Back in 1999, as assistant football coach at Tampa Bay Tech High School, I met a young man named Eric Clark. Eric was in his junior year and played the defensive and offensive line positions that I coached. From day one, I could see that he had a great deal of talent but needed proper guidance to lead him towards a college scholarship.

    We hit it off almost from the start. Eric spoke with respect, always saying “Yes, Sir” and “No, Sir.” As the ‘99 season progressed, Eric became more trusting in our relationship and we talked as friends, discussing things other than football. He told me how his Mother was sick and on a kidney machine and his father struggled to keep up with all of the household bills. The stress was becoming too much to bear for young Eric.

    With counseling, coaching and a lot of luck, that ‘99 season became a breakout year for Eric on the field. Major colleges began looking at his skills on the field. Since his parents had no experience with recruitment, Eric began to ask me what to expect from the scouts and the schools. I gave him what advice I could based on my own experience and said to just enjoy it all. However, he had to have a good senior year to keep the colleges interested.

    During the 2000 season, Eric’s senior year, he played well until a bad ankle injury almost caused him to miss the last half of the season. While he was on the sidelines, some of the colleges that were actively recruiting Eric backed off. It didn’t seem fair, but I assured him this was all part of the process, just stay strong. Eric successfully came back after two games.

    Eventually Eric was offered several scholarships.When the time came to choose, the pressure was intense and Eric verbally committed to a school. He was not comfortable with his decision and really regretted his pick. I explained that he could change his mind as long as he hadn’t signed a letter of intent. However, the proper thing to do was to personally call the coach, thank him for the opportunity and explain his decision. Eric did indeed change his mind and happily signed with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.

    Eric’s first week of college football practice was, in his own words, the hardest thing he had ever done in his life. We kept in touch and I continued to mentor Eric, helping him to understand that every freshman on the team struggled like he did. He was no different than anyone else. College was a huge challenge...for every first-year student. Eric settled in and adapted to the college lifestyle.

    Early one day, at three in the morning, the telephone rang. I woke up, picked up the phone - it was Eric. Something was wrong. He cried as he told me that one of his best friends had just been shot and killed while they were at a club. He was all right but wanted to come home. He hadn’t even called his parents to let them know what happened. We talked about those times in our lives when we have to do things that hurt, when we have to keep going, even though despair tells us to quit. This was a monumental moment in his life. Eric had to overcome fear and heartache to make it.

    Eric stayed in school and after a few seasons, became a starter. To this day he tells me all the time that I am like a Dad to him. In turn, he is like my third son and that’s why the title is what it is!

“It’s good to be noble, but it’s better to help someone be noble.”
Mark Twain