Reflections From The Past by Matt "Wheels" submitted: 10.15.03
	With graduation just a heartbeat away and me being a senior, I find myself thinking on how I got involved with the football team. So I thought I would share my story as part of the last columm of the year. There I was a Freshman in a walker, walking to my seventh period class. Walking in the main hallway I would stop to take a short breather, when all of sudden, someone said, "Tired?" I looked to see a tall man with black hair. "Yes I am very tired, but I will be fine with it being Friday and all," I said. He responded, "You know this is my favorite day of the week." "Why is that" I asked. "Because I am the varsity Football coach." Feeling better I said, "Good luck tonight." Then walked off. On our fourth meeting, four days later, he stopped me again. "Hi, how are you today?" he asked. "Fine," I said, "Tell me something, do you like football?" he asked. I told him that yes, I love it, then he asked if I go to any of the games, and I told him no because I was tired after a week of walking and I go and rest after school. Then he said "I guarantee you, you will go to the games by the time you leave here." After that I did not know that man’s name, but I did know something - he was CRAZY. I did not see him the rest of the year, or my Sophomore year. In my Junior year I was bumped out of special ed, and put into regular classes, and now in my wheelchair. On the first day of school I went to my math class, taught by a Mr. Goodwin. I wheeled in there, and he said, "I guess you don’t get tired anymore." To my surprise it was the crazy man from two years ago. We talked everyday, and I learned that yes, he was crazy, but he was also kind. This time he saw my love for football and he offered me the job of stat keeper halfway through the season and I jumped at the chance. As I left his room on October 11, 1998, the day he offered me the job, he said, "Matt, I told you I would get you to go to our games before you graduated, didn't I." And the rest is history, now although I am leaving this year I will still be a big part of the football team, as manager next year. So you will see me every Friday. So for me there are no goodbyes, just good memories.