But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there. He was determined to try his best at every practice， and perhaps he' d get to play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a practice or a game， but remained a bench warmer all four years. His faithful father was always in the stands， always with words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to collage， he decided to try out for the football team as a walk-on. Everyone was sure he could never make the cut， but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always put his heart and soul into every practice， and at the same time， provided the other members with the spirit.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games. This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college， but he never got to play in a game.
It was the end of the senior football season， and as he trotted on to the practice field shortly before the big playoff game， the coach met him with a telegram and he became deathly silent.
Swallowing hard， he mumbled to the coach， "My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today？"
The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said， "Take me rest of the week off， son. And don' t even plan to come to the game on Saturday."
Saturday arrived， and the game was not going well. In the third quarter， when the team was ten points behind， a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines， the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon.
"Coach， please let me play. I' ve just got to play today." said the young man.