Posted on 09/24/2009 11:58:52 AM PDT by OriginalChristian
Down Syndrome Boy's 60-Yard Touchdown Run an Internet Hit By Thaddeus M. Baklinski
ST. JOSEPH, Missouri, September 21, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A heart-warming story of true sportsmanship last week turned what might have been a dismal defeat into an extraordinary victory for both teams and everyone who witnessed Matt Ziesel's touchdown run. Matt, who has Down syndrome, is a freshman at Benton High School in St. Joseph, Mo. Despite his disability he suits up for every football game and cheers on his teammates from the sidelines. Last Monday night the Benton Cardinals football team was losing its game against the Maryville Spoofhounds 46-0 when, with about ten seconds left in the game, Benton coach Dan McCamy called a timeout and went to confer with Spoofhounds coach David McEnaney.
"I did come over to some confused looks. They're, like, 'Ten seconds left in the game, 46 to nothing, what is he going to do? Throw in the towel?'" McCamy told NBC Sports. Instead, he proposed that, if they were not opposed to giving up the shutout, they let Ziesel carry the ball in what he called Matt's Play. "I don't want him touched. No physical contact, but I want it to be as real as possible," McCamy said. "I said 'Yeah, that's fine coach. Tell him to run all the way to the end zone," coach McEnaney said. "The (Maryville) kids got on board. They were real excited about it." The Maryville Daily Forum described the play: Following the timeout Ziesel took his spot to the left of the quarterback. The ball was snapped and Ziesel took the ball on a sweep to the right gaining speed as he went. As he raced down the right sideline, Spoofhounds defenders peeled off one after the other. Ziesel carried the ball for a 60-yard touchdown escorted into the end zone by his teammates who wrapped him in hugs following the score.
The crowd clapped and cheered their approval, and after the game, Matt Ziesel enthused, "I scored a touchdown! 60 yards, I go for touchdown for us!" McEnaney said the Spoofhounds gave up their shutout but it was a small price to pay in comparison to what they got in return. "It was a great opportunity for our kids to kind of realize that while, yes, winning is a big deal, there's bigger life lessons out there," McEnaney said. Mike Ziesel, Matt's father and a high school athletic director, told Fox 4 News, "The people at Maryville were terrific. Our fans have always been supportive. "Like any school in our conference, or in the area, you want to win. But to see those kids do what they did and their coaching staff, our coaching staff, collaborate on something like that was a feel good situation. "You hear the loud cheering and see the support they give him. It's a sign of real sportsmanship and that winning is not the most important thing, or shutouts are not the most important thing," Mike Ziesel said.
The touchdown touched the hearts of everyone at the game, and since coach McCamy posted the video to YouTube the day after the game, it has been viewed almost 300,000 times. The final score of the game was 46-6 in favor of the Spoofhounds, but on that extraordinary Monday night, everybody won.
Watch the YouTube video here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ylwXOxKb7I)
Thanks and Peace...
I think in the long run no pun intended it was not a good thing to do imho
Please explain?
(((blurry monitor)))
When the record is broken by a setup layup because someone broke their leg, I agree. But this took nothing away from any other player or team and left this young man with a lifelong memory.
He had a long run, in the long run, get it?
Almost makes up for the dogfighting story which I will NOT link here.
What a piece of work is Man.
It’s great to read stories like this once in a while. There should be more of this in society.
While the intentions of everyone involved were surely noble, it comes off as rather patronizing.
Video was posted before but sans article, so you probably good
It did not effect the outcome of the game in the least. 46-6 instead of 46-0.
What it did do was show a genuine act of compassion to a less fortunate person. The losing and winning team memebrs will take that memory...and more importantly, that good feeling with them their entire life...as will the young man with down's syndrome.
It certainly taught good principles without sacrificing at all sportsmanship, fair play, competitiveness, or honor.
In fact, all around it was an honorable and virtuous thing to do.
Excellent sports on both sides of the ball. Hats off to all! Way to go Matt!
Now that will make you tear up...
wow— Thanks for sharing this..
I saw this story last week and thought it was awesome. It did not change who got the “W” but I’ll bet they all remember this for the rest of their lives as a decent thing to do for another human being who may never get that opportunity again.
Kudos to all involved!!
Someone should have given him a solid hit right at the goal, make the boy feel like he earned it a bit more.
Actually that’s pretty neat.
This happened near Kansas City a week or two ago. At the end of a something like a 45 to nothing blowout, the losing coach went to the opposing side with a request. One of his players, a Down’s syndrome student who was allowed to suit-up, had never had a chance to actually play in a real game. He asked if he could send him in for a play and if the team would allow him to run the ball. Without a moment’s hesitation, the team agreed. So the opposing team sacrificed their shutout, let the student run for a touchdown, and did their best to make it look like the real thing. Needless to say the half back was thrilled and the winning team showed what the real meaning of sportsmanship is.
This happened near Kansas City a week or two ago. At the end of a something like a 45 to nothing blowout, the losing coach went to the opposing side with a request. One of his players, a Down’s syndrome student who was allowed to suit-up, had never had a chance to actually play in a real game. He asked if he could send him in for a play and if the team would allow him to run the ball. Without a moment’s hesitation, the team agreed. So the opposing team sacrificed their shutout, let the student run for a touchdown, and did their best to make it look like the real thing. Needless to say the half back was thrilled and the winning team showed what the real meaning of sportsmanship is.
This happened near Kansas City a week or two ago. At the end of a something like a 45 to nothing blowout, the losing coach went to the opposing side with a request. One of his players, a Down’s syndrome student who was allowed to suit-up, had never had a chance to actually play in a real game. He asked if he could send him in for a play and if the team would allow him to run the ball. Without a moment’s hesitation, the team agreed. So the opposing team sacrificed their shutout, let the student run for a touchdown, and did their best to make it look like the real thing. Needless to say the half back was thrilled and the winning team showed what the real meaning of sportsmanship is.
“it comes off as rather patronizing.”
Well, not to worry. This is the last generation that will be faced with such a thing, as there won’t be any Downs Syndrome people due to the policies of Dear Leader’s adviser, Ezekiel Emmanuel.
I personally think it will be a shame to not have anyone around who needs some special attention and extra caring from his/her fellow students.
Yeah that 'good sportsmanship' thing is waaaay overrated in my opinion, too. </sarcasm>
Sorry, but I agree. I don’t think he’d be so happy if someone said they ‘let’ him score the touchdown. He might be a little hurt by it.
Would have felt better if he got clothes lined before he crossed the goal line?
Yes, it does. But then again, I go around patronizing just about everyone. Seems to make 'em happy...
Yep, just like the Special Olympics.
Tell the kid who ran the ball he was being patronized and I doubt he'd care. He lived his dream and scored a touchdown in a real game. What is wrong with that?
“Matt, who has Down syndrome, is a freshman at Benton High School in St. Joseph, Mo. “
Three more years left in that High School, with the knowledge that he scored the only touchdown in the game, are they then going to allow him play time in the coming years? Or only when regardless of his playing or not they will lose.
I agree with you.
Stories like this make me proud to be an American.
We ARE exceptional. So, FUBO and the fascist pig you rode in on.
Thanks, Christian. I just spent part of the morning in front of an abortion clinic. This story was just what I needed. God bless this young man and all those on both teams who discovered what is important in life.
A true feel good story. Gives one hope for humanity.
What I was thinking. Glad you said it first.
Thanks !
I gotta agree with you. Good intentions, but probably not the best idea. If only those who were involved were aware of the “deal”, it would have been fine, but now it’s an internet sensation with everyone patting themselves on the back. I don’t know the functioning level of this young man, but if it’s high enough that’s he’s able to hear about it and understand what actually happened, then I think it would be embarrassing for him and hurtful, as well. They probably should have just let the kid run the ball two or three times with the other team going easy on him.
I guess I’m confused because this is the first time I saw the video to go with a story of what I assumed was this kid actually scoring a touchdown against the other team.
I guess all of the things I’ve read about it just keep leaving off that it was planned by both teams beforehand.
Dont get me wrong, it’s a very nice gesture, but what is the message that is resonating that makes this an internet hit? That Americans are good people by default?
I tell you why Jeff. I have a nephew like that. similar story much less fanfare. A couple of years later he said looking at his first place ribbon. I hate that thing I did not win it True Story, like I said imho
While the intentions of everyone involved were surely noble, it comes off as rather patronizing.
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imho, your comment is a slight bit cynical (I don’t blame you in this culture.)
I think that this kid really, really was blessed - and all those other kids got to bless him - what on earth is wrong or patronizing about that...
Someone with Downs may be a little mentally slow - but if handled correctly, he’ll never, ever understand what happened that day as patronizing.
imho
True sportsmanship. I feel sorry for those that think this is wrong.
“While the intentions of everyone involved were surely noble, it comes off as rather patronizing.”
The point you are making probably won’t be well-received here, but it does have some validity; everyone there decided they could pull this off based on the assumption that the down’s kid would not be smart enough to know that it wasn’t a real play. Still, it is nice to see everyone working together in an act of kindness, and I hope the kid remains blissfully ignorant of the kind-hearted deception for the rest of his life.
Dont get me wrong, it’s a very nice gesture, but what is the message that is resonating that makes this an internet hit? That Americans are good people by default?
++++++++++++++++
Message: Americans *are able* be good people.
Looked at another way it becomes a precious lesson: NOT that the less-abled need affirmative actions so that their outcomes match those of the truly capable. The REAL valuable lesson here is for Matt's teammates: they didn't score, and Matt did. Just that: they didn't score -- and Matt did.
Was it fair? No -- but neither is it fair that Matt has Down's in the first place. Neither is it fair that some have outstanding natural talents and abilities.
The lesson is that they're no better or more deserving than this innocent soul in a damaged body. Those with advantages in this world need to learn humility because everything they have is a gift. No one makes it in this world on his own.
The lesson is that life is unfair, and instead of congratulating ourselves for our wonderfulness, we need humility and gratitude and generosity toward others.
The lesson is that merits and value as a human being are not measured in worldly success, and that Matt's are no less impressive than anyone else's at that game.
I searched on the exact title.
Sorry about that.
I agree. Let him try for some legitimate yardage. Sure, let the other team know he's disabled so they wouldn't be too rough, but the defenders just trotting along beside him instead of making even a token effort to stop him is kind of embarrassing to watch.
Outstanding.
A couple of years later he said looking at his first place ribbon. I hate that thing I did not win it True Story, like I said imho
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Did some mean kid, at some point, convince him of that..? Or maybe he just figured it out? Sorry to hear that turned out badly.
I just spent part of the morning in front of an abortion clinic.
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Thank you - many prayers for you and others that love Life...
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
Jesus
Hurray for Matt.
More importantly, hurray for the coaches and young men on the opposing sideline who decided to forgo the glory of the shutout for something much bigger than themselves.
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