CovCath's game against Highlands was the 50th anniversary of the football program, so, at halftime, they were retiring the jerseys of my two cousin, Brian and Kenny Williams, as well as the jerseys of Mike Caple, Keith Stowers, and Artie Steinmetz.

 

They ask me to come down to be a captain for the game.

 

Pretty cool, right?

 

Except I get down there, and Tony Bacigalupo, CovCath's AD, walks up and tells me that they're also retiring my jersey.

 

I start bawling crying right away (in a very manly way) because the school has done so much for me since the wreck and it was an incredible honor.

 

It wasn't for my play on the field because I had only played my freshman year five games into my sophomore year (although I may have been the first freshman to ever start varsity at CCH for more than a game or two because a starter missed a game....... and not trying to toot my own horn or anything, but toot-toot :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:), but it was still incredible to be honored in CCH football.

 

Ever since I was old enough to know what football was and from the time we watched games from the backyard of the house overlooking CovCath's field, it was always my dream to play at CCH and under Coach Ray.

 

The day of the wreck, they decided to play me on offense, too (I had only been a starter on defense and special teams), and maybe I could have earned my jersey being retired on the field with my play if I hadn't been in the wreck, but it's still unbelievable to me to have it retired in this amazing program.

 

I was completely humbled and it was the greatest honor of my life to be put in the same group as Brian and Kenny, as well as Mike Caple, Keith Stowers, and Artie Steinmetz.

 

VERY BIG thanks to Coach Ray and CovCath as a whole for making this happen!

Edited October 30, 20178 yr by BFritz

That's awesome, BFritz! So happy for you!

Congratulations! Your courage in the last 17 years speaks volumes. A well deserved tribute!

That's awesome, BFritz! So happy for you!

Thank you very much!

Congratulations! Your courage in the last 17 years speaks volumes. A well deserved tribute!

 

*18* years, but who's counting?

 

:lol2:

 

But I do appreciate it more than I could ever tell you!

 

It's amazing that this happened and then also that I will be getting this stem cell treatment for traumatic brain injuries (as long as the last physical and evaluation are ok, which just seem like technicalities at this point, & as long as I'm not the placebo :eek: :no:) that could regrow the parts of the brain I'm missing, heal the damaged parts, and actually make my brain even better than it was before the wreck!

 

Life is very good!

Awesome gesture by CovCath. See what Happens when you allow NewCath boys to take over a school? Lol

 

For those who don’t know (me) could you fill us in on what Happened?

Thanks for sharing all of that @BFritz

 

Kudos to Covington Catholic!

Awesome gesture by CovCath. See what Happens when you allow NewCath boys to take over a school? Lol

 

For those who don’t know (me) could you fill us in on what Happened?

 

lol!

 

Tony's a great guy and a good friend!

 

It's a very long story about what happened and I actually give a public "speaking" deal about it on PowerPoint because I can't talk much (I've given it at NewCath several times).

 

Long story short, I was 15 and my 15-year-old best friend drove me and our other best friend to a party at the house in the cemetery in his sister's boyfriend's car, started drinking (we all did), left, went and got gas, came back, and he went joy riding. Went 55+ around a sharp turn, lost control, clipped a headstone, did two 360s, and hit a tree right where I was sitting.

 

Suffered a few injuries, but a traumatic brain injury was the worst, and was in a 3 month coma, during which I was declared brain dead. Can't walk much or talk much, among other problems.

 

If you want to see my full presentation that I present to high schools, colleges, companies, and wherever, send me a message :thumb:

Congrats. Kenny was great guy!

Congrats. Kenny was great guy!

 

He was an amazing guy and so was Brian!

 

Brian was on the first flight in from New York when he heard about the wreck. I'm honored that he even loved me enough to do it, but, at the same time, I would have been more surprised if he hadn't been on the first flight in because that's just the type of guy that he was.

 

Kenny was also my Godfather and I still have memories of him dressing up as Santa and just always being around with a smile on his face and his fun-loving personality. You were automatically drawn to him.

 

I have B.K.W. tattooed on my left arm for Brian and Kenny Williams just below the Chinese symbol for strength.

 

(In my original post, it's supposed to say "I only played my freshman year AND five games into my sophomore year," but I forgot the "and" and didn't notice until it was too late to edit.)

Had the privilege to hear you speak at St. Henry a few times. Congratulations! Keep up the hard work and fortitude!

Had the privilege to hear you speak at St. Henry a few times. Congratulations! Keep up the hard work and fortitude!

 

I said it another thread please PM @BFritz and take a look at his presentation!

Had the privilege to hear you speak at St. Henry a few times. Congratulations! Keep up the hard work and fortitude!

 

Thank you VERY MUCH! Always do!