BRUNSWICK, Ohio — Both the Brunswick and Euclid high school football programs helped to promote an act of sportsmanship that sent a positive message to young players on both sidelines during a recent junior varsity game.
Brunswick head football coach Mark Pinzone told News 5 that Todd Oliver is a special needs student on his team who has been an inspiration to his program for nearly three years, and that's why both the Euclid and Brunswick football teams called Oliver's number on a running play during a recent game.
Pinzone said Oliver ran for more than 60 yards on the play for a first down, an opportunity Pinzone said taught players on both teams a lesson in sportsmanship and much more. It was a moment Oliver said he'll remember for the rest of his life.
“All the coaches, when I heard them say, 'Go Todd, go,' I said 'okay,' I was just gone," Oliver said. “I felt pretty good, I know the kids were very nice and kind; you know, they gave me competition, they tried to get the ball out of my hands.”
Coach Pinzone told News 5 that Oliver has contributed leadership and inspiration to his players and the coaching staff.
“He’ll come up to me every game, no matter who we’re facing, and say, 'Coach, we’re going to win tonight,' I’m here to help coach, anything you need, we’re just here to win, we’re going to go get them coach,'" Pinzone said. “He’ll give me a high-five or pat me on the shoulder; it’s almost like he’s my coach, you know, he coaches me up on coaching. He’s such a positive element to our program in good times and in bad."
Brunswick Athletic Director Jim Kovi told News 5 that players on both teams learned that there are things that are much greater than the game.
“It’s a vessel for us to reinforce the characteristics that we want our kids to leave us with," Kovi said. “The avenue of athletics is the opportunity for us to reinforce some character."
Euclid junior varsity head coach William Robinson told News 5 his players got a big boost and lesson after meeting and playing against Oliver. Robinson told News 5 the Euclid football program is all about teaching student-athletes how to be a success in all parts of their lives.
“That’s what we want out of our kids here in Euclid, we want them to go succeed and take off and do things that they thought they could never do," Robinson said. “That’s what we want here in the classroom, out of the classroom, on the football field, off the football field.”
Meanwhile, Oliver said he'll once again be ready for action whenever his coach needs him as Brunswick takes on rival Strongsville at Brunswick Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. Brunswick has won the last four games the two teams have met.
