Ohio player lacks legs, official lacks sense

[Tricky_Falcon]

Ohio player lacks legs, official lacks sense

BY TOM ARCHDEACON. Tom Archdeacon is a columnist for the Dayton Daily News

September 21, 2005


Bobby Martin was born without legs, but the only thing that kept him from playing high school football last Friday night -- as he had the three previous weekends -- was a Cincinnati game official who told both the coaches and athletic directors that the Colonel White senior wasn't wearing proper equipment.

"He said Bobby couldn't play because he didn't have shoes on," Colonel White assistant Kerry Ivy said. "He told me the rule says a player must wear shoes, thigh pads and knee pads. I told him, `He needs feet before he can wear shoes. He needs legs before he can wear those other pads. What are you thinking? Then he said Bobby needed a medical waiver. I told him he'd already played three games, but he said those were the rules."


The decision in the game at Mt. Healthy left Martin in tears.

"It's the first time in my life I ever felt like that," Martin said Monday as he readied for practice after school. "Everybody was looking at me, talking about what I didn't have. I felt like a clown. I hated it."

Colonel White athletics director Carolyn Woodley said that common sense should have prevailed.

"The doctors have said it's OK for Bobby to play, so have his parents, and he has the necessary grades," she said. "That's all he needs."

Hank Zaborniak, an assistant Ohio High School Athletic Association commissioner, talked to all parties Monday: "It's unfortunate this happened. The officials should have let him play. There is a rule requiring shoes, thigh and knee pads, but I think it's fair to assume that means you have legs and feet. I talked to the official who made the call and he said he felt his crew might get in trouble if the young man got hurt.

"We will provide Colonel White with a letter that says he's cleared to play."

[MiamiBando]

My HS, Hillsboro, has a player who has lost all of his limbs, and he is one of the best wrestlers in Southern Ohio. He plays every sport he can. He plays football, etc. It is awesome to see him barrel down the field.

[Dayons_Den]

Hank Zaborniak used to live in Bowling Green.


I am all for inclusion, but seriously wonder what would go through the other teams mind? You want to block in kick coverage but you don't want to be "that guy" that knocks over the kid with no legs. . .