Are you ready for some Football!!

My husband grew up in an athletic family. He has four brothers so they had a ready made basketball team. They grew up without a television. They played outside, in the road, every sport you can think of. To this day, our get togethers always involve a ball.

Naturally, our kids are involved in sports. For the most part, they are naturals. Our second son, Jacob is an excellent football player. If you imagine running into a brick wall, that's our Jake. From the day he was born, he's been a brute. The width of his shoulders, the thickness of his chest, his hips and butt, are all a text book football physique. In addition to being a big kid, he's smart. He's one of those players that can see all around him. He just knows where the play is going. He absolutely loves football.

Jacob's senior year we were encouraged to make a highlight video. We were contacted by someone who gets your athlete noticed. For thousands of dollars we could have them send Jacob's video to colleges all over the US. We didn't pay the money. We decided that if Jacob was meant to play in college, the coaches would find him.

 There's a reason we didn't pursue college football. Jacob had been injured as a sophomore. He had also been injured as a junior. Jacob's sophomore year he didn't get up after a defensive play. He was on the bottom of the pile and turned his ankle. The opposing team's doctor told us that Jacob had a sprain. I knew it was more. Jacob ended up with a plate, six screws, six months of rehab. We reevaluated if Jacob should play football. He was cleared by his surgeon, so we consented to letting him play. He seriously was unstoppable his junior year. He wasn't afraid. He played like he might never get to play again.

Then, with just two games left his junior year, Jacob took a hit to the head. Truly, linemen take hits to the head every game. He intercepted the ball and was pulled down backward. He hit his head on the ground. He tells me that he couldn't walk, that he couldn't hear the next play call, that his world was spinning. I remember that play like it was yesterday. I saw him stagger. I should have run down to the field and demand he come out. There were two plays left in the game. He played them both. We won.

Over the next few months Jacob had four seizures. It could be a coincidence, it could be that it runs in the family (two cousins with epilepsy), it could be he injured his brain. Jacob had a seizure while driving a car, another at a youth group gathering, one at school.  I was a mess. He is so smart and so talented. I was afraid that he would have seizures the rest of his life because of a stupid game. I didn't want him to play ever again. His coach reminded him that football is just a game. He encouraged him not to fight us if we told him he was done. Thank you, Coach.

Jacob went to a neurologist. He started taking medicine. He didn't have seizures after that. We debated letting him play his senior year. I know what you are thinking. We should never have let him play. I'm right there with you. The only thing is, Jacob wanted to play. He desperately wanted to play. We could let him play and fervently pray, or deal with an angry son, who was an exemplary student and peer. Jacob had suffered a health crisis, a broken relationship, the death of his second dad the summer before his senior year. We were loath to take football away too. When his neurologist cleared him, we agreed to let him play.

He was a man on fire his senior year. God blessed him with good health and a team that surrounded him with support and love. The comradery Jacob experienced his senior year was truly amazing. He loves those guys like brothers.

 Jacob was contacted by several Division 3 colleges.We were set to go to a fantastic private school. We filled out the FAFSA and the school's financial aid form. Jacob visited the team four times, even spent the night in the dorms with the team.  Jacob received scholarship money for his 3.9 grade point and 28 ACT score, but  D3 schools aren't allowed to give scholarships for sports. We knew that. We were hoping and praying that the financial aid would come through.  It turns out that God chose plan B for Jacob. The private school was going to cost too much. Jacob was going to be $100,000 in debt with a bachelor's degree. He decided to go to the state school, virtually free. He decided not to play football.

Oh, how Jacob misses it. He talks about trying to walk on the team where he is attending. He talks about the feelings he had while injured. We talk about his future. We talk about head injuries. We talk about how important it is to feel like you're  part of a team. How wonderful it is to be good at something. How much of a loss he feels.

My mama's heart hurts for my Jacob, but is relieved he's not hitting 250 pound mooses for hours a day. He has chosen to keep his brain intact, but his heart is broken. I think it was the best choice. I'm so proud of him. I'm so sad for him. I know God has big plans for my boy. Learning to be content is one of the hardest lessons. I'm praying Jacob gets plugged into a new group, a safer group. Maybe the Chess Team...