Freedom High's football squad has embraced its team manager, an emotionally and mentally disabled student, whose passion to help the team has come true.
By DEMORRIS LEE
Published September 9, 2005
TAMPA PALMS - All Douglas McGee wanted to do was help.
Every time the Freedom High School student bumped into the head football coach, he'd say the same thing: "If you have anything for me to do, let me know."
Finally the coach took him up on that, and last season he became the team's manager. This year, McGee, a 15-year-old sophomore, is more than the manager. He's part of the football family.
"He's been great at the small things," football coach Adam Stegeman said. "If we need somebody to round up the footballs for us, or to take care of the odds and ends that we can't get to, we can always depend on him to do those things for us."
For McGee, who is emotionally and mentally disabled and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, being the football team's manager has given him a sense of being. For the football players, McGee gives them a lesson in valuing everyone's abilities.
"We got to know him a lot more when he became a part of the family," said senior Chris Surdovel, the team's kicker. "He's always so nice about stuff and it cheers you, no matter what you are going through."
Senior offensive lineman Nat Cardenas agreed.
"He's just a great kid and he's out here every day," Cardenas said. "I don't know if he had a lot of friends, but we are his family now."
Being part of the team is priceless for McGee. He proudly wears his Freedom Patriots T-shirt and hat on game day. When the football team was introduced to the entire school at a recent pep rally, McGee was also introduced.
The student body applauded as he walked onto Freedom's basketball court. With a huge grin, McGee walked to center court and waved.
"I like helping out," McGee said with his usual smile. "They (football players) treat me very respectfully and they are real nice."
If he wasn't working with the football team, he would probably go home after school and lie down or play video games, McGee said.
When McGee first told his mother he was joining Freedom's football program, she was alarmed.
"I told him, "No, you can't play football,' " Donna McGee said. "He said, "Mom, I'm the manager.' "
A single parent of two who lives in the University area, she said the experience has helped her oldest child.
"He doesn't have many friends and people over here make fun of him because they know he is slow and they know how to push his buttons," McGee said. "But now he's made a lot of friends."
The football players aren't the only ones benefiting from Douglas McGee's helpfulness. He is also assigned to help four physically disabled students get to the school's bus ramp in the afternoons.
"Rain or shine, he's there making sure those kids get on the bus," said Steve Channels, one of McGee's teachers and an assistant football coach.
In fact, Channels wishes some students were more like McGee.
"Once you say or show him one time this is how I want it done, he does it exactly like that," Channels said. "He is an important part of our total football program."
Kellie Norton, an assistant principal at Freedom High School, knows about McGee's dedication. As a member of the school's crime watch team, McGee monitors the parking lots to ensure that students have parking decals and to make sure things are moving smoothly in the lots and halls.
"He's very vigilant and probably one of our best," Norton said. "He's not afraid to do his job, even if he has to turn in a friend."
With the football team, he has a host of friends. And on Friday nights, win or lose, no one on the Freedom football team's sideline can be happier than Douglas McGee.
He's doing what he likes doing most: "Helping my team and helping my Patriot family."
North of Tampa will be doing a regular series on Freedom High School's football team this season. To comment on the series "Beyond the Gridiron," go to www.tampabay.com/guestbooks/freedom/
