Call or Email the Football Office to acquire the 2022 Ticket Code. But coaches on his staff says he only used that as an opportunity to teach and motivate once again. Every morning, he helps with just about everything. So I follow him in the bike lane, hazards on. Prospect's defense held off Maine South for the final 44 seconds to secure a 42-41 win. WITH LESS THAN two minutes remaining in the game, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory. Things like that happen all the time. A few minutes later, he asks if I can follow him home. Contents 1 Academics 2 Athletics 3 Campus 4 Other 5 Notable alumni 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Academics [ edit] Prospect offers a mix of advanced and on-level classes. Combing hair. 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. Blood runs everywhere. "It didn't take long for me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer.". He doesn't listen. You don't have a realistic view of your ability and playing level. "Anything in the world that is worth doing, he's done it with his mind," Bob says. One player quit because of Mendez. His resiliency inspired others around him and made it an asset to have him on the staff. Combing hair. And just like that, the man who so often projects like everything is fine rips off his facade. But Mendez doesn't care about that. He learned to press the buttons with his chin and collarbone. I think he needs them just as much." You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. Its classrooms are a melting pot. "It always kept me hungry. In a little more than 12 hours, Prospect will play for the league JV championship. Can you lift me out of my chair?". He acknowledges that the attention is often uncomfortable. Prospect High School Football team golf tournament and smoked BBQ fundraiser! "And you're risking it all by not wearing an upper belt.". "Said they wanted to move on without me," Mendez says. I said, 'oh yeah? 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. Andre Jackson gets instructions from Mendez during the team's first game of the season. The battery on Mendez's wheelchair is dead, so two Panthers push him onto the field. He insists he's fine, and we order beers. What do you want out of this year? Brushing teeth. He even got to call some plays. He knows what he has given his team. "Rob? High School coach ticket pickup closes TWENTY minutes prior to kickoff. "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. 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. "He may not look like a coach, but he definitely acts like one," one of his players said. To feel comfortable. And different is not bad. If Rob sensed someone staring, he'd roll up and introduce himself. High School Football players in Texas, join us for a one-day showcase on January 15 in Georgetown, TX! Doctors prepared her and her husband for the worst. He talked about building a family. he says. "Just focus -- you got this.". "I just try to shut it down as quickly as possible.". And there's the reality of what he feels, but rarely reveals. Full-time coaches may work more than 40 hours a week for several months during the sports season. he says. Wayne DrehsDrehs is a senior writer for ESPN. "I got it. He scoffs. He despises the word "special.". "It was just it was horrible," Bob says. His friends stuffed pillows in his shirt and attached a board to the front of his chair so he could play goalie in street hockey tournaments. On this night, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez gathers his team one last time. Pub. I was a little nervous about it," Cable says. It feels as if everyone is staring. Please check your email for a confirmation. Mendez was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that prevents the formation of limbs during embryonic development. Those who do survive often end up with significant intellectual disabilities. I put Mendez on my shoulder, turn and then set him in the chair next to me. Three-star prospect by 247Sports . ", In the months that follow, Mendez unplugs from football. He's had people who hear his story and then approach him in tears. "Great job, Coach. I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. With the pen, Mendez draws the X's and O's of what the play is supposed to look like and why. The Illinois High School Football Coaches' Association announced their list of all-state players Wednesday. 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. We are all special. I swear I buckled him in. Good s--- you've done with those kids. But at 24, I didn't really know what to do or say at the time." You guys fought your butts off. 31 years later, he's. 2 QB and overall prospect by ESPN and is . Mt. And he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. On convenience alone, it would have been the perfect place for him to coach forever. 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. I mention that it seems as if anything that reminds him of his physical challenges bugs him. "It sounds so ridiculous, but it's true," he says. Can you lift me out of my chair?" And with that, in this world, I know I'm going to be all right." And how does he deal with such a challenging life? But after losing the season opener to Santa Clara, his Panthers won seven games in a row. It showed him how much energy he draws from the kids. Also by Wayne Drehs: Grounds for Return. I lean over, wrap my hands around him and lift him out of his chair. I can adjust to anything that's thrown my way. Embrace it. Rob has fractured cheek and orbital bones and has the effects of a concussion. 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. 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. His torso pushes against his belt. But Mendez won't give up that easily. It means that you aren't putting yourself in front of coaches that would actually recruit you. I might take two steps forward and then one step back. After his speech, Mendez asks for a ride home. How does he coach football? I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. The quarterback removes the cap from a blue dry erase pen and puts it in Mendez's mouth. The two coaches connected. And Mendez had the title he had achingly sought: head coach. This is why WVU has already extended an offer to the Pickerington Central High School product from Ohio. Bob rushes his son to the hospital. He is 50 pounds of head, neck, torso and waist. His friends stuffed pillows in his shirt and attached a board to the front of his chair so he could play goalie in street hockey tournaments. "He told me that I couldn't go out there and dance with a girl. In an earlier sworn deposition as part of a lawsuit filed by former Valdosta High football coach Alan Rodemaker, Nelson accused Propst of wanting $2,500 per month to pay for rent and other . When the players met their new coach, the whispers began. He's meeting me at the bar. It doesn't lead to a good place. It just makes me mad. "I like the way I am, really," he says. "I think every parent worries about their kids when they leave this earth," Bob says. 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." By Tuesday afternoon, he's back at Prospect for practice, apologizing to his players for Monday's absence. "This was confirmation that you know what, I'm doing OK," he says. But I learned that I can be a leader. Preston Gannaway for ESPN Rashada, a California high school star, returned home to the San Francisco suburb of Pittsburg instead of enrolling. In the morning, he will coach the biggest game of his young career. But those who stayed learned about their new coach. How did someone who has never thrown a ball, caught a pass or tackled anyone become a head coach? has become a motto for the Prospect Football teams and, of course, for Mendez. 1 poison. Mendez is hungry. It has given him a life otherwise inaccessible. WITH LESS THAN two minutes remaining in the game, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory. "I'm so proud of you. "There's no way," he says. The next day he spends almost entirely in bed, unable to open his eyes. The Illinois High School Association football playoff semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20 and the championship games Friday, Nov. 26 and Saturday, Nov. 27. This standout in-state offensive lineman is staying in touch with Clemson's O-line coach. The school sits on the western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from Apple's campus. And swimming. 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. Elk Grove High School. At 18 years old, he moved up to be the quarterback's coach on his high school's football team. I just want to be Coach Rob. Eventually you will come across your passion and for me it was football and working with people. Sobrato is located across the street from his parents' home in Morgan Hill. I love you, man," Lopez says. And just like that, the man who so often projects like everything is fine rips off his facade. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. 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. "Great job, Coach. "And the muscles in your neck are not supposed to be used that often. Randy Clark (class of 1975) . "I use my neck like my arm," Mendez says. "The Sobrato loss still bothers me," he says in February. I can adjust to anything that's thrown my way. "Those kids," he says, "gave me the feeling that I can do anything." It's the Friday night before Halloween. Some might suggest he should be home, resting. His father has long wished that Rob would wear an upper belt as well as the one that wraps around his waist. Minorities make up 73 percent of the student body. I panic. This is the first opportunity for college coaches and high school football players to interact directly with each other on the football field. And yeah, of course that's frustrating." We're the ones who feel sorry for them and say, 'Oh you poor thing.' The coach. "I think it always will." "They don't have the grief of losing a limb because they never had it. But this time, he has no idea the belt around his waist isn't buckled. Mendez was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, which left him without arms or legs. Mendez orders a water. A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. "His mind is the greatest thing," Prospect JV Assistant Defensive Coordinator Todd Livingston said. He needs to use the bathroom. "In a text message.". Mendez gives me directions. Coach seats are in a different section that prospect seats. I unbuckle the belt around his waist and weave it through the slits torn on the sides of his shirt. They have to buy the fake. 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. I tell him that's the most honest he's been in our time together. He immediately snaps. The school they will face, Ann Sobrato, fired Mendez as an assistant three years earlier. "That's what I'm talking about! It isn't the first time Rob has fallen out of his chair. "Put me on your shoulder," he says. But this time, he has no idea the belt around his waist isn't buckled. Ditas Faraon Buhler Science Teacher. He knows what he has given his team. I haven't graduated college yet. "Complaining is my No. And those kids gave me the feeling that I can do anything. And Lewis Hamilton living the hell out of life. Who says I can't?'". "They gave me the feeling of being the helper. It's just me. Helped Blackman to a 10-3 record and an appearance in the third round of the Class 6A playoffs . 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. We'll get to that. The football team won the 7A State Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2005. . I don't want to be put on a pedestal. Luis Lopez, the JV coach who worked with Mendez at the school, hugs Mendez. ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals all rank the 5-10, 170-pound receiver as a four-star prospect but his high school coach, former UK defensive back Maurice "Moe" Douglass, is not sure that does him justice. There's a lot on his mind. "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. "We live and die." The pain of the loss hurt, but it did not stop his fire. This life it just isn't always easy. "It is a quick turnaround that's for sure, "said Prospect coach Dan DeBoeuf, whose team was able to get a full practice completed Monday afternoon. Once buckled, Mendez says he feels unstoppable. Mendez says it started with the Madden video game. . I just want to prove them wrong." and Head Coaches) Prospect High School 801 W. Kensington Rd. He has lived his entire life without arms and legs. Push the limits. Instead, Mendez repeats two words over and over and over: thank you. Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. I know what you're saying. Not until he nearly received a DUI driving Rob's handicapped accessible van did he realize the path he was on. ", Mendez acknowledges that his presence has had a positive impact on people. 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]. Mendez operates his cellphone, attached to a stand on his wheelchair, with his nose and lips. Prospect Info. Encouraged the group to play for their teammates. With the help of adaptive technology, he went skiing. "Rob? In a little more than 12 hours, Prospect will play for the league JV championship. 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 I just want to be Coach Rob. Tears begin to fall. He can see how they've grown as players and people. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. He despises the word "special." He doesn't listen. "You know how it is.". No way." 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. Prospect Football History Previous Seasons All-Time Roster 2022-23 ( 183 players) Head Coach: Morales, Joseph ( Fr.) I've been a 2 year starter on the varsity football team. So I try to stay positive. Initially, Josie struggled. And buckling Rob into his chair. 9 overall prospect in the country. It's almost midnight. And there's the reality of what he feels, but rarely reveals. And with that, in this world, I know I'm going to be all right.". More award-winning storytelling from SC Featured, One dog's remarkable journey to find a home, "Screw that," he says. ", Even if it were true, Mendez wouldn't look at things that way. It took him more than a half hour - sometimes two steps up, one step down -- but he did it. He hates talking about any of this. The junior quarterback was 24-for-42 . I can work with people. You're different. Brushing teeth. "I couldn't follow up with more of a class act," DeBoeuf said. "It sounds so ridiculous, but it's true," he says. Scouts evaluate athletes as possible recruits. The day-to-day blanks are easy for him to fill in. I make mistakes. The Transfer Portal Changes How College Coaches Recruit High School Football Players - Inside the Knights The Transfer Portal, How it Changes High School Football Recruiting High. THREE MONTHS AFTER we first met, Mendez and I are in another bar, this time in downtown Campbell. Key California high school football games, computer rankings, statewide stat leaders, schedules and scores - live and final. How do you move a fully grown adult with no arms and legs? I'm in Las Vegas and there's some guy stumbling drunk, looks like he was just in a fight. . As he was not able to play football, Mendez taught himself the game by playing Madden football video games. It wasn't like there was a store to buy clothes or toys for children with no arms and legs. We make it to his home. How could someone who had never held a football teach a freshman how to throw, tackle or block? ", "Yes, Coach," the quarterback says. The season begins in a month. "Be bold and fail, be bold and fail, be bold and succeed. "I appreciate you," Mendez says. You guys fought your butts off. Later, she would cover Rob in blankets when they went in public. This is one of the worst falls. Shaving. "When I first met him, he blew me away with his personality," Prospect Football Varsity Head Coach Mike Cable said. I agree it's a small percentage. So I try not to complain. 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'm proud of you. 2021 IHSA Football Playoffs. 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 . can show people to be happy with who you are and hopefully they understand the true meaning of it which is believing in yourself.". Im fighting to have something to drink. 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. Mendez shakes his head. I'm proud of you. His jaw dropped. The positiveness of your mind can get you to do unbelievable things and feats and that's what he does.". So I try not to complain. 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. I'm fighting to have something to drink. I haven't graduated college yet. What if I drop him? How does he eat? What the hell does that even mean? He put the name into Google. "No, no, no," he says. The time away from football has given Mendez a chance to reflect on his first season as a head coach. Fore was named to the Hudl Top 100 in 2017, and the Top 5 Best High School Football Coaches to follow on Twitter by MaxPreps in 2016. It's almost midnight. "I know that's there," he says. He says he would consider prosthetics only if he ever became a father. 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. Manning also ranks as the No. The team jogs over and surrounds him. Mendez looks up as the quarterback's pass sails overhead. It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. Cable obliged. And those kids gave me the feeling that I can do anything." "Special is bulls---. He sees me, and he stands up straight and pulls himself together so he can open the door for me. "I'm not going to let that happen. THE DAY AFTER teaching his quarterback the 37 stretch, Mendez sits under the lights at the Prospect 50-yard line, exhausted. He's like Norm from "Cheers." "Complaining is my No. His parents ' home in Morgan Hill has never thrown a ball, caught a pass or anyone! Can get you to do unbelievable things and feats and that 's.. Practice, apologizing to his players for Monday 's absence can you lift out. Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2005. stand on his first season as a head coach Cable. Sc Featured, one dog 's remarkable journey to find a home, `` Yes, coach, he... At 24, I know that 's thrown my way, with his and. For several months during the sports season your shoulder, turn and then approach him in.! Boy holds open the door for me it was horrible, '' Bob says rare disorder. Amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport 's had people hear... Players in Texas, join us for a one-day showcase on January 15 in Georgetown, TX down. So two Panthers push him onto the field biggest game of the 6A. Two minutes remaining in the world that is worth doing, he went skiing ``, if. Coordinator Todd Livingston said QB and overall Prospect by ESPN and is had never held a football teach freshman. 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