We have a special young man in our football family who will receive his first football letter tonight.  He
attended our summer weight program with the goal of becoming bigger and stronger.  He completed over
90% of the workouts and will receive a “Building Your Attitude” Award for his efforts.

During the season, he never missed a practice and battled hard every day while never complaining or
taking the easy way out.  He is small in stature but has the competitive heart and determination of a lion.

This morning, he took his first giant step in defeating the greatest opponent of his young life.  You see, the
player is Michael Downing and his opponent is cancer.  Last Tuesday, he was diagnosed with bone
cancer and today was his first chemo treatment that lasted nine hours.

This season, Michael never scored a touchdown or made the game-saving tackle, but he has a greater
lesson to teach all of us.  He will teach us about courage, determination, and perseverance.  Michael
Downing has the heart to win this battle, and I expect to see him next fall when the season begins.

I hope that all of you remember Michael and his family in your prayers as his treatment will require him to
miss the remainder of the school year.

On behalf of Herb’s Sport Shop, Embroidery Plus, the coaches, players, and I would like for his parents,
Tom and Lacene Downing, to come forward and accept his jacket of courage.  Tom and Lacene, our goal
is for Michael to wear his jacket to all treatments as a sign of unity and brotherhood as ...

                                   “BROTHERS ARE HARD TO BEAT.”

Head Football Coach Mitch Johnson
Fountain-Ft. Carson High School
December 15, 2003