Kansas coach comes full circle at Chicago Trials
By Joe Frollo Thu, 05/17/2012 - 9:14am
Watching the U.S. National Team Regional Trials last weekend in McCook, Ill., nearly brought Darron Cotton to tears.
Cotton and his family drove 11 hours from Wichita, Kan., to the Chicago suburbs for the three-day event.
They were drawn in part to help Cotton’s son, Trenton Avery, improve as a high school quarterback and compete for a spot on the U.S. National Team.
His emotions were high as he watched Trenton work out alongside top athletes from seven states.
But a father’s pride isn’t all that was welling up inside of him.
Moms set to spend special day with NFL sons
By Joe Frollo Fri, 05/11/2012 - 10:59am
Most people know Jay Richardson as a big, strong defensive end with a knack for bringing down NFL ball-carriers.
Richardson’s biggest fan, Deborah Johnson (pictured on left), cheers louder than anyone when he takes the field.
Sometimes, she sees the 6-foot-6, 280-pound former Ohio State Buckeye as the professional athlete he has become. Other times, she looks at him and remembers a toddler chasing his favorite ball around the family living room.
That’s a mother’s prerogative.
Three years later, Lystedt Law protects young athletes in 34 states and D.C.
By Joe Frollo Thu, 05/10/2012 - 9:36am
Every day brings new victories for Zackery Lystedt.
Every achievement helps conquer the horrors inflicted on someone so young.
Zackery’s life became every parent’s nightmare in 2006 after he suffered multiple concussions during a junior high school football game, resulting in severe brain trauma.
In and out of a coma for three months and unable to move for more than a year, Zackery had to re-learn how to speak, move, eat, drink – all the things most take for granted.
