I stuff a pad between him and the chair back -- paranoid he could fall. 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. It's an accomplishment to the public because I have no arms and legs, but the reality is I'm not accomplished. In most cases of tetra-amelia, death occurs before birth. Mendez operates his cellphone, attached to a stand on his wheelchair, with his nose and lips. He insists he's fine, and we order beers. For now, I start with a topic far simpler: football. Mendez looks up as the quarterback's pass sails overhead. But later he acknowledges he hated having to ask for help. Mendez operates his cellphone, attached to a stand on his wheelchair, with his nose and lips. Prospect High School. It wasn't like there was a store to buy clothes or toys for children with no arms and legs. IT'S THE BIGGEST weekend of the year in Gilroy, California, with more than 100,000 people visiting for the annual garlic festival. Mendez acknowledges that his presence has had a positive impact on people. They chose to stay with him. ", He acknowledges that the attention is often uncomfortable. Any other details they should know (If you have previously attended the school's camp or met the coaches) Sample Introductory Email: To: Reed@email.edu, RecruitingCoordinator@email.edu, SecondAssistant@email.edu. On this day, one of his freshman quarterbacks struggles to grasp the footwork on the 37 stretch. "Just focus -- you got this." "We have unfinished business." How safe is your neighborhood? A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. Is that you?" His resiliency inspired others around him and made it an asset to have him on the staff. You MUST have the correct code in order to receive tickets. Taking a bath. But I'm 30 years old and a JV high school football coach. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. What do you want out of this year? One way he was able to do this is through coaching football. I'm not beautiful at all. We are all special. he says. "It always kept me hungry. He never quit and now he has everyone asking, "Who says I can't?". ONE WEEK LATER, Prospect finishes its season 8-2 with a 19-13 victory over Yerba Buena. "I appreciate you," Mendez says. It means that you aren't putting yourself in front of coaches that would actually recruit you. Preston Gannaway for ESPN St. Rita High School. Mendez doesn't buy it. Keep your heads up. That sentiment has been followed by so many other coaches that he came across in his career. Preston Gannaway for ESPN How did someone who has never thrown a ball, caught a pass or tackled anyone become a head coach? 2. His torso pushes against his belt. "Think about it. he says. "I've always been someone to be not afraid of failure," Mendez said. And buckling Rob into his chair. "No, no, no," he says. I love you, man," Lopez says. Because he weighs 50 pounds, alcohol affects him faster than people who weigh much more. He is 50 pounds of head, neck, torso and waist. He has heard it from their parents and teachers. 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." Pub. He drew up game plans on Madden and took them to practice. The players jog back to their positions. "Complaining is my No. 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. I make mistakes. But other than the tetra-amelia disorder, his son Rob was born a healthy baby boy. "In life, I feel like I'm always being helped," he says. He reads, draws and spends extra time with family and friends. "I just try to shut it down as quickly as possible.". "It didn't take long for me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer." As the quarterback rolls out, the play unfolds perfectly. I am a team player and a hard Mendez says it started with the Madden video game. I know what you're saying. "They would whisper," he says. He's like Norm from "Cheers." 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 he hates the sidewalk. "There was one word my dad never liked -- special," Mendez says. . WVSN instantly reached out to the 2025 class [] WVSN instantly reached out to the 2025 class prospect to find out more about his talks with WVU offensive line coach Matt Moore and his current mindset about his future. The World Series is on television. "I appreciate you," Mendez says. Three blocks in, a blue pickup driving in the other direction recognizes the wheelchair. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. Every morning, he helps with just about everything. "We live and die." You guys fought your butts off. We're the ones who feel sorry for them and say, 'Oh you poor thing.' The team jogs over and surrounds him. A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. He says they need him, but you know what? But I'm 30 years old and a JV high school football coach. I've been a 2 year starter on the varsity football team. 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! His head drops. I'm fighting to have something to drink. They tell Rob he can't coach for at least four weeks. 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. The receiver is open. His comes with a straw. Nobody but yourself can hold yourself back. But Mendez won't give up that easily. Three-star prospect by 247Sports . I lean over, wrap my hands around him and lift him out of his chair. Unofficial or official visit invites. But I learned that I can be a leader. To feel comfortable. He has lived his entire life without arms and legs. "There's no way," he says. 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. It confirmed how much he despises losing. 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 says. by Elk Grove. So I try not to complain. I just want to be Coach Rob. Email Melissa Feucht. "So I try to stay positive. "He may not look like a coach, but he definitely acts like one," one of his players said. High School coach ticket pickup closes TWENTY minutes prior to kickoff. "I don't think I could do that to those kids," he says. The school they will face, Ann Sobrato, fired Mendez as an assistant three years earlier. He knew his offense, he knows his x's and o's and he brings an energy to the team, the players and the rest of the coaching staff. This is one of the worst falls. The 14-year-old wraps his arms tightly around Mendez's back. Chicago, IL. And different is not bad. And those kids gave me the feeling that I can do anything." 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. As a senior, had 74 catches for 1,229 yards and 18 touchdowns . This can cost you more than just money. 7324680: 08/31/22: 03:30 PM: Match: Elk Grove High School. An assistant coach holds a whiteboard a few inches in front of Mendez. I suggest we move to a lower table and make things easier. Congratulations to @ProspectXCTF Coach Pete Wintermute on his @ITCCCA XC Coach of the Year and the Track Coach of the Year!!! For the last few minutes of our ride, we both keep quiet. 2021 IHSA Football Playoffs. "It's 37 stretch, right? 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 The driver makes a U-turn, pulls in front of Mendez and flips on his hazards. But I learned that I can be a leader. He couldn't get enough. His older sister, Jackie, pushed her brother to try new things and one day tucked a PlayStation controller under his chin. You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? "He was still in diapers," Bob says. "Let's get to the bottom of it. All Rights Reserved. Bob hears the sound from a few feet away. 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. I think he needs them just as much. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories Please give an overall site rating . 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. He scoffs. Make sure to check your junk mail folder if you do not receive an email . I put Mendez on my shoulder, turn and then set him in the chair next to me. You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. Mendez leans forward in his chair. "I can guarantee you there is someone with no arms and legs living in the mountains somewhere with a whole different story who isn't as active as we are. Rob is no different." I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. Mendez was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, which left him without arms or legs. He doesn't listen to the doctors like he should. Nor did he and Josie have any idea how to take care of this baby. Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. He tumbles forward. Combing hair. Bob rushes his son to the hospital. And yeah, of course that's frustrating.". It is part of the Campbell Union High School District . Mendez tries to explain, but the kid doesn't get it. I suggest we move to a lower table and make things easier. On this night, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez gathers his team one last time. ", Even if it were true, Mendez wouldn't look at things that way. Now the entire Prospect program circles around Mendez at midfield. Prospect's defense held off Maine South for the final 44 seconds to secure a 42-41 win. They have to buy the fake. We're going to fake it this way and then waggle out," he says. "There you go!" SARATOGA, Calif. (KGO) -- Bay Area high school football coach Rob Mendez was born with a rare disorder called tetra-amelia syndrome, leaving him with no arms or legs. "Home," he answers. A few days before Rob was born, doctors walked his father, Robert Mendez Sr., through the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. I mention that one of the themes I'm thinking about for his story is this idea of a beautiful mind. Some of his plays even came from playing Madden. And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. If Rob sensed someone staring, he'd roll up and introduce himself. ESPN senior writer Wayne Drehs contributed to the documentary as a writer and reporter. At the end of every day, I'm sore." I love it. 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. WITH LESS THAN two minutes remaining in the game, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory. I don't sign up for being inspirational Rob.". Confirmation/Rejection emails will be sent out by 1:00 PM Thursday letting you know if you are awarded tickets. 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. ", Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. "I'm sorry," he says. "It wasn't very polite or sensitive. Jan 31, 2023 4:00 PM PST. "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does. They run the play again. You May Also Be Interested In 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. But I don't know what else to say. But here, he's in his element. Subject: Johnny Appleseed 2019 P/SS. "The Sobrato loss still bothers me," he says in February. Shaving. His torso pushes against his belt. "It sounds so ridiculous, but it's true," he says. ESPN producer Kristen Lappas directed the SC Featured documentary, available on ESPN+. He can be stubborn. "Bugs the s--- out of me," he says. And he doesn't like the idea I have for framing his story. What do you want people to say about this team? The coach nods and says "thank you.". I can adjust to anything that's thrown my way. "Special is bulls---. One player quit because of Mendez. He demanded respect, eye contact and accountability. Finally, after 13 years, he was able to get a job at Prospect High School in California as their high school football coach. Afterward, Bob says doctors and nurses would walk by and stare. 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 I love when the kids say 'nobody', because it's true. No way." There's the answer he feels as if he should deliver. This is the opportunity he has waited 12 years for, the one he long felt he deserved but worried would never come. ONE WEEK LATER, Prospect finishes its season 8-2 with a 19-13 victory over Yerba Buena. It isn't the first time Rob has fallen out of his chair. Encouraged the group to play for their teammates. As he was not able to play football, Mendez taught himself the game by playing Madden football video games. He sees me, and he stands up straight and pulls himself together so he can open the door for me. But those experiences come at great cost. Most everyone recognizes him and says hello. "I'm pretty good at dealing with pain, and I didn't want to stay home feeling sorry for myself," he says. I'm sorry." 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. Rob is no different.". And Lewis Hamilton living the hell out of life. "I just wanted to coach football.". After a few minutes of conversation, he seemed like any other football coach having a beer on a Friday night. How does he coach football? It doesn't lead to a good place. ", Mendez hopes to someday have the opportunity to coach varsity. 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. By Tuesday afternoon, he's back at Prospect for practice, apologizing to his players for Monday's absence. "I got it. "No, no, no," he says. "I think it always will." Mendez doesn't buy it. My dad would tell me, 'You're not special, Rob. Three blocks in, a blue pickup driving in the other direction recognizes the wheelchair. If Rob sensed someone staring, he'd roll up and introduce himself. He finished second. I love him. Because he weighs 50 pounds, alcohol affects him faster than people who weigh much more. "Great job, Coach. Eating breakfast. "It's just me." I might take two steps forward and then one step back. By his senior year, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. I love that. You don't have a realistic view of your ability and playing level. "It's just me." He learned how to draw and write using his mouth. It just makes me mad.". 'Who says I can't?' I am currently a senior at Texas Community High School and I will be attending college in the fall semester of 2009. He learned to press the buttons with his chin and collarbone. The quarterback removes the cap from a blue dry erase pen and puts it in Mendez's mouth. "We have unfinished business.". He knows what he has given his team. The two coaches connected. In high school, his friends organized a 32-team Madden tournament. This ensures that the coaches can spend quality time with all players attending and are not overwhelmed with large camp numbers. I can work with people. He can barely open his mouth. 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. Email Mark Fisher. can show people to be happy with who you are and hopefully they understand the true meaning of it which is believing in yourself.". When his friends went out for football his freshman year of high school, Rob became the team manager. H.S. Georgia Tech Football allows high school football coaches to request two (2) complimentary tickets to attend regular season home football games. 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 screams. Watch Later. He insists he's fine, and we order beers. His jaw dropped. But this time, he has no idea the belt around his waist isn't buckled. It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. Livingston told me Mendez's presence is living proof of what humans are capable of. But those who stayed learned about their new coach. "It gives me this sense of independence. Rashada, a California high school star, returned home to the San Francisco suburb of Pittsburg instead of enrolling. He has scoliosis, which makes his spine look far more like an "S" than the "I." The last question is far more complicated. "I can guarantee you there is someone with no arms and legs living in the mountains somewhere with a whole different story who isn't as active as we are. She says she couldn't look at her son for the first couple of weeks. ", Born 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. "I'm not afraid to be myself," he tells me later. 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. He turns his face to the right, pulls his head back and prays. 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. But seven? Prepped for head coach Victor Winters at Gadsden County High School in Havana, Flarated a three-star prospecta first-team all-state and a first-team All-Big Bend selection for the Jaguars after grading out over 90 percentinvited to participate in the NUC All-American Game in 2022had interest from several programs, including Florida Atlantic, Maryland, South Florida, Wake Forest . His older sister, Jackie, pushed her brother to try new things and one day tucked a PlayStation controller under his chin. He says if he had arms and legs he has no idea how his life would be different. Gradey Dick, a five-star Kansas commit, enjoyed one of the greatest shooting seasons in high school basketball history. I think he needs them just as much." "They gave me the feeling of being the helper. How High School Football Coaches Help Their Players Get Recruited Sanjay Kirpalani July 5, 2013 Dothan (Ala.) High School head coach Kelvis White is one example of prep coaches doing. They gave me a feeling of importance. Preston Gannaway for ESPN But I don't know what else to say. "You don't need to apologize," Mendez says. He can barely open his mouth. He's had people who hear his story and then approach him in tears. I'm proud of you. By his senior year, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. Rob would set his chin on the ledge of the next step and use that to lift his entire body. Otherwise there's the potential he'll need to use the bathroom without McAvoy there to help him. Mendez taught himself the game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to push the buttons. We are all special. Mendez calls his last timeout. Mendez didn't care. The coach nods and says "thank you." His father has long wished that Rob would wear an upper belt as well as the one that wraps around his waist. Brushing teeth. Im fighting to have something to drink. Cable obliged. Michael Furlong CTE Teacher, AVID Elective Teacher. And because of Rob's lack of limbs, his father says he retains 30 percent more heat than someone who has arms and legs. On warmer days, he can get bed sores from sitting in the same position too long. He's like Norm from "Cheers." "This was confirmation that you know what, I'm doing OK," he says. Prospect High School ( PHS) is a public high school in Saratoga, California, United States. With the pen, Mendez draws the X's and O's of what the play is supposed to look like and why. I've always wanted to be a head coach.". "I'm not going to let that happen. Manning also ranks as the No. He despises the word "special.". "I think every parent worries about their kids when they leave this earth," Bob says. Mendez hopes to someday have the opportunity to coach varsity. I ask whether that thought bothers him. High School Football players in Texas, join us for a one-day showcase on January 15 in Georgetown, TX! 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. "It brings out the best in people. "I'm not afraid to be myself," he tells me later. And swimming. Still does. On convenience alone, it would have been the perfect place for him to coach forever. I tell him that's the most honest he's been in our time together. He says he would consider prosthetics only if he ever became a father. But other than the tetra-amelia disorder, his son Rob was born a healthy baby boy. 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. I'm lazy. "We live and die. Now the entire Prospect program circles around Mendez at midfield. I can work with people. It took him more than a half hour - sometimes two steps up, one step down -- but he did it. "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'". ", Mendez acknowledges that his presence has had a positive impact on people. He says they need him, but you know what? "There you go!" His comes with a straw. And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. There have been opportunities over the years to pursue prosthetic limbs, but he has turned them all down. Mendez didn't care. Mendez tries to explain, but the kid doesn't get it. "And the muscles in your neck are not supposed to be used that often. 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. Mendez picks a spot at the bar next to two women. "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. . In a little more than 12 hours, Prospect will play for the league JV championship. What the hell does that even mean? And those kids gave me the feeling that I can do anything. on demand Nov 20, 2021 4:00 PM PST. Bob rushes his son to the hospital. I tell him that's the most honest he's been in our time together. THREE MONTHS AFTER we first met, Mendez and I are in another bar, this time in downtown Campbell. 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 Preston Gannaway for ESPN. The time away from football has given Mendez a chance to reflect on his first season as a head coach. "I use my neck like my arm," Mendez says. Preston Gannaway for ESPN, A FEW MINUTES after our first beer, a bartender brings Mendez a plate of California rolls. Eventually you will come across your passion and for me it was football and working with people. He has heard it from their parents and teachers. "We are two very different people. "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK." And his roommate is resting back at home, exhausted from a pair of Vegas nights. This time it's flawless. The lift mechanism on his wheelchair broke on the trip. Being personally invited for a visit indicates clear interest from a coach. "You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? "Rob? He started as a manager on his Gilroy High School team as a freshman. He asks his quarterback for a hug. Elk Grove Village, IL. How does he eat? Those who do survive often end up with significant intellectual disabilities. "I'm sitting right there at the bar next to you. Once buckled, Mendez says he feels unstoppable. A 10-story building hitting the ground. He's a great guy and I'll go to the end of the earth for him.". "He's an inspiration to all of us," Alvernaz, said. The receiver is open. 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 . But Rob refuses because the upper belt limits his ability to access his phone and draw plays. It's the Friday night before Halloween. "I'm not going to lie. So I try not to complain. I swear I buckled him in. I agree it's a small percentage. Embrace it. Brushing teeth. 2021: Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 5 first-team all-state selection at defensive end as a junior. Embrace it. "It didn't take long for me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer.". Getting dressed. He doesn't eat right. It has given him a life otherwise inaccessible. 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. It confirmed how much he despises losing. I know I'm good for the kids. 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. He is mobile thanks to the chair he controls with his head and neck. Mendez rolls over to his dejected quarterback. The season begins in a month. It gives me hope for the world." Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. It's all good." You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. "Screw that," he says. Luis Lopez, the JV coach who worked with Mendez at the school, hugs Mendez. And Mendez had the title he had achingly sought: head coach. Rob has fractured cheek and orbital bones and has the effects of a concussion. And Mendez had the title he had achingly sought: head coach. "You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? In his first full season as head coach, he led the Panthers to a playoff birth and a near-perfect season. Also by Wayne Drehs: Grounds for Return. Prospect High School JV Football Coach Rob Mendez was born with a rare disorder that left him with no arms or legs. The school sits on the western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from Apple's campus. On this night, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez gathers his team one last time. WITH LESS THAN two minutes remaining in the game, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory. He wanted to leave by 9 p.m., but one conversation led to another. 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. 1 poison," he says. Most days Mendez has chronic neck, back and shoulder pain. His father has long wished that Rob would wear an upper belt as well as the one that wraps around his waist. '", Mendez taught himself the game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to push the buttons. 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 He's had people who hear his story and then approach him in tears. In the months that follow, Mendez unplugs from football. His greatest fear was failure. High School North Kansas City . The players jog back to their positions. "That's what I'm talking about!" The interview began with Mendez asking Cable for a fist bump on the shoulder. The more we talk that night the more one word keeps popping up: How. He says he would consider prosthetics only if he ever became a father. Ditas Faraon Buhler Science Teacher. Holding court, triggering laughs and helping people realize for a few minutes that a man in a wheelchair without arms and legs is just like anyone else. Prospect Football History Previous Seasons All-Time Roster 2022-23 ( 183 players) Head Coach: Morales, Joseph ( Fr.) 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. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. He was recently appointed as the President of the California Coaches Association. Mendez gains happiness and joy through helping others and that will be his message when he takes the podium for his acceptance speech. Please check your email for a confirmation. "In a text message.". Mendez was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that prevents the formation of limbs during embryonic development. "Said they wanted to move on without me," Mendez says. "Those kids," he says, "gave me the feeling that I can do anything." Along the way, Cable invited Mendez's two best players to move to varsity. I swear I buckled him in. 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. We offer the best pricing for sports recruiting videos on the internet and our turnaround time is usually 48 hours or less! I love that. "I like the way I am, really," he says. And 26 percent of the school's students are economically disadvantaged. Prospect High School. "How in the world am I supposed to handle that?" The positiveness of your mind can get you to do unbelievable things and feats and that's what he does.". It's the Friday night before Halloween. Later, she would cover Rob in blankets when they went in public. "I've been getting messages on Twitter . I haven't graduated college yet. And to just kill the pain," he says. Rob leans forward in his chair to reach his cell phone. That man was Mike Cable. While he knows that day will be a life-changing experience, he remains humble. But Rob refuses because the upper belt limits his ability to access his phone and draw plays. Those who do survive often end up with significant intellectual disabilities. It's just me. Helped Blackman to a 10-3 record and an appearance in the third round of the Class 6A playoffs . Initially, Josie struggled. You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. A 10-story building hitting the ground. ", "You don't need to apologize," Mendez says. But later he acknowledges he hated having to ask for help. he yells. 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. 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. Doctors prepared her and her husband for the worst. The World Series is on television. Mendez gets a fist-to-shoulder bump from every Sobrato player. I love you, man," Lopez says. "I like the way I am, really," he says. 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. He scoffs. This life it just isn't always easy. On this day, one of his freshman quarterbacks struggles to grasp the footwork on the 37 stretch. I was a little nervous about it," Cable says. Mendez learned to diagram plays by using a pen in his mouth. Quote of the . DeBoeuf could not be more honored to be chosen to replace Martindale. Preston Gannaway for ESPN 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. Mendez looks up as the quarterback's pass sails overhead. "But we really have to sell that we are going that way. I am a junior at City High School. Minorities make up 73 percent of the student body. ", Mendez leans forward in his chair. "I'm not the perfect guy. A few minutes later, he asks if I can follow him home. Livingston told me Mendez's presence is living proof of what humans are capable of. "He was still in diapers," Bob says. For the last few minutes of our ride, we both keep quiet. For the past six years, Mike McAvoy has been Rob Mendez's caretaker, roommate and friend, each morning helping him with everything from taking a bath and brushing his teeth to getting dressed and eating breakfast. "They would whisper," he says. I'm proud of everyone. 1. Going to the bathroom. How are you going to get there?" ", In the months that follow, Mendez unplugs from football. He despises the word "special." The season has been a greater success than Mendez could have imagined. This standout in-state offensive lineman is staying in touch with Clemson's O-line coach. Make sense? He can be stubborn. That night he can't sleep. His presence should tell anyone, if you're paying attention, that your mind is the most powerful thing. He absorbed everything he could. 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. 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. It's just natural to just be bold and try things in life. "I wish more people were like that. There is nothing to break his fall. He hates talking about any of this. Bob eventually turned to alcohol. As the clock approaches 11 p.m., he looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink. "Like a pancake hitting the ground. I turned around, took two to three steps and then I heard it.". The day-to-day blanks are easy for him to fill in. "Think about it. At that point, she says, abortion wasn't an option. That man was Mike Cable. And that includes getting on the officials when something doesn't go his way. He put the name into Google. "The Super Bowl of JV football," he says. With the help of adaptive technology, he went skiing. Things like that happen all the time. And yeah, of course that's frustrating." Tired. I mention that it seems as if anything that reminds him of his physical challenges bugs him. The battery on his wheelchair is dead, and he wants to charge it at school overnight. . "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does. "Who says I can't?" 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. Alvernaz hired Mendez to be on his staff, but then followed Mendez to Prospect to be his number two. How does he go to the bathroom? SARATOGA, Calif. (KGO) -- Bay Area high school football coach Rob Mendez was born with a rare disorder called tetra-amelia syndrome, leaving him with no arms or legs. "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'" Anything that 's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, wish... Stand on his wheelchair is dead, and we order beers could not be honored... Was one word keeps popping up: how ' '' the buttons his. So he can open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot and puts in... He is mobile thanks to the public because I have no arms legs! Then I heard it from their parents and teachers western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from 's. 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