U-M to "Draft" Player With Special Needs During Bye Week
I love stories like this. During our bye week, Harbaugh will hold a press conference and "sign" a kid from Howell named Larry Prout Jr. who has special needs.
From the story:
U-M announced it will hold a "draft" press conference for Larry Prout Jr. of Howell, allowing him to join the team and he will be welcomed by coach Jim Harbaugh and a few players following their practice.
Prout, 15, was born with spina bifida, choacal extrophy, massive omphalocele, short gut syndrome and several other illnesses. He has had more than 90 surgeries and many extended hospital stays.
Story here.
Hello: Larry Prout Jr.!
October 7th, 2016 at 7:44 AM ^
In the meantime, the NCAA raises a jaundiced eye toward Ann Arbor. Recruiting violation paperwork in their hands, they think better of it, and put the paperwork away in a drawer ... . "Next time, Harbaugh. Next time."
90 surgeries and ongoing burderns and the kid is still plugging along? Good for him - no room for Freddy P. Soft on Larry Prout Jr.'s shoulder!
October 7th, 2016 at 8:09 AM ^
I can see them giving UM notice of possible violations then dropping it after the media shitstorm descends on them for being assholes.
October 7th, 2016 at 8:38 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 8:14 AM ^
Exactly what I was thinking. Harbaugh has to love this kid already. Over 90 surgeries and not surrendering to his situation. That's mental toughness that few people would ever know. Not sure I would, either.
October 7th, 2016 at 12:43 PM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 7:52 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 9:41 AM ^
It must be incredibly difficult to have a child with so many health issues. It must also be an inredible gift every day they get to spend with their child.
October 7th, 2016 at 7:56 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 8:11 AM ^
Keep in mind that I am no coach/surgeon/miracle worker, but this kid is amazing.
October 7th, 2016 at 8:12 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 8:14 AM ^
5 -- for being as tough as a 2 dollar steak!!!! good luck to the young man and his family....
October 7th, 2016 at 8:24 AM ^
A few more questions;
How many other offers? and from who?
How's his pad level?
What's his 40 time?
October 7th, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
4.7. but that gets 6 FAKES out of the usual five.
October 7th, 2016 at 8:30 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 7:17 PM ^
Id say at least 90 starz. One for each surgery.
October 7th, 2016 at 7:58 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 8:07 AM ^
I'm gonna say it. . . a lesser man would've gone down.
October 7th, 2016 at 8:17 AM ^
Before I had a kid, I would have recognized how amazing this kids journey was, but I wouldn't have really connected with a story like this. I am an INTP for those of you who are into that sort of thing, but I was always kind of a robot when it comes to this stuff.
Now? I just imagine having to be with this kid day in, day out, wanting nothing more that to let this kid have one fucking easy thing in his life, and damn, it brings a tear to my eye. This kid, his parents, his doctors... all amazing people, no question.
October 7th, 2016 at 8:50 AM ^
Also, I second your comment. Pre-kids, this would have been a story that I read and said "hats off to Michigan for doing this" and moved on. Having two boys, as you said, this bring a tear to my eyes. No kid should have to endure this level of suffering and I am incredibly impressed with the kid and his family that they can even function while dealing with this.
October 7th, 2016 at 9:39 AM ^
Each letter is a piece of your personality profile. An INTP is Introversion iNtuition Thinking Perceiving (you can Google all of the types and there are a million websites giving you information).
From the link:
October 7th, 2016 at 12:05 PM ^
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November 3rd, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^
...downvote to receive.
October 7th, 2016 at 2:22 PM ^
Emperor Palpatine was an INTJ too. That makes 3 of us.
October 7th, 2016 at 9:11 AM ^
Well said!
October 7th, 2016 at 9:58 AM ^
A lesser man would have kicked a field goal?
October 7th, 2016 at 8:08 AM ^
Thanks for posting this made my heart swell. I really appreciate how people, in positions like Harbaugh, use their roles to inject sunshine into the lives of kids who were dealt a bad hand in life. This will create happy memory that will stay with them forever.
October 7th, 2016 at 8:13 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 8:19 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 8:26 AM ^
one of my kids has a friend with special needs (not at Larry's level) he & every one I meet is just a happy, caring, wonderful kid that just rolls with what life gives them.
I'm often grumbling about my hurt foot, ot bad traffic, or something insignificant when I run into him & every time it's just like "jabberwock, you don't know jack shit about adversity, step iinto this kids shoes"
Humbling & inspiring.
Go Blue Larry!
October 7th, 2016 at 8:34 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 8:28 AM ^
Jimmy continues to be a class act! Thanks for posting this.
October 7th, 2016 at 8:31 AM ^
I can't wait to see the hello post with the full details. Class.
October 7th, 2016 at 8:54 AM ^
thinking the same thing.
October 7th, 2016 at 9:07 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 9:12 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 9:16 AM ^
I have a sister with special needs and coached softball at the Special Olympics for several years...good for Larry and good for the program for doing things like this.
October 7th, 2016 at 9:21 AM ^
Nice!!!
This probably came out of the Make a Wish Foundation, which, for my money, is the best one going. But whether it did, or not, these kinds of things are always special. And like others have said, the stories never really registered until I had one of my own. We learned early that the troubles we had with our newborn were minor, and weren't really worth worrying over. The NICU had some teenies that shouldn't have made it, and VCU Children's Hospital was a depressing, and humbling visit, every week. As was the Physical therapy center... What a kid can handle is unreal. What parents will willingly put themselves through is something you simply cannot fathom until you have your own.
I applaud the people in positions to help these kids and their families, and that actually do. Because for every Harbaugh, there's a Kardashian.
October 7th, 2016 at 9:32 AM ^
The article states it's through Team IMPACT, which sounds like a very cool organization.
October 7th, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
True - I hadn't read the story when I made that post... Thanks for the correction! Any organization that coordinates this stuff is worth a donation!
October 7th, 2016 at 9:34 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 9:41 AM ^
ACE! Get the hello post ready for Larry!
I want to know the upshot for the rest of the class and I better see that his fake forty time is 0 fakes out of 5!
October 7th, 2016 at 9:47 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 2:19 PM ^
Make it happen, Ace!
October 7th, 2016 at 9:47 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 9:48 AM ^
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