BY WALT ALBRITTON
OPINION —
It caught my attention — the story of a young man scoring a touchdown for Murphy High School in Mobile Thursday night, Oct. 5. When we lived in Mobile 50 years ago, my two oldest sons, Matt and Mark, both played on the Murphy football team. Our family watched Murphy win and lose alot of games. Murphy was, and is, a good school.
The news story by Lacey Beasley said it was a miracle come true for Dominic Loftin, a senior on Murphy’s current team. It was Dominic’s first touchdown and Murphy’s first win this season.
Dominic said it was “the best moment of my life.”
His coaches and teammates, and the crowd in the stands, were cheering Dominic on as he charged down the sideline and into the end-zone for the first time in his life. I have an idea the fellows on the losing team were also cheering for Dominic.
Why call it a miracle? Brace yourself for the answer; it may bring moisture into your eyes as it did mine.
Dominic has a disability and is unable to walk or run like his teammates can. But he has loved football since he was 10 years old. He has prayed for years that he might score a touchdown, though that seemed most unlikely. God, however, answered Dominic’s prayers, using the team’s head coach, Justin Hannah, to do it.
Most coaches would have turned down Dominic’s request to join the team. But not Coach Hannah. When Dominic said he had what it takes to play on the team, Coach Hannah said, “Show me what you’ve got, son.”
Dominic did. In Coach Hannah’s words, Dominic “went to the side, did a spin move and jumped like he was going to catch a football.”
I think you will join me in saluting Coach Hannah for his response. He said to Dominic, “You’re my guy; if you are going to play football, we have practice tomorrow at 4:30.”
Dominic showed up and earned his place on the team, padding up for every game.
Why allow a young man with a disability to join the team? Coach Hannah offers this reason: “He has the heart of a champion, and the other kids see it, and they rally around it.”
So here’s the question for today: What have you done lately to help someone with a disability say, “It was the best moment of my life”?
I know someone else who was cheering for Dominic as he scored that touchdown. His name is Jesus. And he’ll cheer for you when you follow the example of Coach Justin Hannah.