To Whom It May Concern: It was the most remarkable performance I had ever seen.
I was watching a one-legged high school football player. Staring at the slightly out of focus film, I kept repeating to the film operator, "Run that back." I must have said it 50 times while watching the first two plays. What he was doing defied gravity.
That was my introduction to Carl Joseph.
After 10 years as a player in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, I was at the beginning of my 22-year broadcast career for NBC Sports. In the late '70s, I got a call from New York offering me a chance to be a part of the Super Bowl that year. They had a story on a one- legged high school football player that they wanted me to develop.
When I hung up the phone, I related the offer to some of my workmates. We all laughed ...
"Bet he’s not a kicker ... do they run the single wing? ... single-threat athlete, huh?"
I flew to New York to look at film of this young man playing football on one leg. When the film was turned on, the laughing stopped. He played nose tackle. Hopping around the field, making tackles all over the place. Running down opponents, rushing the passer, taking on double-team blocks. It was astonishing. He wasn’t a substitute, he was a starter and played every defensive play in the film I saw.
Arrangements were made for me to meet this young man in Florida. Find out who he was, and how he did what he did. I don’t remember a lot of the interview, but I do remember one comment Carl made. He said "me being one-legged is their problem, not mine. When I play football I’m like everyone else out there playing.”
It's been 30 years since I was first exposed to Carl Joseph, and I still marvel at both his attitude and ability to overcome his disability to accomplish his goals and play a game that made him feel like everyone else.
I hope he still uses the film of him playing football on one leg as an inspiration for young people. He provides a great lesson in overcoming obstacles no matter how profound.
Carl Joseph remains the most inspirational football player I have ever seen and met.
Sincerely,
Bob Trumpy |
