I lift him out of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger's seat. Now he has everyone asking, "who says I can't? Tears begin to fall. "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.". We're the ones who feel sorry for them and say, 'Oh you poor thing.' And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. The Illinois High School Football Coaches' Association announced their list of all-state players Wednesday. "I'm so proud of you. That's not me," Mendez says. I can adjust to anything that's thrown my way. can show people to be happy with who you are and hopefully they understand the true meaning of it which is believing in yourself.". "It's just me." It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. I know I'm good for the kids. For now, he's still glowing from the impact his team had on him in his first JV season. 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. It's a move he makes countless times a day. "His mind is the greatest thing," Prospect JV Assistant Defensive Coordinator Todd Livingston said. "So I try to stay positive. High school coaches are notoriously hard to contact. Along the way, Cable invited Mendez's two best players to move to varsity. Every morning, he helps with just about everything. We're going to fake it this way and then waggle out," he says. Once buckled, Mendez says he feels unstoppable. "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK.", Says McAvoy: "That's just him. As the quarterback rolls out, the play unfolds perfectly. Mendez gives me directions. Mendez tries to explain, but the kid doesn't get it. And different is not bad. "It always kept me hungry. And Lewis Hamilton living the hell out of life. I love you, man," Lopez says. It's all good." I just want to be Coach Rob. I should have a wife by now. ", In the months that follow, Mendez unplugs from football. Soon, it will be a nation-wide phenomenon when Rob Mendez accepts the 2019 Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYS on July 10. Shaving. 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 just knew he was the right man for the job.". He rolls in wearing a plain white T-shirt and faded red San Francisco 49ers hat. They wanted Bob to see other babies born with disabilities. Mendez rolls over to his dejected quarterback. IN HIS 30 years, Mendez can't recall a single dream in which he has had arms or legs. His resiliency inspired others around him and made it an asset to have him on the staff. Where do I put my hands? "It sounds so ridiculous, but it's true," he says. And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. 7324680: 08/31/22: 03:30 PM: Match: Elk Grove High School. The positiveness of your mind can get you to do unbelievable things and feats and that's what he does.". "There was one word my dad never liked -- special," Mendez says. I suggest we move to a lower table and make things easier. Most days Mendez has chronic neck, back and shoulder pain. 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. That's not me," Mendez says. I agree it's a small percentage. Practice starts in a few days. Prospect's Amazing and Dedicated Coaches! Prior to arriving at Prospect, Martindale was at Wheeling High School for 14 years. After a few minutes of conversation, he seemed like any other football coach having a beer on a Friday night. He insists he's fine, and we order beers. Initially, Josie struggled. More SC Featured And swimming. ", He acknowledges that the attention is often uncomfortable. You guys fought your butts off. He rolls in wearing a plain white T-shirt and faded red San Francisco 49ers hat. "And the muscles in your neck are not supposed to be used that often. I'm in Las Vegas and there's some guy stumbling drunk, looks like he was just in a fight. "He's an inspiration to all of us," Alvernaz, said. When his friends went out for football his freshman year of high school, Rob became the team manager. We make it to his home. A very small percentage. Taking a bath. 2 QB and overall prospect by ESPN and is . It confirmed how much he despises losing. But I don't know what else to say. And with that, in this world, I know I'm going to be all right.". he says. Things like that happen all the time. A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. "And you're risking it all by not wearing an upper belt." As they head inside, Mendez looks back at me over McAvoy's shoulder. "I'm not afraid to be myself," he tells me later. As a senior, had 74 catches for 1,229 yards and 18 touchdowns . "You know how it is.". College Football Prospect ID events are the first premier event following the 2022 high school and college football seasons. After a shortened 6-game spring season, that ended on April 23, it was back on the field 108 days later. In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. You guys fought your butts off. There's a lot on his mind. "I'm so proud of you. Alvernaz hired Mendez to be on his staff, but then followed Mendez to Prospect to be his number two. 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 Rob's parents tried to integrate him as early as they could, putting him in preschool at 18 months. Rob's father saw potential in the happy, spunky baby, but also wrestled with his own emotions, admitting he often asked God "why?" I hope that 'who says I can't?' In high school, his friends organized a 32-team Madden tournament. Minorities make up 73 percent of the student body. "Honestly, when I first hired him at Sobrato High School, I knew he was something special. "That's how humans are -- they adapt. How does he go to the bathroom? Like us on Facebook to see similar stories Please give an overall site rating . I lean over, wrap my hands around him and lift him out of his chair. "Yes!" "You know how it is." He reads, draws and spends extra time with family and friends. How does he coach football? What do you want out of this year? Mendez struggles to deal with back and neck pain from spending all day in his chair. "Great job, Coach. His greatest fear was failure. The driver makes a U-turn, pulls in front of Mendez and flips on his hazards. "When an able-body person says that they can't do something, his greatest message is, 'who says I can't?' But later he acknowledges he hated having to ask for help. Unofficial or official visit invites. I mention that one of the themes I'm thinking about for his story is this idea of a beautiful mind. It is part of the Campbell Union High School District . Can you lift me out of my chair?" Because he weighs 50 pounds, alcohol affects him faster than people who weigh much more. He tumbles forward. Instead, Mendez repeats two words over and over and over: thank you. 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 There's the answer he feels as if he should deliver. I assume Mendez will pilot his wheelchair on the sidewalk and I'll drive alongside for the five dimly lit blocks back to his house. He wanted to leave by 9 p.m., but one conversation led to another. He has scoliosis, which makes his spine look far more like an "S" than the "I." Andre Jackson gets instructions from Mendez during the team's first game of the season. The battery on his wheelchair is dead, and he wants to charge it at school overnight. I love him. Next year you'll be back in it, believe me." I swear I buckled him in. It happened at the end of his senior prom, when he tipped over the wheelchair ramp as he and his classmates were leaving. I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. The players jog back to their positions. I can work with people. Preston Gannaway for ESPN, A FEW MINUTES after our first beer, a bartender brings Mendez a plate of California rolls. Ozzy Garcia Donna High School football player attending a prospect camp at Southwestern University in Georgetown Texas get's a high-five from coach.. Mendez gets a fist-to-shoulder bump from every Sobrato player. Some might suggest he should be home, resting. Eventually you will come across your passion and for me it was football and working with people. I think back to something his pediatric physical therapist told me. Eventually, he became the head coach of. He put the name into Google. Shaving. I know what you're saying. The football team won the 7A State Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2005. . 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. Gradey Dick, a five-star Kansas commit, enjoyed one of the greatest shooting seasons in high school basketball history. "There's no way," he says. We make it to his home. It's only junior varsity. I swear. Mendez didn't care. 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. He briefly leaves Rob in the garage to run inside. 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 live and die." The 14-year-old wraps his arms tightly around Mendez's back. I can adjust to anything that's thrown my way. Bob eventually turned to alcohol. Rashada, a California high school star, returned home to the San Francisco suburb of Pittsburg instead of enrolling. Doctors recommend surgery. 803-777-0365 or USCFootball@sc.edu. Pick a play, execute for a few seconds, take a break, pick another play and repeat. And because of Rob's lack of limbs, his father says he retains 30 percent more heat than someone who has arms and legs. Only football coach requests will be accepted. I suggest we move to a lower table and make things easier. We end up talking for nearly three hours. "In life, I feel like I'm always being helped," he says. They have to buy the fake. What the hell does that even mean? When coaches ask you to go on an official visit, paid for by the school's program, they're using their budget to show off their school and create an impressive experience for you as a recruit. I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. It happened at the end of his senior prom, when he tipped over the wheelchair ramp as he and his classmates were leaving. No way." Those who do survive often end up with significant intellectual disabilities. And yeah, of course that's frustrating.". 31 years later, he's. "Bugs the s--- out of me," he says. "Just focus -- you got this." His older sister, Jackie, pushed her brother to try new things and one day tucked a PlayStation controller under his chin. It gives me hope for the world." Rob leans forward in his chair to reach his cell phone. THE DAY AFTER teaching his quarterback the 37 stretch, Mendez sits under the lights at the Prospect 50-yard line, exhausted. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. Livingston told me Mendez's presence is living proof of what humans are capable of. Prospect's defense held off Maine South for the final 44 seconds to secure a 42-41 win. 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. At the end of every day, I'm sore.". 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. This life it just isn't always easy. "Let's get to the bottom of it. 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