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His jaw dropped. It's a move he makes countless times a day. In the months that follow, Mendez unplugs from football. What if I drop him? "In life, I feel like I'm always being helped," he says. An assistant coach holds a whiteboard a few inches in front of Mendez. The other kids are special, too. Practice starts in a few days. He insists he's fine, and we order beers. "Let's go!" The battery on Mendez's wheelchair is dead, so two Panthers push him onto the field. "Great job, Coach. "The one thing that I want people to see is just how hard work pays off," Mendez said. His torso pushes against his belt. "Rob? "Yes!" A few minutes later, he asks if I can follow him home. 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. He doesn't listen to the doctors like he should. We end up talking for nearly three hours. "I'm not going to lie. Preston Gannaway for ESPN Doctors prepared her and her husband for the worst. Otherwise there's the potential he'll need to use the bathroom without McAvoy there to help him. They chose to stay with him. I've been a 2 year starter on the varsity football team. 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. This is one of the worst falls. You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? And that includes getting on the officials when something doesn't go his way. When his friends went out for football his freshman year of high school, Rob became the team manager. Mendez looks up as the quarterback's pass sails overhead. That night he can't sleep. "We live and die." It's society that imposes that grief. "I use my neck like my arm," Mendez says. St. Rita High School. His team is a mix of freshmen and sophomores, some with a bit of experience, most with little to none. ONE WEEK LATER, Prospect finishes its season 8-2 with a 19-13 victory over Yerba Buena. It took him more than a half hour - sometimes two steps up, one step down -- but he did it. His older sister, Jackie, pushed her brother to try new things and one day tucked a PlayStation controller under his chin. He can be reached at wayne.drehs@espn.com. When he's away from home, he's careful about what he eats and drinks, often keeping it to no more than an iced coffee. "Great job, Coach. Luis Lopez, the JV coach who worked with Mendez at the school, hugs Mendez. I know I'm good for the kids. "It gives me this sense of independence. I should have a wife by now. 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. The season begins in a month. I love you, man," Lopez says. How does he sleep? What the hell does that even mean? 14 prospect in the state of Tennessee . But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. Mendez screams. Mendez gives me directions. After a few minutes of conversation, Cable believed he had his man. And Lewis Hamilton living the hell out of life. I swear. the driver asks. "It didn't take long for me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer." The driver makes a U-turn, pulls in front of Mendez and flips on his hazards. by Elk Grove. "And you're risking it all by not wearing an upper belt." "I'm sorry," he says. "I love you, bro. And he doesn't like the idea I have for framing his story. One dog's remarkable journey to find a home 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.". At that point, she says, abortion wasn't an option. His greatest fear was failure. Coach Reed, My name is Johnny Appleseed. I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. Because he weighs 50 pounds, alcohol affects him faster than people who weigh much more. He couldn't get enough. "It wasn't very polite or sensitive. They gave me a feeling of importance. The players jog back to their positions. It isn't about what the players did right or wrong or what they need to clean up before the next game. Blood runs everywhere. He turns his face to the right, pulls his head back and prays. You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. Otherwise it won't work. While he knows that day will be a life-changing experience, he remains humble. Keep your heads up. Mendez operates his cellphone, attached to a stand on his wheelchair, with his nose and lips. "I was drinking to forget. 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. An assistant coach holds a whiteboard a few inches in front of Mendez. On this night, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez gathers his team one last time. Prepped at Blackman High School under head coach Chandler Tygard . "I've been getting messages on Twitter . His torso pushes against his belt. I'm fighting to have something to drink. For now, he's still glowing from the impact his team had on him in his first JV season. "It sounds so ridiculous, but it's true," he says. On this day, one of his freshman quarterbacks struggles to grasp the footwork on the 37 stretch. It's all good." Mendez operates his cellphone, attached to a stand on his wheelchair, with his nose and lips. I can work with people. Im fighting to have something to drink. When his friends played basketball, Rob was the referee. "Be bold and fail, be bold and fail, be bold and succeed. They have to buy the fake. "He was still in diapers," Bob says. His father has long wished that Rob would wear an upper belt as well as the one that wraps around his waist. He doesn't eat right. As a senior, had 74 catches for 1,229 yards and 18 touchdowns . 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." Three blocks in, a blue pickup driving in the other direction recognizes the wheelchair. Mendez says it started with the Madden video game. There's a lot on his mind. "I like the way I am, really," he says. 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. So I try not to complain. "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. Minorities make up 73 percent of the student body. This is the first opportunity for college coaches and high school football players to interact directly with each other on the football field. The school sits on the western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from Apple's campus. Push the limits. I just want to prove them wrong." And because of Rob's lack of limbs, his father says he retains 30 percent more heat than someone who has arms and legs. It seems like no big deal. "So I try to stay positive. 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 But he wonders whether the players have any idea what they've given him. Mark Fisher 3D Design Teacher. Key California high school football games, computer rankings, statewide stat leaders, schedules and scores - live and final. Eighteen players from each playoff class were named to the team. It's a testament to his ability to be comfortable in any surrounding and put strangers at ease. Along the way, Cable invited Mendez's two best players to move to varsity. After. Combing hair. They have to buy the fake. The time away from football has given Mendez a chance to reflect on his first season as a head coach. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. It means that you aren't putting yourself in front of coaches that would actually recruit you. Class 8A Sean Allison,. "I like the way I am, really," he says. 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. I mention that one of the themes I'm thinking about for his story is this idea of a beautiful mind. In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. The season has been a greater success than Mendez could have imagined. That's how I feel in my chair," he says. The receiver is open. Bob hears the sound from a few feet away. He finished second. How does he eat? IT'S THE BIGGEST weekend of the year in Gilroy, California, with more than 100,000 people visiting for the annual garlic festival. Eventually you will come across your passion and for me it was football and working with people. It's almost midnight. One way he was able to do this is through coaching football. "Screw that," he says. Three-star prospect by 247Sports . I hope that 'who says I can't?' In a little more than 12 hours, Prospect will play for the league JV championship. Mendez doesn't buy it. "Think about it. Mendez orders a water. It's the Friday night before Halloween. Coach Mendez. This time it's flawless. Livingston told me Mendez's presence is living proof of what humans are capable of. Brushing teeth. 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 hed been working for. And swimming. No way. "I'm sitting right there at the bar next to you. Bennett, Will Cassaidy, Matthew Dietrich, Connor Konieczka, Sean ( Sr.) Letzig, Charles ( Fr.) I'm in Las Vegas and there's some guy stumbling drunk, looks like he was just in a fight. And his roommate is resting back at home, exhausted from a pair of Vegas nights. He towed his friends around the neighborhood on their skateboards. Is that you?" When we pull into the driveway, McAvoy comes out and carries Mendez into the house. He's had people who hear his story and then approach him in tears. How does he coach football? He draws and writes with his mouth. "You have to believe," he says. It doesn't lead to a good place. "His mind is the greatest thing," Prospect JV Assistant Defensive Coordinator Todd Livingston said. It wasn't like there was a store to buy clothes or toys for children with no arms and legs. '", Mendez taught himself the game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to push the buttons. He says if he had arms and legs he has no idea how his life would be different. The two coaches connected. "We live and die. Three other players start chitchatting between reps. Mendez loses it. For now, I start with a topic far simpler: football. It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. A very small percentage. This standout in-state offensive lineman is staying in touch with Clemson's O-line coach. The last question is far more complicated. As they head inside, Mendez looks back at me over McAvoy's shoulder. It's just natural to just be bold and try things in life. He despises the word "special." The 6-foot-4, 185-pounder completed 60.1% of his passes last season for 5,275 . And those kids gave me the feeling that I can do anything. He's meeting me at the bar. It has given him a life otherwise inaccessible. And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. Cable obliged. More award-winning storytelling from SC Featured I mention that it seems as if anything that reminds him of his physical challenges bugs him. And now for Odell Beckham Jr's next act But he hates the sidewalk. He says they need him, but you know what? "Anything in the world that is worth doing, he's done it with his mind," Bob says. Every morning, he helps with just about everything. ESPN senior writer Wayne Drehs contributed to the documentary as a writer and reporter. They run the play again. Scouts evaluate athletes as possible recruits. And different is not bad. I'm proud of everyone. Full-time coaches may work more than 40 hours a week for several months during the sports season. And ended each practice with the same message: I love you guys. "I'm pretty good at dealing with pain, and I didn't want to stay home feeling sorry for myself," he says. "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK." Tired. The coach. I lift him out of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger's seat. In a little more than 12 hours, Prospect will play for the league JV championship. He is 50 pounds of head, neck, torso and waist. "Home," he answers. This life it just isn't always easy." Those who do survive often end up with significant intellectual disabilities. Rob has fractured cheek and orbital bones and has the effects of a concussion. "I'm so proud of you. Email Melissa Feucht. WITH LESS THAN two minutes remaining in the game, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory. "Just focus -- you got this." Instead, Mendez repeats two words over and over and over: thank you. After 12 years of working, Prospect High School gave him that chance. "It was just it was horrible," Bob says. I swear I buckled him in. "He's an inspiration to all of us," Alvernaz, said. I love you, man," Lopez says. And different is not bad. I agree it's a small percentage. It is hard for college coaches to obtain rosters from high school coaches, and even harder to get them to hand over contact . I don't want to be put on a pedestal. "In a text message." I don't sign up for being inspirational Rob.". But at 24, I didn't really know what to do or say at the time.". A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. There's a lot on his mind. 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. Encouraged the group to play for their teammates. And he doesn't like the idea I have for framing his story. Randy Clark (class of 1975) . Next year you'll be back in it, believe me. Next year you'll be back in it, believe me." Shaving. He acknowledges that the attention is often uncomfortable. I panic. I pick up a fork, stab it into the roll, drag it through a puddle of soy sauce and put it in his mouth. Mendez didn't care. "They would whisper," he says. I turned around, took two to three steps and then I heard it." "You know how it is." Preston Gannaway for ESPN. ", Mendez struggles to deal with back and neck pain from spending all day in his chair. He tells the story of his father putting him on the stairs when he was 9 years old, demanding that he climb to the top. "Said they wanted to move on without me," Mendez says. Even if it were true, Mendez wouldn't look at things that way. But seven? "It first actually came from a friend challenging me at an 8th grade dance," Mendez said. Rio Fujita Math Wizard. This is why WVU has already extended an offer to the Pickerington Central High School product from Ohio. By his senior year, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. ", 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 love it. The team jogs over and surrounds him. He tells the story of his father putting him on the stairs when he was 9 years old, demanding that he climb to the top. It's almost midnight. He reads, draws and spends extra time with family and friends. 9 overall prospect in the country. For now, he's still glowing from the impact his team had on him in his first JV season. 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. Rob leans forward in his chair to reach his cell phone. "I'm not the perfect guy. This is one of the worst falls. 3 quarterback, and No. "I appreciate you," Mendez says. He hates talking about any of this. Congratulations to @ProspectXCTF Coach Pete Wintermute on his @ITCCCA XC Coach of the Year and the Track Coach of the Year!!! Email Ditas Faraon Buhler. A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. When the final buzzer sounds, the players and coaches line up at the 50 to shake hands. Watch the 2019 ESPYS Awards only on ABC7 on July 10, 2019 at 5 p.m. PST. One of the bartenders reminds him he's not supposed to have more than two drinks. A few minutes later, he asks if I can follow him home. "We are two very different people. One player quit because of Mendez. "I was drinking to forget. You May Also Be Interested In We are all special. Preston Gannaway for ESPN 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 He scoffs. Follow him! It happened at the end of his senior prom, when he tipped over the wheelchair ramp as he and his classmates were leaving. 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. I agree it's a small percentage. 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. It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. What if I drop him? As they head inside, Mendez looks back at me over McAvoy's shoulder. Mendez doesn't buy it. He has lived his entire life without arms and legs. 7324680: 08/31/22: 03:30 PM: Match: Elk Grove High School. "They gave me the feeling of being the helper. He has heard it from their parents and teachers. He rolls in wearing a plain white T-shirt and faded red San Francisco 49ers hat. And to just kill the pain," he says. The day-to-day blanks are easy for him to fill in. I lean over, wrap my hands around him and lift him out of his chair. 50/50 raffle will be available as well as over 20 beers on tap . ", RELATED: Football coach born without arms or legs to receive Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at 2019 ESPYS, "'Who says I can't?' To this point, Bowling Green has also extended Buddin an offer. You guys fought your butts off. It just makes me mad." "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. was something that was very much for me to always stick with and I hope people take away from it in a positive way where they are comfortable to motivate themselves to do whatever they want in life.". At the end of every day, I'm sore." 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. 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. Once buckled, Mendez says he feels unstoppable. His comes with a straw. Still does. I pick up a fork, stab it into the roll, drag it through a puddle of soy sauce and put it in his mouth. "They don't have the grief of losing a limb because they never had it. 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. 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. Things like that happen all the time. 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 rolls over to his dejected quarterback. On warmer days, he can get bed sores from sitting in the same position too long. "We live and die with each other," he says. The driver makes a U-turn, pulls in front of Mendez and flips on his hazards. McAvoy has been Mendez's caretaker for the past six years. He can barely open his mouth. As he was not able to play football, Mendez taught himself the game by playing Madden football video games. I put Mendez on my shoulder, turn and then set him in the chair next to me. You're different. Mendez says it started with the Madden video game. Steven O'Dell, a big class of 2024 prospect from Broome High School in Spartanburg, told The Clemson Insider that he's been hearing some from the Tigers via social media and communicating with Thomas Austin. Later, she would cover Rob in blankets when they went in public. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. 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. The junior quarterback was 24-for-42 . ROB MENDEZ IS not only the most unique high school football coach in America, he's one of the most unique humans in the world. One thing the boy clearly didn't lack: confidence. He started as a manager on his Gilroy High School team as a freshman. I tell him that's the most honest he's been in our time together. ESPN producer Kristen Lappas directed the SC Featured documentary, available on ESPN+. Rob would set his chin on the ledge of the next step and use that to lift his entire body. That night he can't sleep. I am a team player and a hard Mendez. There is nothing to break his fall. Mendez rolls over to his dejected quarterback. Please check your email for a confirmation. Rob would set his chin on the ledge of the next step and use that to lift his entire body. I'm proud of everyone. He can barely open his mouth. 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! I can adjust to anything that's thrown my way. THREE MONTHS AFTER we first met, Mendez and I are in another bar, this time in downtown Campbell. "He was still in diapers," Bob says. Soon, it will be a nation-wide phenomenon when Rob Mendez accepts the 2019 Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYS on July 10. They sit in front of us, untouched, for nearly 10 minutes. I guess that from my nurturing from my parents and my determination to be successful in life, as well as all the doubts along the way, I've become more hungry along the way to just be accomplishing in football and in the career of coaching. I am currently a senior at Texas Community High School and I will be attending college in the fall semester of 2009. I'm fighting to have something to drink. I just knew he was the right man for the job.". THE COLLEGE COACHES AT THE COLLEGE COACHES SHOWCASE CAMP ARE ON THE FIELD ALL DAY My dad would tell me, 'You're not special, Rob. A 10-story building hitting the ground. "I guess you saw a little bit of the other side tonight. Preston Gannaway for ESPN The receiver is open. She says she couldn't look at her son for the first couple of weeks. 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. 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 wasn't very polite or sensitive. "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does," he says. Finally, after 13 years, he was able to get a job at Prospect High School in California as their high school football coach. How does he go to the bathroom? With the help of adaptive technology, he went skiing. I just want to be Coach Rob. I can adjust to anything that's thrown my way. 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. Mendez shakes his head. There have been opportunities over the years to pursue prosthetic limbs, but he has turned them all down. The time away from football has given Mendez a chance to reflect on his first season as a head coach. has become a motto for the Prospect Football teams and, of course, for Mendez. IN HIS 30 years, Mendez can't recall a single dream in which he has had arms or legs. Bob hears the sound from a few feet away. But those experiences come at great cost. We'll get to that. ", "You don't need to apologize," Mendez says. "Bugs the s--- out of me," he says. To feel comfortable. All the honorees will . When his players ask what happened, he tells them he got into a fight with the pavement. High School Football players in Texas, join us for a one-day showcase on January 15 in Georgetown, TX! The more we talk that night the more one word keeps popping up: How. (2007-10), and Wake Forest Demon Decons (2010-14); currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies. For Rob, the message from his father was simple: Embrace your differences. The green mile marker signs fly past on Highway 101. 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 . Brushing teeth. "It's just me." 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. Prospect High School Football team golf tournament and smoked BBQ fundraiser! I don't sign up for being inspirational Rob." 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. Rated as the No. "It's only natural to never give up," Mendez said. The 14-year-old wraps his arms tightly around Mendez's back. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. He needs to use the bathroom. One player quit because of Mendez. "Hey," he says, "Would you mind giving me a hand and putting one of those in my mouth?". ", But those experiences come at great cost. 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. Lobue, Joseph ( Fr.) They tell Rob he can't coach for at least four weeks. Mendez screams. But Mendez doesn't care about that. The season begins in a month. The next day he spends almost entirely in bed, unable to open his eyes. "It brings out the best in people. Later, she would cover Rob in blankets when they went in public. "That's what I'm talking about! Prospect High School JV Football Coach Rob Mendez was born with a rare disorder that left him with no arms or legs. But I'm 30 years old and a JV high school football coach. As much as he doesn't want this syndrome to define him, at the same time there's a part of him that loves the fact that it sort of does. "I'm not afraid to be myself," he tells me later. The interview began with Mendez asking Cable for a fist bump on the shoulder. He knows what he has given his team. And because of Rob's lack of limbs, his father says he retains 30 percent more heat than someone who has arms and legs. 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. Eating breakfast. On this night, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez gathers his team one last time. Pub. I put Mendez on my shoulder, turn and then set him in the chair next to me. 2021 IHSA Football Playoffs. I love that. And he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. 2 QB and overall prospect by ESPN and is . Going to the bathroom. That's not me," Mendez says. We make it to his home. Tolliver, Malachi i, e Easter, Noah ( So.) "I'm not going to let that happen. "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does. He rolls in wearing a plain white T-shirt and faded red San Francisco 49ers hat. For the last few minutes of our ride, we both keep quiet. I make mistakes. Most everyone recognizes him and says hello. Mendez picks a spot at the bar next to two women. ONE WEEK LATER, Prospect finishes its season 8-2 with a 19-13 victory over Yerba Buena. Along the way, Cable invited Mendez's two best players to move to varsity. It just makes me mad. And Mendez had the title he had achingly sought: head coach. Shaving. 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. There, he drives his chair into the living room, where his roommate and caretaker, Mike McAvoy, waits on the couch. THE DAY AFTER teaching his quarterback the 37 stretch, Mendez sits under the lights at the Prospect 50-yard line, exhausted. Coaches from Southwestern University and Nicholls State University will lead this showcase and will be joined by other college coaches from various programs. Taking a bath. All Rights Reserved. The school they will face, Ann Sobrato, fired Mendez as an assistant three years earlier. It's an image his brain can't compute. ", Even if it were true, Mendez wouldn't look at things that way. Mt. "We have unfinished business.". Unofficial or official visit invites. "Thank you," he says to me after his first sip. He despises the word "special.". H.S. And swimming. "They would whisper," he says. Helped North Kansas City to a . "There was one word my dad never liked -- special," Mendez says. "The Sobrato loss still bothers me," he says in February. With the pen, Mendez draws the X's and O's of what the play is supposed to look like and why. And his roommate is resting back at home, exhausted from a pair of Vegas nights. "And you're risking it all by not wearing an upper belt.". Livingston told me Mendez's presence is living proof of what humans are capable of. It confirmed how much he despises losing. "I don't think I could do that to those kids," he says. Coach seats are in a different section that prospect seats. They chose to stay with him. Mendez hopes to someday have the opportunity to coach varsity. He's like Norm from "Cheers." Rob's father saw potential in the happy, spunky baby, but also wrestled with his own emotions, admitting he often asked God "why?" He learned how to draw and write using his mouth. Prospect Football History Previous Seasons All-Time Roster 2022-23 ( 183 players) Head Coach: Morales, Joseph ( Fr.) 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. Nobody but yourself can hold yourself back. How does he coach football? The day is designed by college coaches in order to get the most out of everyone's time. By his senior year, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. Manning also ranks as the No. As the quarterback rolls out, the play unfolds perfectly. Keep your heads up. Mendez shakes his head. 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. How did someone who has never thrown a ball, caught a pass or tackled anyone become a head coach? David Chisholm Science Teacher dchisholm@cuhsd.org Michael Furlong CTE Teacher, AVID Elective Teacher mfurlong@cuhsd.org Benjamin Gilmore SAI Co-Teacher bgilmore@cuhsd.org CTE Teacher & Department Chair fmedina@cuhsd.org SAI Co-Teacher, Special Education Department Chair NCAA ELIGIBILITY I saw in front of me a man who loved football and kids. 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. "There you go!" "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'" I know what you're saying. The lift mechanism on his wheelchair broke on the trip. Despite the fast changeover, coaches and players are ready for a full 9-game season. He's had people who hear his story and then approach him in tears. 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. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Martindale has been the Prospect boys' athletic director since 2005, and has been teaching at the school for 20 years. 31 years later, he's. It's only junior varsity. I ask whether that thought bothers him. James Hamann Assistant Coach: Paul Hennig Mascot(s): Knight School Administration Superintendent: Dr. David Schuler . In the morning, he will coach the biggest game of his young career. "The Super Bowl of JV football," he says. "Oh whatever," Mendez answers. I said, 'oh yeah? Bob rushes his son to the hospital. I know I'm good for the kids. Instead, Mendez repeats two words over and over and over: thank you. After a few minutes of conversation, he seemed like any other football coach having a beer on a Friday night. I swear. That man was Mike Cable. 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. In his chair, he is constantly shifting, twisting and adjusting his posture. He demanded respect, eye contact and accountability. 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. "I got it. His father has long wished that Rob would wear an upper belt as well as the one that wraps around his waist. His team is a mix of freshmen and sophomores, some with a bit of experience, most with little to none. With the help of adaptive technology, he went skiing. Prospect Golf Course . 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. A 10-story building hitting the ground. If I'm sitting there and don't smile or say hello, I just feel like that's rude." Mendez orders a water. He wanted to leave by 9 p.m., but one conversation led to another. Three blocks in, a blue pickup driving in the other direction recognizes the wheelchair. 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. I was a little nervous about it," Cable says. Afterward, Bob says doctors and nurses would walk by and stare. "It's 37 stretch, right? and Head Coaches) Prospect High School 801 W. Kensington Rd. We're the ones who feel sorry for them and say, 'Oh you poor thing.' Bob eventually turned to alcohol. He turns his face to the right, pulls his head back and prays. "Bugs the s--- out of me," he says. His parents connected him with Vujicic, who Mendez said told him he could make $25,000 per night as a motivational speaker. Rob is no different.". But Mendez won't give up that easily. He has lived his entire life without arms and legs. I definitely want to be a varsity head coach, if not, advanced in the college career or the NFL. That's how I feel in my chair," he says. Some might suggest he should be home, resting. Now, he inspires others to be strong and never give up despite adversity. On convenience alone, it would have been the perfect place for him to coach forever. The two coaches connected. Prospect High School ( PHS) is a public high school in Saratoga, California, United States. The green mile marker signs fly past on Highway 101. 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. I'm sorry. He doesn't listen. "They don't have the grief of losing a limb because they never had it. And yeah, of course that's frustrating.". Elk Grove High School. He asks his quarterback for a hug. It's an image his brain can't compute. Once buckled, Mendez says he feels unstoppable. he says. Its classrooms are a melting pot. "As he approached, I didn't know how he could be a football coach. And buckling Rob into his chair. When the final buzzer sounds, the players and coaches line up at the 50 to shake hands. But he wonders whether the players have any idea what they've given him. He says he would consider prosthetics only if he ever became a father. You're different. Earlier in the day, Mendez flew home from Las Vegas, a 48-hour escape before the insanity of the season begins. "Put me on your shoulder," he says. He put the name into Google. Sobrato is located across the street from his parents' home in Morgan Hill. What do you want out of this year? "We are two very different people. But Mendez won't give up that easily. Prospect High School. So I try to stay positive. The pain of the loss hurt, but it did not stop his fire. Can you lift me out of my chair?" 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. Andre Jackson gets instructions from Mendez during the team's first game of the season. Says McAvoy: "That's just him. He tells his offense he believes in them. "It didn't take long for me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer.". I love that. But I learned that I can be a leader. And Mendez had the title he had achingly sought: head coach. Clay, Brock Powell, Bryant ( Fr.) he says. Most days Mendez has chronic neck, back and shoulder pain. "He may not look like a coach, but he definitely acts like one," one of his players said. The school they will face, Ann Sobrato, fired Mendez as an assistant three years earlier. But here, he's in his element. 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. 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. Tears begin to fall. "I guess you saw a little bit of the other side tonight. "It always kept me hungry. Aleksic, Danilo ( Fr.) It isn't the first time Rob has fallen out of his chair. When dealing with clubs, coaches are easily accessible and are in the business of helping players get into a college program. Jalen Ramsey: The man, the mouth, the legend Mendez took over as the coach for Prospect Highs JV team, and led his players to an incredible 8-2 season. 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. Mendez gives me directions. ESPN senior writer Wayne Drehs contributed to the documentary as a writer and reporter. He immediately snaps. A very small percentage. I've always wanted to be a head coach.". I was a little nervous about it," Cable says. The World Series is on television. Quote of the . "Let's get to the bottom of it. I don't focus on it. Tired. The last question is far more complicated. 2. The left side of his face slams into the concrete floor of the garage. Prospect's Amazing and Dedicated Coaches! "How in the world am I supposed to handle that?" "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK.", Says McAvoy: "That's just him. I just want to prove them wrong. "There was one word my dad never liked -- special," Mendez says. How could someone who had never held a football teach a freshman how to throw, tackle or block? A FEW MINUTES after our first beer, a bartender brings Mendez a plate of California rolls. And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. But he's always there for the kids. But Mendez doesn't care about that. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. For Rob, the message from his father was simple: Embrace your differences. It confirmed how much he despises losing. 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. 42-13 (L) Prospect @ Independence On 9/16, the Prospect varsity football team lost their away non-conference game against Independence (San Jose, CA) by a score of 42-13 . Prospect High School, or Prospect, is a public four-year high school in Mount Prospect, Illinois, . 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. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/02/rob-mendez-football-coach, Why hiring Sean Payton will require NFL teams to make an expensive trade with the Saints, Win or lose, the Bengals can prove Joe Mixon's 'big dog of the AFC' claim right against Buffalo, Trevor Lawrence revealed his Waffle House order after the Jaguars wild comeback win over Chargers, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. ", "Yes, Coach," the quarterback says. "That's how humans are -- they adapt. Gradey Dick, a five-star Kansas commit, enjoyed one of the greatest shooting seasons in high school basketball history. But I don't know what else to say. The quarterback removes the cap from a blue dry erase pen and puts it in Mendez's mouth. What the hell does that even mean? 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