prospect high school football coaches

Unlike fighting or fantasy games where he constantly had to engage, football gave him breaks. Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. We'll get to that. I tell him that's the most honest he's been in our time together. Rio Fujita Math Wizard. he says. I don't focus on it." He towed his friends around the neighborhood on their skateboards. "It sounds so ridiculous, but it's true," he says. Some might suggest he should be home, resting. He reads, draws and spends extra time with family and friends. A 10-story building hitting the ground. And those kids gave me the feeling that I can do anything. Prospect High School ( PHS) is a public high school in Saratoga, California, United States. Three other players start chitchatting between reps. Mendez loses it. I love it. "Complaining is my No. Rashada, a California high school star, returned home to the San Francisco suburb of Pittsburg instead of enrolling. No way. It's a move he makes countless times a day. I ask whether that thought bothers him. 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. Coaches from Southwestern University and Nicholls State University will lead this showcase and will be joined by other college coaches from various programs. His greatest fear was failure. He developed a great football mind, but he wanted more. Elk Grove Village, IL. 803-777-0365 or USCFootball@sc.edu. I make mistakes. I saw in front of me a man who loved football and kids. . Thats how I feel in my chair. That night he can't sleep. What the hell does that even mean? Chicago, IL. "I think every parent worries about their kids when they leave this earth," Bob says. It's the Friday night before Halloween. In his chair, he is constantly shifting, twisting and adjusting his posture. Rob's father saw potential in the happy, spunky baby, but also wrestled with his own emotions, admitting he often asked God "why?" ! 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. He says they need him, but you know what? Also by Wayne Drehs: Grounds for Return. But here, he's in his element. It's almost midnight. I lift him out of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger's seat. That's how I feel in my chair," he says. This also ensures that prospects will have time to interact with the coaches and learn from them in a small group and one-on-one setting. "I'm not the perfect guy. He can see how they've grown as players and people. Preston Gannaway for ESPN The California Cool of Jared Goff Initially, Josie struggled. I'm sorry." Complaining is my No. It gives me hope for the world." The season begins in a month. "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. You May Also Be Interested In Preston Gannaway for ESPN I mention that it seems as if anything that reminds him of his physical challenges bugs him. Most days Mendez has chronic neck, back and shoulder pain. He immediately snaps. "There was one word my dad never liked -- special," Mendez says. That's how I feel in my chair," he says. I pick up a fork, stab it into the roll, drag it through a puddle of soy sauce and put it in his mouth. His older sister, Jackie, pushed her brother to try new things and one day tucked a PlayStation controller under his chin. "And the muscles in your neck are not supposed to be used that often. And comfortable does not win," Georgia football coach Kirby Smart on trying to win a third straight national championship. It's all good." ", "You don't need to apologize," Mendez says. The battery on his wheelchair is dead, and he wants to charge it at school overnight. ESPN producer Kristen Lappas directed the SC Featured documentary, available on ESPN+. Andre Jackson gets instructions from Mendez during the team's first game of the season. And ended each practice with the same message: I love you guys. How did someone who has never thrown a ball, caught a pass or tackled anyone become a head coach? "I'm sorry," he says. "There you go!" "Rob? The driver makes a U-turn, pulls in front of Mendez and flips on his hazards. But he's always there for the kids. "No, no, no," he says. His comes with a straw. He briefly leaves Rob in the garage to run inside. Mendez operates his cellphone, attached to a stand on his wheelchair, with his nose and lips. When his friends played basketball, Rob was the referee. He wanted to leave by 9 p.m., but one conversation led to another. On convenience alone, it would have been the perfect place for him to coach forever. He's like Norm from "Cheers." 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. They gave me a feeling of importance. If all goes well, a receiver should be open about 15 yards downfield right in front of the Prospect sideline. Bob rushes his son to the hospital. Nor did he and Josie have any idea how to take care of this baby. He's a great guy and I'll go to the end of the earth for him.". Some newborns survive only a few hours or days. For now, I start with a topic far simpler: football. I'm fighting to have something to drink. This also ensures that prospects will have time to interact with the coaches and learn from them in a small group and one-on-one setting. The day is designed by college coaches in order to get the most out of . "It wasn't very polite or sensitive. When his friends played basketball, Rob was the referee. He learned how to draw and write using his mouth. ONE WEEK LATER, Prospect finishes its season 8-2 with a 19-13 victory over Yerba Buena. For the past six years, Mike McAvoy has been Rob Mendez's caretaker, roommate and friend, each morning helping him with everything from taking a bath and brushing his teeth to getting dressed and eating breakfast. Along the way, Cable invited Mendez's two best players to move to varsity. Who says I can't?'". The green mile marker signs fly past on Highway 101. "As he approached, I didn't know how he could be a football coach. He doesn't listen to the doctors like he should. It's almost midnight. It's an image his brain can't compute. Three other players start chitchatting between reps. Mendez loses it. But after losing the season opener to Santa Clara, his Panthers won seven games in a row. You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. "In life, I feel like I'm always being helped," he says. Buddin is from Belleville, Michigan and was regarded as the 11th best player from the state during his senior year. And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. The other kids are special, too. James Hamann Assistant Coach: Paul Hennig Mascot(s): Knight School Administration Superintendent: Dr. David Schuler . Sobrato is located across the street from his parents' home in Morgan Hill. And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. Mendez picks a spot at the bar next to two women. Prospect Men's Cross Country and Track and Field @PHSKnightsXCTF Feb 12 Varsity winners from last night Tuchner - 8.33 55mHH Balenda, Sahakian, Holtmeier and Walsh - 1:36.42 4x200 Raitano - 54.69 400m Garland 4:37.85 1600m Diversey, Tuchner, Guagliardo, Balenda 3:47.19 4x400 Guagliardo 5'8" HJ Holtmeier 20'11 LJ, 42'3" TJ Kamp 50'8" SP "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'". 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. Preston Gannaway for ESPN Initially, Josie struggled. "Yes, Coach," the quarterback says. Only football coach requests will be accepted. I turned around, took two to three steps and then I heard it.". Is that you?" So I try not to complain. Prospect High School junior varsity football coach Rob Mendez, who was born without limbs, was honored on Wednesday night at the ESPYS with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. But Mendez won't give up that easily. The junior quarterback was 24-for-42 . Luis Lopez, the JV coach who worked with Mendez at the school, hugs Mendez. I should have a wife by now. You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. "Oh whatever," Mendez answers. Wilky DenaudDefensive Line - High School: Four-star prospect along the defensive line who as a senior helped the John Carroll Rams and Coach Mickey Groody to a Mendez didn't care. Now, he inspires others to be strong and never give up despite adversity. "Where you going, man?". But it isn't that simple. One player quit because of Mendez. Mendez makes a trip to a nearby shopping center for coffee. But he hates the sidewalk. When the final buzzer sounds, the players and coaches line up at the 50 to shake hands. "I couldn't follow up with more of a class act," DeBoeuf said. "They don't have the grief of losing a limb because they never had it. Encouraged the group to play for their teammates. It's just me. I love him. Please check your email for a confirmation. When his players ask what happened, he tells them he got into a fight with the pavement. The coach. "I think it always will." Practice starts in a few days. "They would whisper," he says. It feels as if everyone is staring. I'm not beautiful at all. The season begins in a month. There, he drives his chair into the living room, where his roommate and caretaker, Mike McAvoy, waits on the couch. It's society that imposes that grief. You don't have a realistic view of your ability and playing level. "I think every parent worries about their kids when they leave this earth," Bob says. (2007-10), and Wake Forest Demon Decons (2010-14); currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies. It's just natural to just be bold and try things in life. He doesn't listen to the doctors like he should. The day-to-day blanks are easy for him to fill in. It wasn't like there was a store to buy clothes or toys for children with no arms and legs. "It's just me." He is 50 pounds of head, neck, torso and waist. Coach Mendez. There have been opportunities over the years to pursue prosthetic limbs, but he has turned them all down. But most importantly, it's given him an understanding of his journey in this world, a path untethered to anything anyone on the outside might say, think or believe. I've been a 2 year starter on the varsity football team. A very small percentage. Rob leans forward in his chair to reach his cell phone. And just like that, the man who so often projects like everything is fine rips off his facade. And to just kill the pain," he says. The time away from football has given Mendez a chance to reflect on his first season as a head coach. "I'm not afraid to be myself," he tells me later. Mendez operates his cellphone, attached to a stand on his wheelchair, with his nose and lips. For now, I start with a topic far simpler: football. "We live and die with each other," he says. Doctors recommend surgery. And different is not bad. 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. We end up talking for nearly three hours. 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. 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. Lewis Hamilton living the hell out of life, Jalen Ramsey: The man, the mouth, the legend. ESPN senior writer Wayne Drehs contributed to the documentary as a writer and reporter. Now he has everyone asking, "who says I can't? Brushing teeth. I'm fighting to have something to drink. Not having arms or legs has stopped Mendez from being able to play sports or do certain jobs he has always been interested in, like being an electrician, but he always fought to find ways to be happy. Keep your heads up. I think back to something his pediatric physical therapist told me. THREE MONTHS AFTER we first met, Mendez and I are in another bar, this time in downtown Campbell. He finished second. Prospect Golf Course . "This was confirmation that you know what, I'm doing OK," he says. And playing level nor did he and Josie have any idea how to draw and write using mouth... Mendez loses it. `` unlike any other high school star, home... Where his roommate and caretaker, Mike McAvoy, waits on the...., Prospect finishes its season 8-2 with a topic far simpler: football and I... '' he says the time away from football has given Mendez a to. Available on ESPN+ 's the most honest he 's no different my dad liked! 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