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The following are
excerpts from a four-page letter written by the mother of Brendan McQueeney and included in Brendan’s nomination for selection as one
of this year’s Scholar Athlete Awards.
Although not
selected as one of the Scholar Athletes, the Committee was so
impressed with what football had meant to Brendan that it decided to
honor him with its “Spirit of Football” Award.
Brendan is an Honor
Roll Student, ranked 11th in his senior class. He
attended St. Paul’s Summer Advanced Studies Program and is a member
of the National Honor Society.
However, it is his
enduring dedication, will to succeed and love of the game of
football which has resulted in this “Spirit of Football” Award.
Learn more about him through the words of his mother.
Shortly after
Brendan turned three years old, he was labeled with a “Speech and
Language” Code.
We had noticed
Brendan fell very easily and appeared to have a difficult time with
his coordination. He had a condition known as “hypotonic muscle
condition”, commonly referred to as hypotonia.
Brendan’s body was
likened to a car without the luxury of power steering. He would
have to work much harder to do the things that most of us do without
much thought.
Dr. Melkonian
informed us that Brendan would never be a “star athlete”. But, at
the same time, he stressed that the more physical activity Brendan
received, the stronger his muscles would become.
It appeared that
the lack of coordination was compounded now by natural growth that
was occurring. At this time, Brendan was old enough to see that he
could not keep up with the other children. Once he attended high
school, he tried out for the soccer team. He was cut. We
understood. I think he did too. He was now in high school. He had
chosen Trinity High to attend. He mentioned trying out for
football. He decided not to. New school, new kids, maybe next
year. We breathed a sigh of relief.
Sophomore year….a
call from the new captain. He went to the first meeting. He was on
the team.
He loved his team.
He loved the game. We’d watch him week after week on the sidelines
encouraging and yelling to the other kids. So proud to be out
there. So proud to be a part of it all.
Junior football
season ended. I got a call at work late one afternoon, shortly
after. I cried after I received it. Brendan had been named as one
of the captains for the 2005-2006 school year. Surreal….for us. I
think it almost was. His hard work, his dedication had proven
itself to him.
He is now a senior,
and football is but a memory to him. But what a memory it is. They
did not have a good season as far as wins and losses go. But in our
opinion, it goes much deeper than that.
Participating in
football at Trinity High has made our son realize how important
teamwork is. It’s a lesson that he should live by throughout his
life no matter what path he chooses. Football enabled him to give
as much of himself as he could to a cause he believed in. It made
him realize that whether you like or dislike the guy standing next
to you, you had to be there for him at all times and try to see the
good that he brought to the situation. Football also made our son
realize the importance of discipline, hard work, and above all,
realizing that even when the odds appear to be stacked up against
you, nothing is impossible and that your goals, in spite of how
lofty they appear, CAN be realized. His participation in this
program has been a true testament to that. |
