Star High School Football Player Likely To Miss Entire Season Due To Illness
As the football season gets underway, one borderland team is having to make adjustments due to a player’s illness.
Coronado High School football fans and players said they’re psyched about the season, but disappointed star running back Sam Brown won’t be playing on the field.
Brown isn’t missing from the field due to grades or injury. Brown’s family told ABC-7 he’s been diagnosed with an intestinal disease and will most likely be out his last season with the T-Birds.
“Football hasn’t been the same really without him. Not only do we miss him on the field, but off the field,” said Coronado quarterback Cole Freytag.
A T-bird linebacker echoed those sentiments.
“It’s been different because he’s one of our leaders. We’ve looked up to him,” explained Coronado linebacker Hani Annabi.
The running back position is important to the team and necessary for the T-Birds to have a winning season.
“We need someone to step forward and be the running back, but they’re doing a good job. But we need someone to break out and become our running back,” said Coronado head football coach Don Brooks.
Brooks said Brown has lost about 45 pounds, but hasn’t lost his spot on the team as a player or as a leader.
“He’s going to help us whether it’s playing or on the sidelines,” explained Brooks.
Brown stepped on the field during the coin toss and supported his friends at their first district game of the season Thursday night, just as they continue to support him in his recovery.
In the stands friends, family and fans chanted “Sam Brown! Sam Brown!”
While teammates said they’re concerned about their friend, they remain focused on the game.
Quoting one of the team’s coaches Freytag said, “Players make plays and that’s what we have to do this year in Sam’s absence.”
Shortly before the game, Brown was honored by the Americas Trailblazers with a football signed by the entire team.
Brown’s parents told ABC-7 he wants the focus to be on the team this season and not him.
