Posted on 11/15/2008 12:00:33 PM PST by TXBlair
An Open Letter: UT's Miller lets his 'Wolf' pride show Posted on: Saturday, November 15, 2008, 8:05 AM
EDITOR'S NOTE: Roy Miller, a Shoemaker High graduate and senior defensive tackle for the University of Texas football team, offers a letter of support – both for his alma mater in the first football playoff appearance in program history, and for his home town.
I am proud beyond belief in my Grey Wolves. Sitting in the locker room at the University of Texas amongst teammates who have been a part of high school teams that were considered national champs in high school, I am finally able to join the frenzy of "trash talking" of who will succeed in the playoffs.
Since Shoemaker opened, I've sat, watched, and been a part of the hundreds of players who have walked on and off the field wearing silver and blue and carried on in life with the dreaded feeling inside of having missed the opportunity to make the playoffs.
What you have done is something you should be proud of for yourself, but what you must remember, for the rest of your life, is that the history of your success does not start with you.
You represent your parents who have sacrificed so much to get you where you are, you represent your families over in Iraq and all the things they've put on the line, and you represent the pride of those who have previously worn the colors of our school. Furthermore, you represent the children of our community who aspire to become like you and the God that has blessed you with your athletic ability.
To the community of Killeen, SUPPORT your Wolves, Knights, Eagles, Roos and Dawgs because they represent every citizen of the Killeen area in its entirety: the hard working, "blue-collar" type, character that the Killeen area is known for. This is a great chance for all of us to be proud of the children who have worked so hard to represent us, and we must recognize and congratulate them during some of the worst and best times of their lives.
Hearing stories of the young men on the Grey Wolf team who have lost loved ones in Iraq, I was brought to tears. The way you represent yourself and handle adversity greatly inspires me. And the game of football you play further inspires me.
Based on your dedication to life and sports, I realize that this week's game against Kansas is about more than what you personally get out of it – it's about life and the impact we can have on others. Here at the University of Texas, Coach Mack Brown has developed a tradition in which we dedicate a game to somebody special in our lives. I have decided to dedicate this game to the Shoemaker High School football team, along with all of the young high school players who display the same type of character.
To Coach (Ken) Gray, Coach (James) Showers, AD (Tom) Rogers, and all the staff of the KISD area, thank you for the investments you have put into our lives. You have touched many young minds, including mine, by the sincerity and fatherly love you have shown to the young adults of Killeen. You have breathed hope into many individuals and touched the lives of many people around the world. Today people of Texas are talking about the accomplishments of the youngsters of Killeen. Their accomplishments make me proud to call Killeen home.
Sincerely,
Roy Miller
Today's game
Matchup: Shoemaker (4-6) vs. John Tyler (5-5)
What: Division II-5A bi-district
When: 5 p.m. today
Where: Midlothian ISD Stadium
College Football/Classy Athlete ping
Sounds like a Young Republican to me. This is the type of young man we so desperately need in our party.
Yes! He really does sound like a great kid, doesn't he? That he took time from his busy schedule to encourage the kids coming up under him and to thank his community for its support makes me so proud of this young man I've never met.
The article in my newspaper this morning featured a couple of file photos of Miller, including one of him as he signed with UT in February of 2005. His family surrounded him as he signed, with Dad wearing his army fatigues (Fort Hood). It was obvious from Roy's letter that knows (firsthand) and appreciates the sacrifices of our armed forces. On a related note, I wonder how the family is feeling about Dad's new Commander in Chief?
How impressive! This Texas Longhorn team is full of young men of great character, not to mention talent. I am so proud of all of them, and I sure enjoyed watching them beat KU today. :o)
Here’s another heartwarming story from Killeen.
http://www.statesman.com/search/content/sports/stories/highschool/11/13/1113shoemaker.html
Wow, that WAS a great story...thanks for the link! The comments posted after the story were really nice, too.
Well unfortunately, the Grey Wolves weren’t quite able to pull off the win last night, but they sure made a solid effort. They led much of the game, including 18-9 at the half. The final score was 29-18, John Tyler HS. But hey, Tyler has been the state champ three times, so the Wolves weren’t exactly playing against the Teletubbies. Now that Shoemaker has gotten to the playoffs once, I think they’ll find their way back again. Good luck to ‘em!
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