Hillbilly 14 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Senior with Down syndrome fulfills dream By TIM MacMAHON / The Dallas Morning News The home crowd at Keller ISD Stadium rose to its feet as soon as Lyndon LaPlante jogged onto the field during the fourth quarter Friday night. The fans went wild during LaPlante's 99-yard touchdown run, which ended with him being mobbed in the end zone by his Keller teammates. Never mind that the pre-arranged play didn't count. It fulfilled a dream for LaPlante, a senior who has Down syndrome. He maximized the moment by flashing a Heismanesque stiff arm as he crossed the goal line and hamming it up on the sideline after play resumed in Keller's 35-21 win over Richland. "Man, it was awesome!" said LaPlante, who was still cradling the game ball when his mother, Genni, woke him up Saturday morning. "Everybody said, 'Lyndon! Lyndon! Lyndon!' I was crying with chills." Keller coach Kevin Atkinson had planned for three years to get LaPlante a carry his senior season. He hoped an opposing coach would agree to allow LaPlante to take a handoff and run over to the sideline to hug his coach. Atkinson mentioned the idea to Richland coach Gene Wier, who suggested LaPlante should score. They agreed it would happen on Keller's first offensive play of the fourth quarter and notified the officiating crew before the game. Perhaps it was fate that a Richland punt pinned Keller on its 1-yard line, giving LaPlante as much glory as possible. Moments earlier, LaPlante had called his father, Don, to the guardrail behind the Keller bench. "I'm goin' in! I'm goin' in!" he said. LaPlante has been a part of Keller's program since his freshman year, when he served as the freshman team's manager. Atkinson, smitten by LaPlante's upbeat personality, promoted him to student assistant head coach the next season. LaPlante specializes in motivational speeches, which usually focus on how much he loves Keller and his teammates. "His heart is as big as Texas," Atkinson said. LaPlante's unofficial duties also include greeting college coaches on campus to recruit. He'll introduce himself, title and all, and chat away. "I've played y'all on PlayStation," LaPlante has told a few coaches, "and y'all aren't very good." Atkinson allowed LaPlante to pick a position before his sophomore season. LaPlante chose to be a running back. He dresses out and goes through noncontact drills with the backs at the beginning of every practice. He's been known to then retreat to Atkinson's golf cart for a nap. LaPlante, No. 1 on the roster, has suited up for every varsity game the last two seasons. He gets two carries during pregame drills every week. He usually removes his shoulder pads once the game starts and concentrates on taking pictures. With some help from his mother, LaPlante has made a photo slideshow for the team at the end of each season. One ended with a mug shot of him accompanied by four words: "Put me in, Coach." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaverbaseball 10 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 thats a really good story..Im surprised the other coached allowed him to score with only being down 1 TD and the opposing team being on the one yard line but thats really nice that the kid got to fulfill his dream..He earned it with his dedication and hard work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mavsgrad 28 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 That's awesome, I've heard stories like this one before. This just shows that HS football is really all about the kids. It's sad that sometimes we adults can ruine it for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BB_TWEEDER Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 That is a great storie. It would be great to have witnessed it in person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djr4hurleyfb 12 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 I don't think it officially counted (they said it was arranged and told to the referee prior), but regardless of that, it is still a great story to hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichlandsAlum 678 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 We have our own very similar and very heartwarming example in Southwest Virginia. Every winter, OFISHE8 is allowed to dress up in black and white stripes and pretend that he is a basketball official. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89Tornado 10 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 [ QUOTE ] We have our own very similar and very heartwarming example in Southwest Virginia. Every winter, OFISHE8 is allowed to dress up in black and white stripes and pretend that he is a basketball official. [/ QUOTE ] classic post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrundyWinsAll 10 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 I remember in little league wrestling, Jason Cline a 2X State Champ wrestled a mentally Challenged kid. The other kids were tormenting the child with the fact he had to wrestle"Cline". Well, Cline let the kid pin him in 30 seconds. The boy jumped up and down running all around the mat. He was crying along with everyone else in the room. The boy had wrestled for 8 years and never won a match, but that night he pinned a State Champ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigD4VT 11 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 That's a great story! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie 10 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 wow these are really heartworming storys that makes me fell specil that i can play these sports that i do play(or try at) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narz_Wave 10 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Goalie, don't abondon your Hooked on Phonics!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie 10 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 Sry guys i steped on the tape and now it dont worked any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narz_Wave 10 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 For the love of god, NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok everyone, we all have to pitch in and get goalie a replacement tape ASAP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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