My father is the biggest competitor I know. He will take on any challenge that he finds and put all his effort into overcoming it. Anything that he can't do, he sees as he hasn't done it *yet*. Any game that he can't win, he sees as he hasn't won it *yet*. He wants to prove himself to other people of course, but most of all I think it comes down to his constant drive to improve himself and to become a better person every day. Since I was his only child, of course he passed that spirit on to me. When I played games with him growing up he would come at me with everything he had. I had to earn every win I got against him, but whenever I managed to best him it was an incredible feeling. He would encourage me and share in that joy, and I came to find that same passion that he had for competition.
My father enjoyed almost all competition, but football was his biggest passion. He was a star safety for the University of Minnesota with dreams of eventually playing for a pro team. But those dreams came crashing down when he tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL in a life-altering play in his senior season. His long recovery meant that he missed his first NFL training camp as an undrafted free agent, and by the time he was able to start working to come back he was cut. When the ISFL and DSFL were formed a few years later, he tried out for them as a way to break into pro football, but the lingering effects of his injury and the time since he'd last played meant teams weren't that interested. He never got that second chance. So he passed on something else to me, too: a mission.
Ever since I started playing football, I've had my sights set on the pros. My dad encouraged me, but in passing on that competitive spirit he also lit a fire in me to someday make it to the place that he could never reach. I owe it to him to push myself as far as I can go. Any success I have is a reflection of the success he deserved if not for circumstances outside of his control.
The finish line was the DSFL Draft. Since I declared for the draft in January, I've put all my effort into achieving that goal. I know not everyone takes the Prospect Bowl too seriously, but I was working my butt off in practices for my final chance to impress some scouts. Because of that hard work I was able to record 2 interceptions in our playoff game against Brooklyn. Although it would have felt a lot better to have won that game, I at least had the consolation of knowing that I had put myself in the best position to succeed.
In the leadup to the draft I had talked with scouts from almost every team in the DSFL, so I had confidence that I was at least going to be selected by some team, but I could never have expected what was coming. I guess Kansas City's scouts were paying attention at the Prospect Bowl and appreciated my dedication, because they took me with their 1st round pick. When they called me, I couldn't believe it. My dad had tears welling up in his eyes as I was talking with the Coyotes GM, and as soon as I hung up he had me wrapped up in the biggest hug imaginable. A mission that we've been on together since before I was even born was finally at its end. I was on a pro football roster.
But now that I've reached the finish line, I see that it's just the starting line for a new journey. My focus has been on making it here, but that competitive edge that got me here isn't going away anytime soon. I will keep striving to be the best that I can be and find out just how far I can climb now that I've made it to the pros.
I owe it to my dad.
-Peter Patterson, CB, Kansas City Coyotes
My father enjoyed almost all competition, but football was his biggest passion. He was a star safety for the University of Minnesota with dreams of eventually playing for a pro team. But those dreams came crashing down when he tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL in a life-altering play in his senior season. His long recovery meant that he missed his first NFL training camp as an undrafted free agent, and by the time he was able to start working to come back he was cut. When the ISFL and DSFL were formed a few years later, he tried out for them as a way to break into pro football, but the lingering effects of his injury and the time since he'd last played meant teams weren't that interested. He never got that second chance. So he passed on something else to me, too: a mission.
Ever since I started playing football, I've had my sights set on the pros. My dad encouraged me, but in passing on that competitive spirit he also lit a fire in me to someday make it to the place that he could never reach. I owe it to him to push myself as far as I can go. Any success I have is a reflection of the success he deserved if not for circumstances outside of his control.
The finish line was the DSFL Draft. Since I declared for the draft in January, I've put all my effort into achieving that goal. I know not everyone takes the Prospect Bowl too seriously, but I was working my butt off in practices for my final chance to impress some scouts. Because of that hard work I was able to record 2 interceptions in our playoff game against Brooklyn. Although it would have felt a lot better to have won that game, I at least had the consolation of knowing that I had put myself in the best position to succeed.
In the leadup to the draft I had talked with scouts from almost every team in the DSFL, so I had confidence that I was at least going to be selected by some team, but I could never have expected what was coming. I guess Kansas City's scouts were paying attention at the Prospect Bowl and appreciated my dedication, because they took me with their 1st round pick. When they called me, I couldn't believe it. My dad had tears welling up in his eyes as I was talking with the Coyotes GM, and as soon as I hung up he had me wrapped up in the biggest hug imaginable. A mission that we've been on together since before I was even born was finally at its end. I was on a pro football roster.
But now that I've reached the finish line, I see that it's just the starting line for a new journey. My focus has been on making it here, but that competitive edge that got me here isn't going away anytime soon. I will keep striving to be the best that I can be and find out just how far I can climb now that I've made it to the pros.
I owe it to my dad.
-Peter Patterson, CB, Kansas City Coyotes
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704 words