LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
FROM JACKIE SHERRILL

To Whom It May Concern:

In 1980, a person in the Pittsburgh Steelers office called me and said that he had a video of a one-legged Florida high school athlete playing noseguard and making plays all over the field, dunking the basketball on the basketball court and high jumping nearly 6 feet in a track meet. My response was “you are kidding me” -- a little stronger words were used -– “there is no way this is possible!!!”

The video was sent to me at the University of Pittsburgh where I was head football coach. I opened the package and there was a picture of this kid without a leg from the hip down -- I thought someone doctored the photo -- then I took the film into my office alone, for I did not want anyone to know I had been the butt of a joke.

As I watched the film I was in shock -- how is this possible? I have been in athletics all my life and this is impossible -- a young man without a leg chasing the QB out of the pocket and making the tackle 15 yards downfield. Defeating the center and making plays at the line of scrimmage. What an inspiration for me to see a person do something that I never thought possible.

I quickly assembled my staff and showed them the video, but some did not believe it. That afternoon I showed the film to my players and what an impact it made on them watching someone do something impossible.

I called and spoke to Carl's coach and then to Carl personally. I invited Carl to join our football team as a manager in the fall of 1980. He came to fall camp, worked as a manager and had a great impact on the Pitt football team. Unfortunately the Academic Staff felt it would be better if Carl would attend a junior college to prepare himself academically for college life. I as well as our players were very disappointed to see Carl leave.

I stayed in touch with Carl over the next few years. When I went to Texas A&M and we won the SWC Championship in 1985 and went to play Auburn in the 1986 Cotton Bowl, I invited Carl as our guest. I did not show the video to anyone -- staff or players -- until we had a team-only dinner. After the video, I had Carl come in through a side door, and he was welcomed with a standing ovation. He quickly became part of the team inspirationally. It was no doubt that his presence made a difference in the attitude of the players -- we defeated Auburn and Bo Jackson, 36-16.

Carl very much deserves to be inducted into the Florida Athletic Hall of Fame for many reasons, but the most important reason is that Carl has inspired so many, given so much, and never asked for anything in return except a chance to play the game -- and play the game he did, to the amazement of so many.

Sincerely,

Jackie Sherrill