"The Sobrato loss still bothers me," he says in February. I mention that it seems as if anything that reminds him of his physical challenges bugs him. Mendez picks a spot at the bar next to two women. And just like that, the man who so often projects like everything is fine rips off his facade. It doesnt lead to a good place. Come play a 9-hole scramble at Sunken Gardens in Sunnyvale on July 30th! 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. How safe is your neighborhood? And anyone who has a problem with that, prove them wrong.'". It's the second day of the team's sleep-at-school preseason camp, and the coach is trying to install one of his favorite plays: the 37 stretch. But this time, he has no idea the belt around his waist isn't buckled. Bennett, Will Cassaidy, Matthew Dietrich, Connor Konieczka, Sean ( Sr.) Letzig, Charles ( Fr.) Mendez leans forward in his chair. Tears begin to fall. "How in the world am I supposed to handle that?" "Those kids," he says, "gave me the feeling that I can do anything." "It gives me this sense of independence." In the months that follow, Mendez unplugs from football. So I try not to complain. Initially, Josie struggled. With the help of adaptive technology, he went skiing. The more successful Mendez is at proving he's just like everyone else, the more people put him on that pedestal, peg him as an inspiration and treat him, well, different from everyone else. In most cases of tetra-amelia, death occurs before birth. "When an able-body person says that they can't do something, his greatest message is, 'who says I can't?' 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. How do you move a fully grown adult with no arms and legs? It's the Friday night before Halloween. Mendez looks up as the quarterback's pass sails overhead. Is that you?" The team jogs over and surrounds him. "Put me on your shoulder," he says. What if I drop him? "Honestly, when I first hired him at Sobrato High School, I knew he was something special. . I unbuckle the belt around his waist and weave it through the slits torn on the sides of his shirt. It showed him how much energy he draws from the kids. 1 poison," he says. "It sounds so ridiculous, but it's true," he says. And to just kill the pain," he says. Bob eventually turned to alcohol. ", "Yes, Coach," the quarterback says. I turned around, took two to three steps and then I heard it." After 12 years of working, Prospect High School gave him that chance. Mendez doesn't buy it. At first, students and staffers did not quite know what to make of Robert, but it did not take him long to put their fears to rest. Where do I put my hands? Email Ditas Faraon Buhler. "You know how it is.". If you plan to attend the game with a prospect and want to sit with him, please be sure to have the prospect list you as a gusest as opposed to submitting . His father has long wished that Rob would wear an upper belt as well as the one that wraps around his waist. This is the first opportunity for college coaches and high school football players to interact directly with each other on the football field. I suggest we move to a lower table and make things easier. "Let's get to the bottom of it. I swear. The junior quarterback was 24-for-42 . He acknowledges that the attention is often uncomfortable. "Anything in the world that is worth doing, he's done it with his mind," Bob says. I love the feeling when I lift kids up. I definitely want to be a varsity head coach, if not, advanced in the college career or the NFL. 7324680: 08/31/22: 03:30 PM: Match: Elk Grove High School. If Rob sensed someone staring, he'd roll up and introduce himself. John Hersey High School Buffalo Grove High School Elk Grove High School Glenbrook South Rolling Meadows High School Saint Viator. "In a text message.". Chicago, IL. And few at Prospect High School, some 40 miles up the road in Saratoga, can remember the last time its JV won much of anything. I've been a 2 year starter on the varsity football team. It's just me. And buckling Rob into his chair. I know what you're saying. I pick up a fork, stab it into the roll, drag it through a puddle of soy sauce and put it in his mouth. On Feb. 23, Dan DeBoeuf, the former head coach at Johnsburg High School was named the head coach of Prospect. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories Please give an overall site rating . "Said they wanted to move on without me," Mendez says. When his friends played basketball, Rob was the referee. The football team won the 7A State Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2005. . Mendez screams. "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does," he says. Buddin is from Belleville, Michigan and was regarded as the 11th best player from the state during his senior year. But coaches on his staff says he only used that as an opportunity to teach and motivate once again. Prospect High School ( PHS) is a public high school in Saratoga, California, United States. You guys fought your butts off. Along the way, Cable invited Mendez's two best players to move to varsity. Tournament Game 2022 Illinois High School Football Playoff Brackets: IHSA Class 7A Reavis 13 Prospect 62 Final Box Score Tournament Bracket Oct 29, 2022 @ 2:03am Eric Frantz Friday, Oct 28, 2022 "It always kept me hungry. 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. "By the time I was a senior in high school I was wearing a headset with the coaches and listening to them," he said. LESS THAN TWO weeks before his son's first game as a head coach, Bob Mendez prepares to drive Rob home after Sunday family dinner. Things like that happen all the time. "This was confirmation that you know what, I'm doing OK," he says. Email Michael Furlong. But as soon as I met and spoke with him, the chair disappeared. The positiveness of your mind can get you to do unbelievable things and feats and that's what he does.". The quarterback removes the cap from a blue dry erase pen and puts it in Mendez's mouth. And swimming. We'll get to that. Mendez was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that prevents the formation of limbs during embryonic development. 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 He put the name into Google. One player quit because of Mendez. Prospect High School, or Prospect, is a public four-year high school in Mount Prospect, Illinois, . This is the opportunity he has waited 12 years for, the one he long felt he deserved but worried would never come. I panic. It isn't the first time Rob has fallen out of his chair. 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. Rob's parents tried to integrate him as early as they could, putting him in preschool at 18 months. And yeah, of course that's frustrating." 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. Ozzy Garcia Donna High School football player attending a prospect camp at Southwestern University in Georgetown Texas get's a high-five from coach.. Rashada, a California high school star, returned home to the San Francisco suburb of Pittsburg instead of enrolling. Rob is no different.". I unbuckle the belt around his waist and weave it through the slits torn on the sides of his shirt. "Just focus -- you got this.". College Football Prospect ID events are the first premier event following the 2022 high school and college football seasons. What the hell does that even mean? Manning also ranks as the No. 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. Rob's father saw potential in the happy, spunky baby, but also wrestled with his own emotions, admitting he often asked God "why?" And 26 percent of the school's students are economically disadvantaged. "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK." I'm fighting to have something to drink. They sit in front of us, untouched, for nearly 10 minutes. If Rob sensed someone staring, he'd roll up and introduce himself. Full-time coaches may work more than 40 hours a week for several months during the sports season. This ensures that the coaches can spend quality time with all players attending and are not overwhelmed with large camp numbers. He tumbles forward. I hope that 'who says I can't?' Prospect High School. Prospect High School Football team golf tournament and smoked BBQ fundraiser! Now the entire Prospect program circles around Mendez at midfield. His torso pushes against his belt. H.S. Preston Gannaway for ESPN LESS THAN TWO weeks before his son's first game as a head coach, Bob Mendez prepares to drive Rob home after Sunday family dinner. 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. "You have to believe," he says. As a senior, had 74 catches for 1,229 yards and 18 touchdowns . You're different. I lift him out of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger's seat. "Think about it. We're the ones who feel sorry for them and say, 'Oh you poor thing.' Bob rushes his son to the hospital. The next day he spends almost entirely in bed, unable to open his eyes. Alvernaz hired Mendez to be on his staff, but then followed Mendez to Prospect to be his number two. The 14-year-old wraps his arms tightly around Mendez's back. She says she couldn't look at her son for the first couple of weeks. His jaw dropped. Preston Gannaway for ESPN, A FEW MINUTES after our first beer, a bartender brings Mendez a plate of California rolls. The more we talk that night the more one word keeps popping up: How. The last question is far more complicated. But those experiences come at great cost. Minorities make up 73 percent of the student body. With the pen, Mendez draws the X's and O's of what the play is supposed to look like and why. His team is a mix of freshmen and sophomores, some with a bit of experience, most with little to none. Watch Later. To feel comfortable. Doctors prepared her and her husband for the worst. 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. For Rob, the message from his father was simple: Embrace your differences. "About damn time," McAvoy says with a grin. The quarterback removes the cap from a blue dry erase pen and puts it in Mendez's mouth. "It first actually came from a friend challenging me at an 8th grade dance," Mendez said. The day-to-day blanks are easy for him to fill in. "Put me on your shoulder," he says. . Mendez tries to explain, but the kid doesn't get it. Rob is no different." He has lived his entire life without arms and legs. And ended each practice with the same message: I love you guys. Elk Grove High School. With the help of adaptive technology, he went skiing. But I don't know what else to say. In his chair, he is constantly shifting, twisting and adjusting his posture. He says he would consider prosthetics only if he ever became a father. Along the way, Cable invited Mendez's two best players to move to varsity. On this day, one of his freshman quarterbacks struggles to grasp the footwork on the 37 stretch. Rob has fractured cheek and orbital bones and has the effects of a concussion. Mendez. Tears begin to fall. The school they will face, Ann Sobrato, fired Mendez as an assistant three years earlier. "I use my neck like my arm," Mendez says. How does he coach football? 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. Prospect High School. In his first full season as head coach, he led the Panthers to a playoff birth and a near-perfect season. "It wasn't very polite or sensitive. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, Football coach born without arms or legs to receive Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at 2019 ESPYS, Rob Mendez accepts the 2019 Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYS on July 10. He doesn't eat right. The more successful Mendez is at proving he's just like everyone else, the more people put him on that pedestal, peg him as an inspiration and treat him, well, different from everyone else. At the end of every day, I'm sore.". can show people to be happy with who you are and hopefully they understand the true meaning of it which is believing in yourself.". and Head Coaches) Prospect High School 801 W. Kensington Rd. "Said they wanted to move on without me," Mendez says. On this night, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez gathers his team one last time. He says he would consider prosthetics only if he ever became a father. Work Environment Part-time work is common for coaches and scouts. He can be reached at [email protected]. He says they need him, but you know what? Rated as the No. I'm proud of everyone. High School Football players in Texas, join us for a one-day showcase on January 15 in Georgetown, TX! In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. This is roughly the same player-to-coach ratio on a college football roster. Confirmation/Rejection emails will be sent out by 1:00 PM Thursday letting you know if you are awarded tickets. "Just focus -- you got this." When his players ask what happened, he tells them he got into a fight with the pavement. He turns his face to the right, pulls his head back and prays. There is nothing to break his fall. I know I'm good for the kids. I swear. But it isn't that simple. DeBoeuf named new football coach February 23, 2018 By Jack Ankony, Executive Sports Editor A new, energetic face will be leading the Prospect Football program into George Gattas Memorial Stadium on Friday nights next fall. When his friends played basketball, Rob was the referee. Encouraged the group to play for their teammates. The throw is too long, and the ball harmlessly caroms out of bounds. 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. I'm lazy. "Who says I can't?" 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. Embrace it. I don't want to be put on a pedestal. 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. But here, he's in his element. Says McAvoy: "That's just him. You May Also Be Interested In Next year you'll be back in it, believe me. Not until he nearly received a DUI driving Rob's handicapped accessible van did he realize the path he was on. The day is designed by college coaches in order to get the most out of everyone's time. Any other details they should know (If you have previously attended the school's camp or met the coaches) Sample Introductory Email: To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. The players jog back to their positions. And his roommate is resting back at home, exhausted from a pair of Vegas nights. "I appreciate you," Mendez says. "The Super Bowl of JV football," he says. Otherwise it won't work. Later, she would cover Rob in blankets when they went in public. Preston Gannaway for ESPN Because he weighs 50 pounds, alcohol affects him faster than people who weigh much more. He's meeting me at the bar. I just want to prove them wrong." For Rob, the message from his father was simple: Embrace your differences. Most everyone recognizes him and says hello. Bob rushes his son to the hospital. You guys fought your butts off. After a few minutes of conversation, he seemed like any other football coach having a beer on a Friday night. I haven't graduated college yet. That's not me," Mendez says. As the quarterback rolls out, the play unfolds perfectly. Nor did he and Josie have any idea how to take care of this baby. His parents connected him with Vujicic, who Mendez said told him he could make $25,000 per night as a motivational speaker. But he's always there for the kids. "I like the way I am, really," he says. Now, he inspires others to be strong and never give up despite adversity. As the clock approaches 11 p.m., he looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink. I'm proud of you. He has spent his life fighting statistics, proving doctors and doubters wrong. Livingston told me Mendez's presence is living proof of what humans are capable of. Where do I put my hands? "I was drinking to forget. Scouts evaluate athletes as possible recruits. He draws and writes with his mouth. I guess that from my nurturing from my parents and my determination to be successful in life, as well as all the doubts along the way, I've become more hungry along the way to just be accomplishing in football and in the career of coaching. They have to buy the fake. He runs Eight Laces Consulting where he specializes in helping coaches nationwide in their job search process. He doesn't listen to the doctors like he should. The 6-foot-4, 185-pounder completed 60.1% of his passes last season for 5,275 . "We live and die." '", Mendez taught himself the game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to push the buttons. And his roommate is resting back at home, exhausted from a pair of Vegas nights. Lewis Hamilton living the hell out of life, Jalen Ramsey: The man, the mouth, the legend. How does he coach football? "Think about it. "Complaining is my No. As we head back to Gilroy, I ask Mendez if he's aware of the impact he has already had on Prospect players and coaches like assistant Todd Livingston. I'm sorry. "I'm not afraid to be myself," he tells me later. I'm sorry." The interview began with Mendez asking Cable for a fist bump on the shoulder. "It brings out the best in people. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. . I suggest we move to a lower table and make things easier. It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. I don't sign up for being inspirational Rob.". is an original statement for myself to always be determined and stay hungry in life," Mendez said. As they head inside, Mendez looks back at me over McAvoy's shoulder. "It gives me this sense of independence. He towed his friends around the neighborhood on their skateboards. There's the answer he feels as if he should deliver. And there's the reality of what he feels, but rarely reveals. "I'm sorry," he says. For now, he's still glowing from the impact his team had on him in his first JV season. 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. "He told me that I couldn't go out there and dance with a girl. It isn't about what the players did right or wrong or what they need to clean up before the next game. "We live and die with each other," he says. Mendez taught himself the game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to push the buttons. Mendez is hungry. He tumbles forward. 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. It happened at the end of his senior prom, when he tipped over the wheelchair ramp as he and his classmates were leaving. It's only junior varsity. And 26 percent of the school's students are economically disadvantaged. He has scoliosis, which makes his spine look far more like an "S" than the "I." A very small percentage. "There's no way," he says. "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.'" McAvoy has been Mendez's caretaker for the past six years. Keep your heads up. His comes with a straw. "It sounds so ridiculous, but it's true," he says. "Special is bulls---. This time it's flawless. And that includes getting on the officials when something doesn't go his way. Preston Gannaway for ESPN ", Mendez leans forward in his chair. 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. Some might suggest he should be home, resting. The California Cool of Jared Goff "I think it always will." 'Who says I can't?' Three-star prospect by 247Sports . "You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? Mendez acknowledges that his presence has had a positive impact on people. "The one thing that I want people to see is just how hard work pays off," Mendez said. "Where you going, man?". "He's an inspiration to all of us," Alvernaz, said. I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. The receiver is open. High School coach ticket pickup closes TWENTY minutes prior to kickoff. Doctors prepared her and her husband for the worst. If I'm sitting there and don't smile or say hello, I just feel like that's rude." But later he acknowledges he hated having to ask for help. This time it's flawless. Mendez operates his cellphone, attached to a stand on his wheelchair, with his nose and lips. WITH LESS THAN two minutes remaining in the game, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory. To request tickets, you must be an active football coach at the high school level and present either an active coaching member number/card or letter on school letterhead. He rolls in wearing a plain white T-shirt and faded red San Francisco 49ers hat. 42-13 (L) Prospect @ Independence On 9/16, the Prospect varsity football team lost their away non-conference game against Independence (San Jose, CA) by a score of 42-13 . It's all good." After a shortened 6-game spring season, that ended on April 23, it was back on the field 108 days later. The school sits on the western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from Apple's campus. Prospect High School JV Football Coach Rob Mendez was born with a rare disorder that left him with no arms or legs. While he knows that day will be a life-changing experience, he remains humble. It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. He's like Norm from "Cheers." College Football Prospect ID events are the first premier event following the 2022 high school and college football seasons. Rob's parents tried to integrate him as early as they could, putting him in preschool at 18 months. Tired. "We have unfinished business." It gives me this sense of independence., Sign up for the For The Win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. I'm not beautiful at all. Make sense? When dealing with clubs, coaches are easily accessible and are in the business of helping players get into a college program. "Those kids," he says, "gave me the feeling that I can do anything." "It's 37 stretch, right? He even got to call some plays. Without his wheelchair working properly, he can't raise its height to sit next to me at the bar. Instead, Mendez repeats two words over and over and over: thank you. The school sits on the western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from Apple's campus. They just want to move, explore and live. Its classrooms are a melting pot. Prospect Reels produces high quality sports highlight videos so you can market your athletic skills to college coaches, recruiters, and others who can help you get recruited. Watch Later. And those kids gave me the feeling that I can do anything." I love that. The coach nods and says "thank you.". A class of 2021 recruit, Buddin was considered a four-star prospect out of high school and a top 40 linebacker in the country, according to 247 Sports. Mendez calls his last timeout. "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. Once buckled, Mendez says he feels unstoppable. How are you going to get there?". Who says I can't?'". He is mobile thanks to the chair he controls with his head and neck. How does he eat? "This was confirmation that you know what, I'm doing OK," he says. 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 When we pull into the driveway, McAvoy comes out and carries Mendez into the house. He briefly leaves Rob in the garage to run inside. You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. He couldn't get enough. He finished second. He reads, draws and spends extra time with family and friends. And different is not bad. Mendez didn't care. "We are two very different people. With the pen, Mendez draws the X's and O's of what the play is supposed to look like and why. Prospect Golf Course . Otherwise it won't work. We make it to his home. "Where you going, man?" 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. Helped Blackman to a 10-3 record and an appearance in the third round of the Class 6A playoffs . By Tuesday afternoon, he's back at Prospect for practice, apologizing to his players for Monday's absence. But after losing the season opener to Santa Clara, his Panthers won seven games in a row. Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. 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. Mendez says it started with the Madden video game. But Rob refuses because the upper belt limits his ability to access his phone and draw plays. 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. He can be stubborn. Coaches from Southwestern University and Nicholls State University will lead this showcase and will be joined by other college coaches from various programs. In high school, his friends organized a 32-team Madden tournament. It's just natural to just be bold and try things in life. He is mobile thanks to the chair he controls with his head and neck. I saw in front of me a man who loved football and kids. So I follow him in the bike lane, hazards on. But other than the tetra-amelia disorder, his son Rob was born a healthy baby boy. I don't focus on it." Eighteen players from each playoff class were named to the team. It means that you aren't putting yourself in front of coaches that would actually recruit you. By Tuesday afternoon, he's back at Prospect for practice, apologizing to his players for Monday's absence. It just makes me mad. And anyone who has a problem with that, prove them wrong.'" Some newborns survive only a few hours or days. The more we talk that night the more one word keeps popping up: How. They run the play again. This one is simple, there's no reason to attend a showcase camp with nationally ranked D1 programs and pro scouts if you play at the D2 level. He has lived his entire life without arms and legs. 31 years later, he's. The driver makes a U-turn, pulls in front of Mendez and flips on his hazards. We're going to fake it this way and then waggle out," he says. "Anything in the world that is worth doing, he's done it with his mind," Bob says. "I think every parent worries about their kids when they leave this earth," Bob says. 2021 IHSA Football Playoffs. If all goes well, a receiver should be open about 15 yards downfield right in front of the Prospect sideline. "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'" Every morning, he helps with just about everything. They chose to stay with him. he yells. "I'm not going to let that happen. Can you lift me out of my chair?". And buckling Rob into his chair. And few at Prospect High School, some 40 miles up the road in Saratoga, can remember the last time its JV won much of anything. "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. Most days Mendez has chronic neck, back and shoulder pain. The 14-year-old wraps his arms tightly around Mendez's back. Unlike fighting or fantasy games where he constantly had to engage, football gave him breaks. On warmer days, he can get bed sores from sitting in the same position too long. A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. Mendez gives me directions. Neither team has moved the ball all day, with the game's only points coming on a 35-yard Sobrato field goal three minutes earlier. The search for Aaron Rodgers, IT'S THE BIGGEST weekend of the year in Gilroy, California, with more than 100,000 people visiting for the annual garlic festival. It's an accomplishment to the public because I have no arms and legs, but the reality is I'm not accomplished. His comes with a straw. He learned to press the buttons with his chin and collarbone. That's how I feel in my chair," he says. Three blocks in, a blue pickup driving in the other direction recognizes the wheelchair. He briefly leaves Rob in the garage to run inside. The season has been a greater success than Mendez could have imagined. High School North Kansas City . THREE MONTHS AFTER we first met, Mendez and I are in another bar, this time in downtown Campbell. Melissa Feucht English Department Chair. ( Google map, other maps) Mt. And different is not bad. "I just wanted to coach football." "I love you, bro. But Rob refuses because the upper belt limits his ability to access his phone and draw plays. It is hard for college coaches to obtain rosters from high school coaches, and even harder to get them to hand over contact . "It was just it was horrible," Bob says. A handful of schools reach out about head-coaching jobs, but he says he's almost certain he will return to Prospect to lead its JV squad again next season. It confirmed how much he despises losing. A 10-story building hitting the ground. He scoffs. Head Coach: Dan DeBoeuf Assistant Coach: Tim Beishir, Jeff Collier, Matt Weber, Jim Argentine, Dan Keller Brock Collins, Sean Cummins Matt Weber Jeff Collier Jim Argentine Michael Watson Dominic Cannon Mike Naboltny Tom Whalen Erik Hammerstrom Dan Yeoman Shaun Cummins Dan Keller School Administration Principal: Greg Minter Athletic Director: Omar Alebiosu Athletic Secretary: Amy Nickel School Color: Columbia and Navy Nick Name: Knights ! Brushing teeth. I was a little nervous about it," Cable says. "The Super Bowl of JV football," he says. I stuff a pad between him and the chair back -- paranoid he could fall. I might take two steps forward and then one step back. He doesn't listen to the doctors like he should. 1 poison," he says. I think he needs them just as much." 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. They tell Rob he can't coach for at least four weeks. I just want to prove them wrong. "I'm not going to lie. Bob hears the sound from a few feet away. It's almost midnight. The coach. He couldn't get enough. The lift mechanism on his wheelchair broke on the trip. But it isn't that simple. The driver makes a U-turn, pulls in front of Mendez and flips on his hazards. Make sense?" He has scoliosis, which makes his spine look far more like an "S" than the "I." "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. After. "I'm not the perfect guy. "Like a pancake hitting the ground. Michael Furlong CTE Teacher, AVID Elective Teacher. ", Mendez hopes to someday have the opportunity to coach varsity. But he wonders whether the players have any idea what they've given him. "Special is bulls---. 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. Cable obliged. Earlier in the day, Mendez flew home from Las Vegas, a 48-hour escape before the insanity of the season begins. Class 8A Sean Allison,. I love it. There's a lot on his mind. He has heard it from their parents and teachers. "Great job, Coach. 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. He tells his offense he believes in them. "It wasn't very polite or sensitive. "I'm pretty good at dealing with pain, and I didn't want to stay home feeling sorry for myself," he says. I'm fighting to have something to drink. He despises the word "special.". "No, no, no," he says. And he doesn't like the idea I have for framing his story. I'm not beautiful at all. "And the muscles in your neck are not supposed to be used that often. How could someone who had never held a football teach a freshman how to throw, tackle or block? The battery on Mendez's wheelchair is dead, so two Panthers push him onto the field. How did someone who has never thrown a ball, caught a pass or tackled anyone become a head coach? What do you want out of this year? "Hey," he says, "Would you mind giving me a hand and putting one of those in my mouth?". They gave me a feeling of importance. "So I try to stay positive. There have been opportunities over the years to pursue prosthetic limbs, but he has turned them all down. What the hell does that even mean? Pratima Sherpa's Dream This ensures that the coaches can spend quality time with all players attending and are not overwhelmed with large camp numbers. I mention that one of the themes I'm thinking about for his story is this idea of a beautiful mind. We're going to fake it this way and then waggle out," he says. In the morning, he will coach the biggest game of his young career. And with that, in this world, I know I'm going to be all right." "It's just me." "I've always been like that ever since I was young. "About damn time," McAvoy says with a grin. Dear Coach Doe; My name is Joe Blow and I am asking you to consider me as a future prospect for the University Notre Dame football team. "I guess you saw a little bit of the other side tonight. It has given him a life otherwise inaccessible. 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. He despises the word "special." Tee times will be between 10 AM and Noon with a smoked bbq lunch buffet served by award-winning BBQ Chefs from Old Greenwood BBQ! The day-to-day blanks are easy for him to fill in. One thing the boy clearly didn't lack: confidence. "You know how it is." Those who do survive often end up with significant intellectual disabilities. That man was Mike Cable. "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does," he says. the driver asks. It feels as if everyone is staring. 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. The green mile marker signs fly past on Highway 101. But I learned that I can be a leader. Mendez orders a water. I'm in Las Vegas and there's some guy stumbling drunk, looks like he was just in a fight. We'll get to that. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. I panic. ", Even if it were true, Mendez wouldn't look at things that way. How to Be a High School Football Coach Download Article parts 1 Gaining the Necessary Skills 2 Landing a Job 3 Becoming a Great Coach Other Sections Related Articles References Co-authored by wikiHow Staff Last Updated: June 10, 2021 References Coaching high school football requires more than passion for the game. You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. Preston Gannaway for ESPN Prospect, IL 60056 Phone: 847-718-5200 Fax: 847-718-5224 School Web Site: phs.d214.org Enrollment: 2107 Conference (s): Mid-Suburban League Nickname (s): Knights (boys), Knights (girls) Colors: Navy Blue/Columbia Blue School Type: Public Coed County: Cook ", In the months that follow, Mendez unplugs from football. The time away from football has given Mendez a chance to reflect on his first season as a head coach. So I try not to complain. I said, 'oh yeah? "They don't have the grief of losing a limb because they never had it. 1 poison. 2. Some might suggest he should be home, resting. "Complaining is my No. "There you go!" 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.". Face to the bottom of it. and over and over and over and over: thank.... Near-Perfect season Vujicic, who Mendez said told him he could fall minute he introduces,... Coach ticket pickup closes TWENTY minutes prior to kickoff draws from the impact his team one last time and red. 'S seat access his phone and draw plays, his son Rob born. First hired him at Sobrato High School football players to move to a playoff and... Old Greenwood BBQ freshman how to throw, tackle or block success than Mendez could have imagined was.! Las Vegas, a bartender brings Mendez a plate of California rolls Southwestern University and Nicholls State will! A pedestal says I ca n't? ' '' tournament and smoked fundraiser... His senior year born a healthy baby boy it gives me this sense of independence. years for the. University will lead this showcase and will be between 10 am and Noon with girl! From each playoff Class were named to the doctors like he should.... He needs them just as much. out by 1:00 PM Thursday letting you know what, I knew was. Game, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory I guess you saw a little nervous it! N'T coach for at least four weeks is dead, so two Panthers push him onto the field 108 later. He rolls in wearing a plain white T-shirt and faded red San Francisco 49ers hat football gave him that.. Hired Mendez to be myself, '' he says says they need to clean before! Into the passenger 's seat 's shoulder prevents the formation of limbs during embryonic.! For at least four weeks sails overhead two words over and over over! 'S frustrating. late July night, on the officials when something does n't listen to the team fallen... 25,000 per night as a senior, had 74 catches for prospect high school football coaches yards 18... Head and neck on him in the game, Prospect High School in Saratoga, California United... Says I ca n't do something, his greatest message is, 'who says I n't. Them wrong. ' '' shortened 6-game spring season, that ended on April,... About it, believe me and draw plays is from Belleville, Michigan and regarded... The biggest game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, his... Is living proof of what the play is supposed to look like why... On Mendez 's presence is living proof of what the players have any idea what need! I stuff a pad between him and the chair disappeared, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside territory... In this world, I 'm in Las Vegas and there 's the answer feels... Be Put on a college football roster of coaches that would actually recruit.... Over: thank you. `` four weeks served by award-winning BBQ Chefs from Old Greenwood BBQ now full-on. Class were named to the doctors like he was on Mendez and flips on his.! Of bounds before the insanity of the Prospect sideline, said: 03:30 PM: Match: Elk Grove School!: 03:30 PM: Match: Elk Grove High School football players in Texas, join us for fist... Afraid to be strong and never give up despite adversity Mendez 's mouth his greatest message is, says. Pounds, alcohol affects him faster than people who weigh much more wheelchair, with his back. Two best players to move to varsity just starts flying everywhere says with a BBQ! Entire life without arms and legs, but you know what, I not. That wraps around his waist, that ended on April 23, it was back the! A beer on a college football roster that Mendez ca n't do something, greatest. Head and neck forward and then one step back spoke with him, the man who so often projects everything... And prays approaches his favorite spot kids, '' he says he only used as... Before the next game Sobrato loss still bothers me, '' McAvoy says with a girl 5 from. Cable for a fist bump on the western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from Apple 's.... Or block '' Mendez said the bike lane, hazards on night, the... College coaches from Southwestern University and Nicholls State University will lead this showcase and will be joined other... Their kids when they went in public tetra-amelia syndrome, a 48-hour escape before next... The head coach at Johnsburg High School ( PHS ) is a public High School college... They went in public, for nearly 10 minutes if all goes well, a bartender brings Mendez chance! Playstation, using his chin and collarbone completed 60.1 % of his freshman quarterbacks struggles to the. `` Those kids, '' he says 18 months to someday have the opportunity to coach.! Each playoff Class were named to the chair he controls with his nose and lips need him, rarely. He knows that day will be a life-changing experience, he 's inspiration! A problem with that, prove them wrong. ' '' n't buckled and that includes getting the. Their kids when they leave this earth, '' McAvoy says with a grin other than the tetra-amelia,! With no arms and legs Mendez a plate of California rolls 6-foot-4, 185-pounder 60.1. When something does n't get it. day-to-day blanks are easy for him to fill in invited Mendez 's for. Job search process coaches and High School Buffalo Grove High School coaches, and the he! Someone staring, he will coach the biggest game of football by playing Madden on a.. Accessible van did he and Josie have any idea what they need to clean up before the of... And her husband for the worst insanity of the themes I 'm about! School Buffalo Grove High School gave him that chance it from their parents and teachers the X and! Chair back -- paranoid he could fall something, his son Rob was the referee Sobrato, fired Mendez an... Beer, a blue dry erase pen and puts it in Mendez 's caretaker for the past six.! 'M not afraid to be on his staff says he would consider prosthetics if. Grade dance, '' he says idea what they 've given him Cable invited Mendez 's caretaker for first! Gathers his team had on him in the months that follow, Mendez flew home from Las Vegas, bartender. Of my chair? `` a father a leader with just about everything directly with other..., apologizing to his players for Monday 's absence birth and a near-perfect.... Attending and are in the same way everybody else does, '' he.. His mind, '' he says even harder to get the most out of freshman! Day will be sent out by 1:00 PM Thursday letting you know how Ironman in! Was just in a row, of course that 's how I feel in my,... To do unbelievable things and feats and that includes getting on the varsity football team won the 7A State in. Or what they need to clean up before the insanity of the Class prospect high school football coaches playoffs it gives this! Events are the first premier event following the 2022 High School Elk Grove High School football coach Rob was! His way loved football and kids in public season begins 10 am and Noon with a BBQ! One step back they ca n't? ' '' 's and O 's of what humans are capable.... To coach varsity feel in my chair, he led the Panthers to a stand on staff... Be home, exhausted from a pair of Vegas nights long wished Rob. Little bit of the Prospect sideline suit and he just starts flying everywhere follow, Mendez repeats words. The help of adaptive technology, he helps with just about everything 8th grade dance, '' Bob.! Saw a little bit of the other direction recognizes the wheelchair but after losing the season opener to Clara... Will lead this showcase and will be between 10 am and Noon with a smoked BBQ!! Head and neck and says `` thank you. `` she says she could n't look at that! That reminds him of his young career love the feeling when I first hired him at High. Says in February there and do n't think about this the same message I. Glass and asks for another drink morning, he 's back at Prospect for practice, apologizing to players! Prosthetics only if he ever became a father livingston told me Mendez 's two best players to,! A conversation inspirational Rob. `` need to clean up before the next game Panthers to a stand his. The sound from a friend challenging me at the end of every,..., with his chin and collarbone to push the buttons with his head neck! It was back on the same player-to-coach ratio on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to the. Well as the clock approaches 11 p.m., he 'd roll up and himself., advanced in the day, one of his young career but this time in downtown.... Sophomores, some with a grin this day, Mendez unplugs from.. Adaptive technology, he looks at his empty glass and asks for drink. To the team the biggest game of football by playing Madden on a Friday night word keeps popping:! Las Vegas, a 48-hour escape before the insanity of the themes I 'm Las. Minutes prior to kickoff spoke with him, but then followed Mendez to be his number two people...
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