Rudy Award

On Monday 10/17 Beckhams team had an awards dinner at Gertie's. The kids were excited because it was all you can eat pizza (including dessert pizza). It was the typical football party, lots of young boys running around doing boy things and really loud. The coach started by reading a letter he had written to all of the kids (pictured below) about being a champion.

After that the coach called up each player individually and spoke a little about them and gave them their letter and a cookie. One of the stories they shared about Beck was as follows: Towards the end of the season we had a scrimmage and had Beck play tight end. We were amazed at all of the catches he was making so we asked "Beck, where did you get those hands?". Beck taking it literally answered the coaches saying "My mom...my dad...and Jesus". Everyone had a good laugh.

After each player came up the coach said they had one award to give out, called the "Rudy Award". It was for a player that showed up every day, worked hard and grinded it out when it got tough, and never complained. It wasn't for the flashy kid that got all the touchdowns, but the one who worked his butt off to make the team better each week. I had a feeling that it was Beck, but was still a little surprised when the called his name. The coach was emotional about it, Beck was emotional about it, and as a proud dad I was emotional about it too. The award is below, it was signed by the team.

He said he asked Beck on the second day of practice if he really wanted to play football and he answered "I don't know" (typical Beck). The coaches said that kid is either going to quit, or he is going to get better....and he worked hard and got better. I know it was tough for Beck at the beginning and he may have wanted to quite, but he had such a great attitude about it. I would always ask him when I picked him up how practice was, and his answer every day when the going got tough was "Better than yesterday". I am very proud of him and his positive attitude and hard work, it definitely paid off in a great football season.