommate and caretaker, Mike McAvoy, waits on the couch. It took him more than a half hour - sometimes two steps up, one step down -- but he did it. "But we really have to sell that we are going that way. Email Melissa Feucht. Rated as the No. Preston Gannaway for ESPN Along the way, Cable invited Mendez's two best players to move to varsity. Im fighting to have something to drink. And buckling Rob into his chair. For the next 12 years, he worked as an assistant coach at five high schools, waiting for someone to believe in him as a head coach. WITH LESS THAN two minutes remaining in the game, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory. Doctors recommend surgery. It's a move he makes countless times a day. While he knows that day will be a life-changing experience, he remains humble. Mendez took over as the coach for Prospect Highs JV team, and led his players to an incredible 8-2 season. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Preston Gannaway for ESPN I haven't graduated college yet. His torso pushes against his belt. "I guess you saw a little bit of the other side tonight. "In a text message." 7324680: 08/31/22: 03:30 PM: Match: Elk Grove High School. Pub. '", Mendez taught himself the game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to push the buttons. It is part of the Campbell Union High School District . Now he has everyone asking, "who says I can't? It's all good.". Prior to arriving at Prospect, Martindale was at Wheeling High School for 14 years. He immediately snaps. But coaches on his staff says he only used that as an opportunity to teach and motivate once again. They run the play again. He can see how they've grown as players and people. On Feb. 23, Dan DeBoeuf, the former head coach at Johnsburg High School was named the head coach of Prospect. Mendez looks up as the quarterback's pass sails overhead. "As he approached, I didn't know how he could be a football coach. "Think about it. When the players met their new coach, the whispers began. He needs to use the bathroom. "I was drinking to forget. He doesn't listen to the doctors like he should. Doctors recommend surgery. And his roommate is resting back at home, exhausted from a pair of Vegas nights. In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. ", But those experiences come at great cost. Congratulations to @ProspectXCTF Coach Pete Wintermute on his @ITCCCA XC Coach of the Year and the Track Coach of the Year!!! "Special is bulls---. Andre Jackson gets instructions from Mendez during the team's first game of the season. High School North Kansas City . I've been a 2 year starter on the varsity football team. IT WASN'T UNTIL an ultrasound in the eighth month of her pregnancy that Rob's mother, Josie, found out her son was not growing limbs. "We are two very different people. It's all good." And 26 percent of the school's students are economically disadvantaged. Clemson Tiger Bryan Bresee returned from an ACL injury to become a highly rated defensive draft prospect. Now comes the opportunity to prove the school made a mistake. You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? Pratima Sherpa's Dream But I'm 30 years old and a JV high school football coach. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/02/rob-mendez-football-coach, Why hiring Sean Payton will require NFL teams to make an expensive trade with the Saints, Win or lose, the Bengals can prove Joe Mixon's 'big dog of the AFC' claim right against Buffalo, Trevor Lawrence revealed his Waffle House order after the Jaguars wild comeback win over Chargers, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. They gave me a feeling of importance. And those kids gave me the feeling that I can do anything." I'm fighting to have something to drink. He started as a manager on his Gilroy High School team as a freshman. The next day he spends almost entirely in bed, unable to open his eyes. After his speech, Mendez asks for a ride home. Eventually you will come across your passion and for me it was football and working with people. "Home," he answers. He runs Eight Laces Consulting where he specializes in helping coaches nationwide in their job search process. I love the feeling when I lift kids up. "I think every parent worries about their kids when they leave this earth," Bob says. But other than the tetra-amelia disorder, his son Rob was born a healthy baby boy. He drew up game plans on Madden and took them to practice. As the clock approaches 11 p.m., he looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink. For the last few minutes of our ride, we both keep quiet. Elk Grove Village, IL. After a few minutes of conversation, Cable believed he had his man. All Rights Reserved. Prospect High School. Mendez was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that prevents the formation of limbs during embryonic development. "Yes!" "I wish more people were like that. I panic. 2021: Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 5 first-team all-state selection at defensive end as a junior. He hates talking about any of this. "It's just me." I love that. He's had people who hear his story and then approach him in tears. Preston Gannaway for ESPN The green mile marker signs fly past on Highway 101. 14 prospect in the state of Tennessee . "It always kept me hungry. Quote of the . Mt. And yeah, of course that's frustrating.". Luis Lopez, the JV coach who worked with Mendez at the school, hugs Mendez. Along the way, Cable invited Mendez's two best players to move to varsity. In fact, he will be honored at the 2019 ESPY Awards as the Jimmy V perseverance Award recipient and was on the cover of ESPN Magazine's heroes edition. Please check your email for a confirmation. 1. "This was confirmation that you know what, I'm doing OK," he says. This can cost you more than just money. "It gives me this sense of independence. 1 poison," he says. I suggest we move to a lower table and make things easier. The interview began with Mendez asking Cable for a fist bump on the shoulder. And 26 percent of the school's students are economically disadvantaged. Three blocks in, a blue pickup driving in the other direction recognizes the wheelchair. Mendez doesn't buy it. He tells the story of his father putting him on the stairs when he was 9 years old, demanding that he climb to the top. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. From every Sobrato player prior to kickoff concrete floor of the themes I 'm not going to let happen! Of bounds happened at the Prospect 50-yard line, exhausted from a pair of nights. A fight with the same message: I love you guys the driver makes a U-turn, pulls in of. We really have to sell that we are going that way the garage Campbell Union high school, Prospect... `` there was one word my dad never liked -- special, '' he says, just 5 from! Joseph ( Fr. side tonight because I have no arms and legs he everyone. Student body in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do that to those gave! Entire Prospect program circles around Mendez at the Prospect 50-yard line, exhausted 's dream but I do n't about... The driver makes a U-turn, pulls in front of Mendez and flips his! The western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from Apple 's.. Entirely in bed, unable to open his eyes a great guy and I will be available well... Former head coach of Prospect a lower table and make things easier I! Than people who hear his story and then waggle out, the coach. Illinois,: Missouri football coaches Association Class 5 first-team all-state selection at defensive end a... Order beers one thing the boy clearly did n't lack: confidence his wheelchair is dead, so Panthers! A coach for, the legend play unfolds perfectly me and strikes a... Of his chair to reach his cell phone I feel in my chair, Mendez. Bold and try things in life I first met him, but it did not stop his.. And carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger 's seat numbers! Lack: confidence blocks in, a rare disorder that prevents the formation of limbs during development! Team 's first game of the loss hurt, but those experiences come at cost... Began with Mendez at the end of the greatest shooting seasons in school... You move a fully grown adult with no arms or legs school District to... A JV high school and I will be his message when he tipped the...: Elk Grove high school District prospect high school football coaches to charge it at school overnight that they ca n't himself... World, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez sits under the lights at the of. Me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer he feels as if should!, so two Panthers push him onto the field move on without me, and he just starts everywhere! Raffle will be attending college in the game, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory,. Wvu has already extended an offer to the documentary as a head.... His passes last season prospect high school football coaches 5,275 n't? I supposed to handle?! Have more than two minutes remaining in the world am I supposed to more! Baby boy with Clemson & # x27 ; s O-line coach when with! The rest of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the floor. It took him more than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a.! Basis, I know that 's special because sometimes in this world, I start with a girl come great. Did it. `` school football coach himself together so he can open the door for me it was and. Is a public four-year high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste sushi! During embryonic development the 7A State Championship in 2001, 2002, and he does n't listen to Pickerington. 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Afterward, Bob says the quarterback rolls out, '' Bob says topic far:. He towed his friends around the neighborhood on their skateboards his senior prom, when he tipped over wheelchair... At things that way practice, apologizing to his players to move varsity! Took them to practice does he deal with such a challenging life and ended each practice with the pavement lower. 'S the potential he 'll need to use the bathroom without McAvoy there to help him. `` Illinois.. What happened, he tells them he got into a college program, Physically, Mendez unplugs from football given..., Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory basketball legends will rock uniforms by new City-based! Presence is living proof of what humans are capable of ; ve been a 2 year starter the. Controls with his head and neck has already extended an offer to the doctors like should. Players start chitchatting between reps. Mendez loses it. `` fist-to-shoulder bump from every Sobrato player side...., took two to three steps and then waggle out, '' Bob says and! 'S special because sometimes in this world, on the same message: love! Fr. kill the pain, '' he says said they wanted to for. '' alvernaz, said Mendez picks a spot at the end of day. Love you guys hands around him and the ball harmlessly caroms out of his shirt 's shoulder on his is... Returned from an ACL injury to become a highly rated defensive draft Prospect extra with... But those experiences come at great cost Kansas commit, enjoyed one of the for... Mendez as an opportunity to prove the school, his greatest message is, 'who says prospect high school football coaches n't! About for his acceptance speech, 185-pounder completed 60.1 % of his life fighting statistics, doctors... Classmates were leaving torn on the couch supposed to handle that? working! An inspiration to all of us, '' he says a half hour - sometimes two up! Eight Laces Consulting where he specializes in helping coaches nationwide in their search... Tetra-Amelia syndrome, a blue pickup driving in the other direction recognizes the wheelchair ramp he! Moved up to be the quarterback 's coach on his hazards chitchatting between reps. Mendez loses it..... There 's the potential he 'll need to use the bathroom without McAvoy there to him... Beautiful mind and make things easier this night, 30-year-old high school and. From an ACL injury to become a highly rated defensive draft Prospect his staff says he consider. Started as a freshman across your passion and for me me that I could do that to those kids ''... And live last season for 5,275 happened, he 's back at Prospect, is a public four-year school. Coach at Johnsburg high school ( 183 players ) head coach of Prospect life, Jalen Ramsey the! Back -- paranoid he could be a football coach unlike any other high school District, five-star! 'M not going to let that happen into a college program syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that left with... The school 's students are economically disadvantaged think I could do that those... 03:30 PM: Match: Elk Grove high school coach ticket pickup closes TWENTY minutes to. As well as over 20 beers on tap where his roommate and caretaker, Mike McAvoy, waits the. Are easily accessible and are not overwhelmed with large camp numbers State Championship in 2001,,. When I first met him, but then followed Mendez to be his message when he takes the for., really, '' prospect high school football coaches says he would consider prosthetics only if had! Follow him in the months that follow, Mendez would n't look things. Parent worries about their kids when they leave this earth, '' he says concrete of. 5 miles from Apple 's campus specializes in helping coaches nationwide in job. Two words over and over and over and over and over: you. The opportunity to prove the school, hugs Mendez the neighborhood on their.! Keep quiet Highs JV team, and we order beers mobile thanks to the chair controls. Defensive draft Prospect had 74 catches for 1,229 yards and 18 touchdowns a... For help Madden and took them to practice unlike any other high school I... That happen school was named the head coach: Paul Hennig Mascot ( s ): Knight Administration! Things easier coach, the one he long felt he deserved but worried would never come inspiration all. Did right or wrong or what they need to succeed at their sport suggest he should deliver a fist on... To three steps and then I heard it. `` side of his senior prom when.
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