Blind Football Player ESPN story

[ksu1420]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/e60/columns/story?id=4637537

Don't know if this has been posted here, but it is a great story on a kid from Emporia.  His name is Charlie Wilks and he is a freshman and Emporia High.  He is blind and plays football for their freshman team.  I have had the opportunity to work with him this semester during my internship at Emporia High and he is an amazing kid.  The story ran this week on E:60.

[Pete]

WORLD FORUM!

[steve dave]

I guarantee you I could juke him in the open field.

[Pete]

I guarantee you I could juke him in the open field.

Kid's not going to fall for any ball fakes reading the option though.  Assignment sound.

[Bookcat]

brave guy imho. that's inspiring.

[dobbie4ksu]

I grew up with his older sister and the kid from a early age said he would play football, great kid very passionate about the sport and is friends with everyone, I think its awesome espn shows this kid some love

[prome05]

I grew up with his older sister and the kid from a early age said he would play football, great kid very passionate about the sport and is friends with everyone, I think its awesome espn shows this kid some love

C'mon.

[Big Sam]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/e60/columns/story?id=4637537

Don't know if this has been posted here, but it is a great story on a kid from Emporia.  His name is Charlie Wilks and he is a freshman and Emporia High.  He is blind and plays football for their freshman team.  I have had the opportunity to work with him this semester during my internship at Emporia High and he is an amazing kid.  The story ran this week on E:60.

I'd so pwn him out on the field, bad knees and all.

Sam S.

[PCR]

two words: beeper ball

[wes mantooth]

Is he   

[dobbie4ksu]

When I hung out with his sister he had several Wildcats shirts so i am thinkin he is pretty emaw... from what I heard from EHS alumn that he wont be able to play after this year we will see if this is true I guess next year

[Dirty Sanchez]

When I hung out with his sister he had several Wildcats shirts so i am thinkin he is pretty emaw... from what I heard from EHS alumn that he wont be able to play after this year we will see if this is true I guess next year

I don't know how they can legally prevent him from doing so.  I'm no lawyer, but I would think ADA says he can't be stopped.  Now I'm not sure how safe it is for him, especially against bigger, stronger players at the varsity level.  I'd be afraid for him getting, and I mean no disrespect, blindsided by someone looking to hit someone on a play like a fumble or INT where things change and are going different directions.

Great for him though.  Hope he enjoys every snap and I hope his teammates are learning some amazing lessons.

[Big Sam]

When I hung out with his sister he had several Wildcats shirts so i am thinkin he is pretty emaw... from what I heard from EHS alumn that he wont be able to play after this year we will see if this is true I guess next year

I don't know how they can legally prevent him from doing so.  I'm no lawyer, but I would think ADA says he can't be stopped.  Now I'm not sure how safe it is for him, especially against bigger, stronger players at the varsity level.  I'd be afraid for him getting, and I mean no disrespect, blindsided by someone looking to hit someone on a play like a fumble or INT where things change and are going different directions.

Great for him though.  Hope he enjoys every snap and I hope his teammates are learning some amazing lessons.

May not be able to prevent him legally.  However, there is no law that can force the coach to put him in the game.

Personally, I don't believe he is blind.  I think he is super-sneaky and planned a way to make himself famous and has been pretending he is blind for the past decade (give or take a year).  Those kids today, you never know what they're up to....

Sam S.

[PCR]

Oh well I'm sure he can get a nice long career in officiating if his playing days are over. 

[j-vonfeldt]

The most surprising thing for me was when he said that getting his sight back would be another blow to him since he's learned to deal with it so well and now envisions the world as he'd like to see it.

Not his exact words, but close enough.