If You Have A Heart Left, This Story Will Touch It

Barry PetcheskyBarry Petchesky|published: Fri 11th September, 02:30 2009

This one's for you cynical bastards, inured to a summer of miserable stories. With the death of a high school football player's grandmother, the only parent he ever knew, he gained two new foster fathers: his coaches.

He's a senior now, the star running back at Southwest HS in San Antonio. But when he was a freshman, Tre'vion Johnson's grandmother died of a heart attack. He had lived with her since birth, even called her "Mom."

Johnson would be a ward of the state, i f not for two of his coaches.


In stepped Southwest head football coach Matt Elliott, who welcomed Johnson into his home for about a year in what Elliott called a court-appointed situation. Later, [running backs coach Louis] James brought in Johnson as a foster child.

"He'll always have a home," James said.

With a little stability in his life, Johnson has blossomed. In the season opener he rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns, and has a decent shot at playing D1 ball next year. Amazing what good coaching can do.

Southwest's Johnson Overcomes Tough Upbringing To Star At RB [San Antonio Express-News]

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