On Feb. 23, Dan DeBoeuf, the former head coach at Johnsburg High School was named the head coach of Prospect. 7324680: 08/31/22: 03:30 PM: Match: Elk Grove High School. "They don't have the grief of losing a limb because they never had it. In the morning, he will coach the biggest game of his young career. We'll get to that. How does he eat? "The one thing that I want people to see is just how hard work pays off," Mendez said. Coach Mendez. "Rob? H.S. The day is designed by college coaches in order to get the most out of . "I just think that me showing people that I can accomplish my goals, which actually still is not really completely fulfilled yet. ", Mendez struggles to deal with back and neck pain from spending all day in his chair. "Get over here!" However, the phrase was not born on the gridiron. Ditas Faraon Buhler Science Teacher. "Who says I can't?" For the last few minutes of our ride, we both keep quiet. When dealing with clubs, coaches are easily accessible and are in the business of helping players get into a college program. His resiliency inspired others around him and made it an asset to have him on the staff. "Anything in the world that is worth doing, he's done it with his mind," Bob says. Mendez shakes his head. by Elk Grove. "In a text message.". Now he has everyone asking, "who says I can't? "I think every parent worries about their kids when they leave this earth," Bob says. "When I first met him, he blew me away with his personality," Prospect Football Varsity Head Coach Mike Cable said. "I know that's there," he says. "I'm pretty good at dealing with pain, and I didn't want to stay home feeling sorry for myself," he says. He has heard it from their parents and teachers. Now comes the opportunity to prove the school made a mistake. Bob eventually turned to alcohol. 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. Minorities make up 73 percent of the student body. But other than the tetra-amelia disorder, his son Rob was born a healthy baby boy. 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. This ensures that the coaches can spend quality time with all players attending and are not overwhelmed with large camp numbers. "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does. Keep your heads up. ", 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. In a little more than 12 hours, Prospect will play for the league JV championship. ", But those experiences come at great cost. A few days before Rob was born, doctors walked his father, Robert Mendez Sr., through the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. I think back to something his pediatric physical therapist told me. And different is not bad. "In life, I feel like I'm always being helped," he says. "We live and die." His older sister, Jackie, pushed her brother to try new things and one day tucked a PlayStation controller under his chin. His parents connected him with Vujicic, who Mendez said told him he could make $25,000 per night as a motivational speaker. But after losing the season opener to Santa Clara, his Panthers won seven games in a row. Bob eventually turned to alcohol. "The Super Bowl of JV football," he says. Unofficial or official visit invites. As the clock approaches 11 p.m., he looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink. Mendez operates his cellphone, attached to a stand on his wheelchair, with his nose and lips. Also by Wayne Drehs: Grounds for Return. I love you, man," Lopez says. 'Who says I can't?' "I've always been like that ever since I was young. ", Mendez leans forward in his chair. When his friends played basketball, Rob was the referee. To feel comfortable. It isn't the first time Rob has fallen out of his chair. ONE WEEK LATER, Prospect finishes its season 8-2 with a 19-13 victory over Yerba Buena. "I've been getting messages on Twitter . An assistant coach holds a whiteboard a few inches in front of Mendez. Congratulations to @ProspectXCTF Coach Pete Wintermute on his @ITCCCA XC Coach of the Year and the Track Coach of the Year!!! Not until he nearly received a DUI driving Rob's handicapped accessible van did he realize the path he was on. 1 poison," he says. And swimming. "I just wanted to coach football.". 2021: Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 5 first-team all-state selection at defensive end as a junior. Now comes the opportunity to prove the school made a mistake. "We live and die. He hates talking about any of this. Thats how I feel in my chair. He drew up game plans on Madden and took them to practice. "The Sobrato loss still bothers me," he says in February. His comes with a straw. . Eventually, he became the head coach of. ", "You don't need to apologize," Mendez says. "Complaining is my No. They gave me a feeling of importance. Mendez looks up as the quarterback's pass sails overhead. on demand Nov 20, 2021 4:00 PM PST. As the quarterback rolls out, the play unfolds perfectly. How did someone who has never thrown a ball, caught a pass or tackled anyone become a head coach? 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. Randy Clark (class of 1975) . At that point, she says, abortion wasn't an option. 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. 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 means that you aren't putting yourself in front of coaches that would actually recruit you. The lift mechanism on his wheelchair broke on the trip. When his players ask what happened, he tells them he got into a fight with the pavement. A few minutes later, he asks if I can follow him home. They tell Rob he can't coach for at least four weeks. The receiver is open. "He was still in diapers," Bob says. "You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? But Mendez doesn't care about that. An assistant coach holds a whiteboard a few inches in front of Mendez. I just knew he was the right man for the job.". Push the limits. To feel comfortable. It took him more than a half hour - sometimes two steps up, one step down -- but he did it. He started as a manager on his Gilroy High School team as a freshman. "I'm sitting right there at the bar next to you. Blood runs everywhere. Mendez screams. 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 . They wanted Bob to see other babies born with disabilities. I love it. Mendez rolls over to his dejected quarterback. Next year you'll be back in it, believe me." The 14-year-old wraps his arms tightly around Mendez's back. I haven't graduated college yet. Preston Gannaway for ESPN I stuff a pad between him and the chair back -- paranoid he could fall. THE COLLEGE COACHES AT THE COLLEGE COACHES SHOWCASE CAMP ARE ON THE FIELD ALL DAY It happened at the end of his senior prom, when he tipped over the wheelchair ramp as he and his classmates were leaving. They have to buy the fake. 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 His greatest fear was failure. Taking a bath. In most cases of tetra-amelia, death occurs before birth. Mendez orders a water. I suggest we move to a lower table and make things easier. Manning also ranks as the No. Mt. It's society that imposes that grief. Can you lift me out of my chair?" "Where you going, man?". "I use my neck like my arm," Mendez says. Mendez gets a fist-to-shoulder bump from every Sobrato player. Bob rushes his son to the hospital. ", "Yes, Coach," the quarterback says. It's an image his brain can't compute. He has scoliosis, which makes his spine look far more like an "S" than the "I." "Let's go!" Livingston told me Mendez's presence is living proof of what humans are capable of. Now the entire Prospect program circles around Mendez at midfield. What do you want out of this year? But after losing the season opener to Santa Clara, his Panthers won seven games in a row. He sees me, and he stands up straight and pulls himself together so he can open the door for me. "Those kids," he says, "gave me the feeling that I can do anything." After a few minutes of conversation, he seemed like any other football coach having a beer on a Friday night. "Put me on your shoulder," he says. He learned to press the buttons with his chin and collarbone. the driver asks. 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. It wasn't like there was a store to buy clothes or toys for children with no arms and legs. Rob would set his chin on the ledge of the next step and use that to lift his entire body. "He may not look like a coach, but he definitely acts like one," one of his players said. Fore was named to the Hudl Top 100 in 2017, and the Top 5 Best High School Football Coaches to follow on Twitter by MaxPreps in 2016. And buckling Rob into his chair. "I use my neck like my arm," Mendez says. and Head Coaches) Prospect High School 801 W. Kensington Rd. Taking a bath. Some newborns survive only a few hours or days. He doesn't listen to the doctors like he should. "That's how humans are -- they adapt. It took him more than a half hour - sometimes two steps up, one step down -- but he did it. It is part of the Campbell Union High School District . 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. "Bugs the s--- out of me," he says. Without his wheelchair working properly, he can't raise its height to sit next to me at the bar. He put the name into Google. The World Series is on television. It confirmed how much he despises losing. IN HIS 30 years, Mendez can't recall a single dream in which he has had arms or legs. Mendez struggles to deal with back and neck pain from spending all day in his chair. 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 Says McAvoy: "That's just him. The time away from football has given Mendez a chance to reflect on his first season as a head coach. But as soon as I met and spoke with him, the chair disappeared. I mention that it seems as if anything that reminds him of his physical challenges bugs him. He can be reached at wayne.drehs@espn.com. It's a testament to his ability to be comfortable in any surrounding and put strangers at ease. And anyone who has a problem with that, prove them wrong.'". So I try to stay positive. "You have to believe," he says. On this night, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez gathers his team one last time. "I'm sorry," he says. I swear I buckled him in. "Let's get to the bottom of it. Most everyone recognizes him and says hello. But it isn't that simple. "I love you, bro. But this time, he has no idea the belt around his waist isn't buckled. The day-to-day blanks are easy for him to fill in. I panic. On warmer days, he can get bed sores from sitting in the same position too long. He runs Eight Laces Consulting where he specializes in helping coaches nationwide in their job search process. I don't focus on it. "This is a defining moment for our program," Vierneisel said. One dog's remarkable journey to find a home That man was Mike Cable. "It brings out the best in people. You MUST have the correct code in order to receive tickets. by Elk Grove. Three-star prospect by 247Sports . He finished second. Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. I might take two steps forward and then one step back. "Thank you," he says to me after his first sip. Mendez picks a spot at the bar next to two women. ESPN senior writer Wayne Drehs contributed to the documentary as a writer and reporter. "No, no, no," he says. By his senior year, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. Mendez leans forward in his chair. 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. "We are two very different people. If Rob sensed someone staring, he'd roll up and introduce himself. "Said they wanted to move on without me," Mendez says. We end up talking for nearly three hours. Preston Gannaway for ESPN And now for Odell Beckham Jr's next act No way." Mendez orders a water. "Yes!" What if I drop him? Email Michael Furlong. "And you're risking it all by not wearing an upper belt.". 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. But I don't know what else to say. It happened at the end of his senior prom, when he tipped over the wheelchair ramp as he and his classmates were leaving. Mendez didnt allow his differences to limit him, though, and developed a passion for coaching by learning the game of football by playing Madden video games. The football team won the 7A State Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2005. . "Yes, Coach," the quarterback says. Rob would set his chin on the ledge of the next step and use that to lift his entire body. At the end of every day, I'm sore.". A few minutes later, he asks if I can follow him home. He talked about building a family. His head drops. Encouraged the group to play for their teammates. They run the play again. Its classrooms are a melting pot. On this day, one of his freshman quarterbacks struggles to grasp the footwork on the 37 stretch. It isn't the first time Rob has fallen out of his chair. You May Also Be Interested In "I like the way I am, really," he says. Sobrato is located across the street from his parents' home in Morgan Hill. It doesn't lead to a good place. He says thank you. In the morning, he will coach the biggest game of his young career. When his friends played basketball, Rob was the referee. It doesn't lead to a good place. "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK." He doesn't eat right. His team is a mix of freshmen and sophomores, some with a bit of experience, most with little to none. 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. The throw is too long, and the ball harmlessly caroms out of bounds. And there's the reality of what he feels, but rarely reveals. "How in the world am I supposed to handle that?" And there's the reality of what he feels, but rarely reveals. I panic. ! More award-winning storytelling from SC Featured Prospect Golf Course . There, he drives his chair into the living room, where his roommate and caretaker, Mike McAvoy, waits on the couch. Prior to arriving at Prospect, Martindale was at Wheeling High School for 14 years. After a shortened 6-game spring season, that ended on April 23, it was back on the field 108 days later. Shaving. It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. Rob leans forward in his chair to reach his cell phone. Doctors prepared her and her husband for the worst. While he knows that day will be a life-changing experience, he remains humble. And yeah, of course that's frustrating.". When Mendez first took over the coaching job, many kids on the team were surprised to see a man with his condition coaching them. You're different. For now, he's still glowing from the impact his team had on him in his first JV season. The players jog back to their positions. "It wasn't very polite or sensitive. I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. She says she couldn't look at her son for the first couple of weeks. It's almost midnight. His parents connected him with Vujicic, who Mendez said told him he could make $25,000 per night as a motivational speaker. 14 prospect in the state of Tennessee . A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. In high school, his friends organized a 32-team Madden tournament. Some of his plays even came from playing Madden. Earlier in the day, Mendez flew home from Las Vegas, a 48-hour escape before the insanity of the season begins. 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. Lewis Hamilton living the hell out of life, Jalen Ramsey: The man, the mouth, the legend. We're the ones who feel sorry for them and say, 'Oh you poor thing.' Mendez was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that prevents the formation of limbs during embryonic development. He has spent his life fighting statistics, proving doctors and doubters wrong. He demanded respect, eye contact and accountability. Pratima Sherpa's Dream "This was confirmation that you know what, I'm doing OK," he says. You're different. Rob's parents tried to integrate him as early as they could, putting him in preschool at 18 months. 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'm so proud of you. "I guess you saw a little bit of the other side tonight. The California Cool of Jared Goff This standout in-state offensive lineman is staying in touch with Clemson's O-line coach. Clay, Brock Powell, Bryant ( Fr.) By Tuesday afternoon, he's back at Prospect for practice, apologizing to his players for Monday's absence. I saw in front of me a man who loved football and kids. Preston Gannaway for ESPN "I was drinking to forget. Prospect Info. It feels as if everyone is staring. 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. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. If all goes well, a receiver should be open about 15 yards downfield right in front of the Prospect sideline. Mendez tries to explain, but the kid doesn't get it. When his players ask what happened, he tells them he got into a fight with the pavement. "Complaining is my No. Because he weighs 50 pounds, alcohol affects him faster than people who weigh much more. "I'm not afraid to be myself," he tells me later. Mendez is hungry. What do you want out of this year? He drew up game plans on Madden and took them to practice. I don't focus on it." One way he was able to do this is through coaching football. Follow him! He says if he had arms and legs he has no idea how his life would be different. And to just kill the pain," he says. "There's no way," he says. 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. Without his wheelchair working properly, he can't raise its height to sit next to me at the bar. "It didn't take long for me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer.". "Just focus -- you got this." If all goes well, a receiver should be open about 15 yards downfield right in front of the Prospect sideline. But Mendez won't give up that easily. I make mistakes. Coach seats are in a different section that prospect seats. ", In the months that follow, Mendez unplugs from football. I'm in Las Vegas and there's some guy stumbling drunk, looks like he was just in a fight. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, Football coach born without arms or legs to receive Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at 2019 ESPYS, Rob Mendez accepts the 2019 Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYS on July 10. But he wonders whether the players have any idea what they've given him. I love the feeling when I lift kids up. He talked about building a family. Nobody but yourself can hold yourself back. I mention that one of the themes I'm thinking about for his story is this idea of a beautiful mind. Keep your heads up. There's a lot on his mind. And just like that, the man who so often projects like everything is fine rips off his facade. I ask whether that thought bothers him. How does he go to the bathroom? He absorbed everything he could. I know I'm good for the kids. 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. I'm fighting to have something to drink. 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 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 "Great job, Coach. And 26 percent of the school's students are economically disadvantaged. And ended each practice with the same message: I love you guys. "There you go!" He can barely open his mouth. That night he can't sleep. And he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He even got to call some plays. "Thank you," he says to me after his first sip. 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