Archives > Sports Update
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Frisco fourth-grader an inspiring presence on the sideline
BY ANDREW MAY, amay@acnpapers.com
Kelan Lawson has what you might call an inspirational story.
Born two months early with cerebral palsy, the vivacious 10-year old doesn’t have the physical ability to put on the pads and join his teammates in the trenches, but the Curtsinger Elementary fourth-grader is nevertheless one of the Frisco Hurricanes’ most valuable assets.
Barking out orders and riling up the team with spirited pep talks, Kelan has the makeup and love for the game of veteran coaches who have been schooled in the art and trained in the craft for decades. He commands a huddle and demands near perfection from his peers, who hang on to his every word as if being relegated to the bench were the punishment for not doing so.
“If they were going to score one more time,” he said, “I was going to go out there and put somebody on the ground.”
If only he could. Because of the cerebral palsy – Kelan was in effect born with a stroke and forced to spend a month and a half in ICU – his mobility is severely limited. That’s why he was brought on to the team as a coach. And make no mistake, he insists on being called “Coach Kelan.” Not that anyone needs to be reminded. In his first season with the Hurricanes, he has garnered the respect of his fellow coaches and players alike.
“The kids rally around him. I would have thought the kids wouldn’t give him much attention because he’s a peer, but they listen to him and give him the utmost respect,” assistant coach Steve Krueger said. “He’s deserved it. The kids like having him out here. We all love him. He’s just part of the team.”
Mixed allegiance
Being the son of a former collegiate player, Kelan has been gently coerced into rooting for SMU. Ryan played quarterback and punter for the Mustangs from 1989-92, one of the first teams the school fielded after receiving the death penalty.
It was at an SMU football game with his father that Kelan fell in love with the sport.
At first, he simply tagged along to keep dad company, paying no mind to the game itself. But the light bulb eventually turned on and has been shining ever since.
“I used to go and not pay much attention,” he said. “I didn’t know I liked football. I went to one game and paid attention and thought this is a good-type game.”
Soon after taking to football, Kelan also became a fan of the Texas Longhorns after meeting former standout Colt McCoy. Ryan thought Kelan would shift his full-time allegiance to SMU once McCoy graduated, but Kelan has remained faithful to the burnt orange because Case McCoy is now a freshman at the school.
Kelan is no longer just a casual observer, either. He is fully entrenched in the game, from an extensive knowledge of the Xs and Os to his friendship with several collegiate coaches.
While at his grandparents’ house last month watching SMU face TCU, Kelan became a bit heated after a personal foul was whistled against the Ponies. He took off a shoe and fired it at the television, to the ire of grandma.
“There are times you have to reel him back a little bit,” Ryan said.
One of those times came earlier this season during a break in practice. Kelan wasn’t particularly fond of what he was seeing that day and was getting on to a few players. Dad told him to let the players rest, but Kelan would have none of it.
“I don’t want to get fired as coach,” he told Ryan.
Safe to say that won’t happen anytime soon. The Hurricanes are 6-0 in their division with a key victory against the reigning league champs. They have consistently advanced to the semifinals during the playoffs, but have gone no further.
Head coach Tyree Taylor believes that will change this season, mainly because of Kelan’s presence on the sideline.
“He’s the added weapon that puts us over the top,” Taylor said. “With Kelan, it’s going to help our boys get over the hurdle. His will to not quit has helped us to be a much better team, a team that’s determined like Kelan.”
Coaching for the coach
Not only has Kelan become one of the most valuable coaches on the Hurricanes’ staff, he carries those duties over to physical education class at Curtsinger, where he’s “pretty much” the P.E. instructor for fourth grade.
Coaching seems to be firmly imbedded into his DNA. Ryan’s father, Joel, is a football lifer, with stints at Texas Tech, Western New Mexico State and numerous high schools all over Texas. Joel lives in Graham and is friends with Brad McCoy, which is how Colt and Kelan met and became fishing buddies.
No one would be surprised if Kelan winds up following in his grandfather’s footsteps.
“I think one day he’s going to be a coach,” Krueger said.
That would suit Kelan just fine, although he would rather be on the field.
“I like to coach,” he said, “but I wish I could play.”
Don’t bet against it. Kelan has had multiple surgeries to lengthen his muscles since one of the most devastating effects of cerebral palsy is tightening the body and disturbing the motor skills. He rehabs at the Baylor Rehabilitation System at Pizza Hut Park and the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas.
The future is unknown, but Kelan’s will to walk is certain.
“The folks at Scottish Rite seem pretty amazed at what he’s done so far,” Ryan said. “I don’t think anybody wants to dictate what he can do.”
Kelan does most of the dictating. Loveable and gregarious, he is right at home with a whistle in his mouth. He met Taylor through a baseball team that Kelan coached and Taylor’s son played for. After the final game was in the books, Kelan began crying because the season was over. It was only natural to then invite him to coach for the Hurricanes. “He loved my method of coaching,” Kelan said.
The decision has never once been questioned. As long as the Hurricanes are together, Kelan will be right there with them, soaking up every minute of it.
“Mostly just being able to get out here and be a part of the football team although I can’t play,” he said.
He has played in The Miracle League previously, but believes the spring season was his last. He played with a group of kids half his age, but the real kicker was the fact that everybody came out a winner. Kelan appreciated that aspect of the league, but yearned for something more competitive.
“I love to get out on the field and actually play, but why play when it’s not with my age group. Everybody won in that group,” he said. “I want to get out here and be competitive where not everybody wins.”
Injection of life
In a day and age when seemingly everything is taken for granted by those who have it all, Kelan has served as a humbling force for the Hurricanes. He puts sport into perspective as it relates to life, and is always smiling no matter what trials and tribulations come his way.
“His spirit and daily fight, the team needs to see that,” Taylor said. “He’s added a lot in terms of his inspiration, his passion for football, and his ability to inject life into our team.”
Kelan isn’t just an honorary figurehead. He lives and breathes football. After missing a practice this season – a rarity even though the team practices three times per week – Kelan sent a text message to Taylor, asking the head coach to fill him in on what the team did that day. That was just weeks into his tenure with the Hurricanes.
“He’s engaged,” Taylor said. “He’s added a ton to this team and he’s kept all of us in line. From his title on down, he’s that type of perfectionist. I love that about him.”
Kelan keeps control with one of the three whistles he owns, but hopes to add a bullhorn to the collection soon. He also motivates with his words.
“Whether they want it or not,” Ryan said, “he steps in and gives them a pre-game pep talk and post-game critique.”
Saturday, Kelan admittedly “did a little too much.” He chastised players for poor sportsmanship, a message belying one that someone his age should give. But he is innately wise and has a superior sense for the pulse of the team.
“I try to be as much like the coaches as possible,” he said. “I try to keep it as positive as I can. Coaches tell me you need to kick it up a notch so I’ll turn up the heat.”
Kelan, whose older brother, Cade, is a seventh-grader at Wester and younger sister, Emily, is 5-years old, is “scared to death” of wheelchairs. That’s why he can be seen riding a motorized scooter after games as part of the handshake line. Eventually, he hopes to ditch both the cart and the canes.
“He hopes he can walk one day,” Ryan said. “He’s starting to kind of notice that he’s a little different. He’s learning to deal with it. He’s taking it all in stride.”
While Kelan takes it all in stride, the Hurricanes are hitting their stride. They are having the best season in team history and it’s no coincidence that it coincides with the addition of Kelan to the coaching staff.
“He’s an inspiration,” Krueger said. “He’s really great to have around. He’s so into it. He lays it out there. He’s honest.”
Taylor said he hopes other teams in the FFL will follow suit after seeing the success the Hurricanes are having. The mutually beneficial relationship seems to be suiting both sides more than sufficiently.
“It’s a two-way commitment and it’s a two-way win. I think other teams will find there is a lot of value in that,” Taylor said. “He loves football. You can truly tell it. He’s a big part of our staff. He does things we can’t do as coaches, and that’s just inspire.”
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: Sports Update «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
