It was a cold morning of conditioning at Legion Field in the spring of 2014. During the previous month, I returned home to UAB in order to assist the new staff with hopes that the program would finally be given an opportunity to excel. As players ran through the morning dew on the ground, I reminisced about games played and practices performed during my time as a player.
At the end of conditioning, the team had to run the bleachers of Legion to complete the final session before spring practice. It was brutal to watch, and though I loved the game, at that moment I did not miss football at all. As I watched these poor souls run up and down wanting to blow their guts out, I noticed one member of the team, Tim Alexander, who watched from a wheelchair, cheering his teammates on, wanting nothing more than to endure the struggle with them.
At one point, I ran up to the top to help one of the struggling offensive lineman make it. As I began to make my way back down, I witnessed one of the most moving and inspiring acts I have ever seen in my life. I saw Coach Zac Woodfin, my former teammate and college roommate, walk over to the young player (who was paralyzed from the waist down due to a car accident) pick him up out of the wheelchair and begin carrying him up the stairs. I wanted to go down and help him, but I was so shocked and moved at what I was witnessing I couldn’t help but just stand there and watch.
At the end of conditioning, the team had to run the bleachers of Legion to complete the final session before spring practice. It was brutal to watch, and though I loved the game, at that moment I did not miss football at all. As I watched these poor souls run up and down wanting to blow their guts out, I noticed one member of the team, Tim Alexander, who watched from a wheelchair, cheering his teammates on, wanting nothing more than to endure the struggle with them.
At one point, I ran up to the top to help one of the struggling offensive lineman make it. As I began to make my way back down, I witnessed one of the most moving and inspiring acts I have ever seen in my life. I saw Coach Zac Woodfin, my former teammate and college roommate, walk over to the young player (who was paralyzed from the waist down due to a car accident) pick him up out of the wheelchair and begin carrying him up the stairs. I wanted to go down and help him, but I was so shocked and moved at what I was witnessing I couldn’t help but just stand there and watch.
As he got to the 20th step, I could see his legs begin to twitch with fatigue.
I quickly ran down to help him bear the load as he continued up the stairs……22……23…….24.
Though we ran these stairs a million times before, we were only shells of our former selves. I wasn’t sure how we were going to make it or even if we were able to get him up halfway, but then it happened. Shadows began to appear all around us, and just like that the 250-pound young man suddenly became light as a feather as the entire UAB football team lifted him, together in unison, and carried him to the top of the bleachers. We reached the top -- sweaty, exhausted, and out of breath -- not realizing the depth of what just happened.
I stood there with Coach Woodfin as we dry-heaved along with the players at the top of the stadium. As the sun began to rise over the city, I looked around as some players were tearing up while others where excited, and the rest utterly exhausted. Together, we walked down the bleachers to Head Coach Bill Clark whose eyes where filled with tears. I knew in that moment this was no longer just a regular team anymore; it was a family. You have seen the t-shirts and the YouTube videos, but now you know why they aren’t just words.
I quickly ran down to help him bear the load as he continued up the stairs……22……23…….24.
Though we ran these stairs a million times before, we were only shells of our former selves. I wasn’t sure how we were going to make it or even if we were able to get him up halfway, but then it happened. Shadows began to appear all around us, and just like that the 250-pound young man suddenly became light as a feather as the entire UAB football team lifted him, together in unison, and carried him to the top of the bleachers. We reached the top -- sweaty, exhausted, and out of breath -- not realizing the depth of what just happened.
I stood there with Coach Woodfin as we dry-heaved along with the players at the top of the stadium. As the sun began to rise over the city, I looked around as some players were tearing up while others where excited, and the rest utterly exhausted. Together, we walked down the bleachers to Head Coach Bill Clark whose eyes where filled with tears. I knew in that moment this was no longer just a regular team anymore; it was a family. You have seen the t-shirts and the YouTube videos, but now you know why they aren’t just words.
That is a moment I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I am honored and privileged to have been able to serve these young men and coaches during those few short weeks upon their arrival to this great university.
Coach Woodfin is a man, a man who has stood for justice, stood for his team, and stood for his home. These young men are men who have fought for their team, fought for their university, and fought for this great city. They have done well with the little that they have been given over the years. And though they may have tasted what seems to be inevitable defeat, its time for them to rest as we fight for them. If it takes me the next 5 years to resurrect this program, I will. The illegal corruption that is happening behind closed doors within the University of Alabama system will be exposed soon enough. Though for now it seems hopeless, and the load is heavy, know others are coming to help carry this weight. Keep fighting and never give up.
- David Miller (Fmr Blazer)
Coach Woodfin is a man, a man who has stood for justice, stood for his team, and stood for his home. These young men are men who have fought for their team, fought for their university, and fought for this great city. They have done well with the little that they have been given over the years. And though they may have tasted what seems to be inevitable defeat, its time for them to rest as we fight for them. If it takes me the next 5 years to resurrect this program, I will. The illegal corruption that is happening behind closed doors within the University of Alabama system will be exposed soon enough. Though for now it seems hopeless, and the load is heavy, know others are coming to help carry this weight. Keep fighting and never give up.
- David Miller (Fmr Blazer)