Coach, I just want to compete. When I work I’m not competing against my fellow teammates or other QBs in my league. I’m competing against my last rep, my last ball and my energy. 

I once heard a Coach ask some players....

“are you THE FOUNTAIN or are you THE DRINK?”

Coach, I’m a FOUNTAIN I want those around me to pick up their effort, attitude and work ethic. I have expectations on my teammates they may not like or can make them feel uncomfortable. Ppl that just drink are sheeps, followers but I know sometimes those ppl who just drink are capable to become the fountain because deep down its in them. 

My disability I conquered allowed  me to be tough and push through it Coach. I spent 9 years in speech therapy. Was made fun of, still to this day ppl give me a hard time for being quiet off the field sometimes. But not being able to talk when I was 4 and football along with my speech therapist as my Mom said gave me a voice. My Dad made sure if I played football I could only play two positions MLB and or QB in both cases I would have to talk. As a put my helmet on, I speech problem would go away. No pauses, studders or words left out. No kids mimicking me making fun. I said clear in the huddle “ x right, twin left on two”. But when I took my helmet off, my speech problem would come back and I would say “ Mom we go store.”  So as my Mom and Dad say, football gave me my voice, my strength and it made me feel like a superhero. My helmet became my cape it made me feel invincible. 

9 years coach, M-F one recess a day while others played. When I was 12 years old I walked in to speech therapy only to be met by my teacher, Mom and Dad saying “ you graduated”  no more. But I’m glad it happened the way it did. It made me work very hard in everything and made me try to outwork everyone. I post my workouts, not to be boastful but to be the Fountain, and not the drink. And just maybe it will motivate my teammates and others to get up and work to be ready to compete. 

I was meant to be a quarterback, Coach.