Resslin around

Lincoln gives valuable lesson in life

Warrior fullback Chuck Lincoln played with the weight of his team on his shoulders for much of the season, and for that, he should be commended. But for the way he played with the weight in his heart, he is nothing short of a hero.

All year, Lincoln fought off tacklers and plowed his way into the end zone. He was the states leading rusher through the final game of the season, and he carried the Warriors to the state championship game almost single-handedly. But he would give it all back.

Lincolns mother, Debbie, was diagnosed with melanoma last year, and has been battling the disease ever since. The fact that Lincoln could focus on football at all is a testament to what a tremendous person he is. To dominate the way he did is a testament to what kind of a player he is.

Lincoln bruised linebackers on every carry, and he scored touchdown after touchdown. He didnt do it for his personal gain, though, he did it for his mother. Of course, college scouts are going to notice the nearly 2,000 yards and all the touchdowns Lincoln had, but they wont even come close to seeing the complete player.

In one game, Lincoln promised his mother three touchdowns and a Wasilla victory. After scoring two touchdowns and putting his team up by 40 points, Lincoln spent the fourth quarter on the bench, with the rest of the starters. After Wasilla got to the opponents 5-yard line late in the game, head coach Nathan Ford put Lincoln back into the game.

After a mad scramble to find his shoulder pads, Lincoln barreled his way into the end zone for his third touchdown. His mother was watching from the familiar vehicle parked just yards away in the back of the end zone.

Ford got the game ball from the referees and gave it to Lincoln. While play was still going on, Lincoln ran down the sidelines to his mother, and presented her with the ball.

It was perhaps the most emotional moment Ive ever witnessed in an athletic contest, and it was as simple as one person giving the ball to another.

In the journalism business, you have to be unbiased and in sports journalism, that holds true even more. You simply cant have a rooting interest in the games you cover.

But Id be lying if I said I was not rooting for Lincoln every time he touched the ball this year, because his success meant so much more than a 5-yard gain or a touchdown.

His success gave his mother another reason to smile, and that gave every fan in every stadium the Warriors played a reason to smile. The heart and determination Lincoln showed earned my respect, and it had nothing to do with how well he performed or how many yards he gained.

If Lincoln never put the shoulder pads on this season and did not play this year, not a single soul could have faulted him. He most certainly had more on his mind than a simple football game.

In comparison to his mothers courageous fight, football seems like a trivial thing. But it served as a rallying point for the Lincoln family, and it brought joy to a tough situation.

The fact that Lincoln could give anything to the Wasilla football team in such a rough time is a great story. But to lead them all the way to the state championship game, Lincoln was simply inspirational.

Too often in sports we throw around words like hero, idol and role model. They are used to describe just about every athlete who has played a sport.

Lincoln has truly lived up to those words this year.

He would have loved a state championship to give to his mother, but he should not hang his head after Saturdays defeat.

After the lessons he taught us this year, Lincoln is a hero not only to his mother, but also to sports fans around the Valley.