:notworthy

 

At 3-feet, 112 pounds, Martin is a backup varsity noseguard and plays on the punt and kickoff coverage teams for Dayton's Colonel White High.

 

 

USAToday article about him:

 

 

 

Bobby Martin doesn't want pity. He only wants to make tackles. "I don't care who's in front of me, I just want to find the ball carrier and cause a fumble. That's my job," says Martin, a senior nose tackle for Colonel White High in Dayton, Ohio.

 

He recorded his first varsity tackle Aug. 28 against Valley View (Germantown). After shedding the center, he found the quarterback, tackling him behind the line of scrimmage. It's a typical tackle for some, but not for Martin, who was born without legs.

 

His body ends just below the waist. Prosthetic legs aren't option because he lacks a lower body in which to affix them.

 

Martin, 17, uses his arms to walk on field. He measures 3-1, 110 pounds and is thigh-high to his teammates. Off the field, he uses a specially-designed skateboard to get around, nixing a wheelchair. He's already the school's most popular student and would like to design computer software after finishing college and play football.

 

"I don't want it (football) to end here," he says.

 

Colonel White coach Earl White has known Martin since elementary school. White coached wrestling at Roth Middle School and encouraged Martin to try out for the team. He took to the sport quickly, placing second in the city tournament as an eighth-grader. But he strayed from sports for his first three years of high school, attending two other schools, but has found a home at Colonel White and on the field.

 

"People who've been around Bobby for a while view him as normal," White says. "Not many could overcome what he has, but Bobby has and can walk. He just does it differently."

 

Martin's muscular upper torso allows him to walk on his hands. He shifts his body back and forth. "My arms are my legs," Martin says. "When I tackle, I must wrap my arms around their legs and just squeeze as hard as I can. He has no choice but go down (to the ground)."

 

His decision to play football received the endorsement of his mother, Gloria Martin. "She raised me to be dependent on myself," he says.

 

Said White: "Determination is what separates him from others. It's hard to deny him."

 

But Martin was denied a chance to play last week against Mount Healthy (Cincinnati) by the game's assigned officials, who cited improper equipment.

 

Dayton Public Schools athletics director Jonas Smith, who oversees five high schools, says: "They (the officials) said he wasn't wearing shoes and other (protective) pads. It was their call, but I was disappointed with the decision."

 

The Ohio High School Athletic Association this week cleared Martin to play the remainder of the season. Martin splits time between the varsity and junior varsity. He starts for junior varsity and recorded four tackles in his last game. On the varsity, he's participated in 10 plays and is on the punt return team, where he's made a tackle.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/footb...22-martin_x.htm

That's amazing. Great story

How does he play though?

I mean, it's amazing, but how would he hold the ball if the time comes and run?

How does he play though?

I mean, it's amazing, but how would he hold the ball if the time comes and run?

 

 

Exactly, I saw the story on the news and it's kind of weird because he can't DO anything. I'm not hating, but if that kid comes in, you just blitz your corner and all day long and it's game over.

 

I'm going to try and put him on NCAA, think it'll let me? How tall is he exactly?

 

I appluad them for letting him practice, man, football is the LAST sport that I would want to play.

How does he play though?

I mean, it's amazing, but how would he hold the ball if the time comes and run?

 

 

Exactly, I saw the story on the news and it's kind of weird because he can't DO anything. I'm not hating, but if that kid comes in, you just blitz your corner and all day long and it's game over.

 

I'm going to try and put him on NCAA, think it'll let me? How tall is he exactly?

 

I appluad them for letting him practice, man, football is the LAST sport that I would want to play.

Um, he is a nose guard and plays on special teams.

How does he play though?

I mean, it's amazing, but how would he hold the ball if the time comes and run?

 

 

Exactly, I saw the story on the news and it's kind of weird because he can't DO anything. I'm not hating, but if that kid comes in, you just blitz your corner and all day long and it's game over.

 

I'm going to try and put him on NCAA, think it'll let me? How tall is he exactly?

 

I appluad them for letting him practice, man, football is the LAST sport that I would want to play.

Um, he is a nose guard and plays on special teams.

 

I meant in a literal sense. Who's he going to tackle?

How does he play though?

I mean, it's amazing, but how would he hold the ball if the time comes and run?

 

 

Exactly, I saw the story on the news and it's kind of weird because he can't DO anything. I'm not hating, but if that kid comes in, you just blitz your corner and all day long and it's game over.

 

I'm going to try and put him on NCAA, think it'll let me? How tall is he exactly?

 

I appluad them for letting him practice, man, football is the LAST sport that I would want to play.

Um, he is a nose guard and plays on special teams.

 

I meant in a literal sense. Who's he going to tackle?

It said in his last game he made 4 tackles, so obviously he took someone down.

 

And leave it to you to rag on a kid working his ass off and overcoming having no legs.

The most effective way to takle is to get low anyway. I'd say if speed isn't a problem for him he has an advantage by already being low.

A nose guard doesn't really have to move around too much, just try to plug up the middle so the running back can't get through. He can probably make his presence felt quite a bit.

 

Anyways, I applaud him, a lot of people in his situation would have given up.

Plus, immagine trying to block the guy. He probably gets awesome penetration.

Great story.

 

Thats probably the best story I've heard in months.

How does he play though?

I mean, it's amazing, but how would he hold the ball if the time comes and run?

 

 

Exactly, I saw the story on the news and it's kind of weird because he can't DO anything. I'm not hating, but if that kid comes in, you just blitz your corner and all day long and it's game over.

 

I'm going to try and put him on NCAA, think it'll let me? How tall is he exactly?

 

I appluad them for letting him practice, man, football is the LAST sport that I would want to play.

Um, he is a nose guard and plays on special teams.

 

I meant in a literal sense. Who's he going to tackle?

 

He's already got a sack......

 

He recorded his first varsity tackle Aug. 28 against Valley View (Germantown). After shedding the center, he found the quarterback, tackling him behind the line of scrimmage.

How the heck would you block him?

That's crazy he was just simply born without legs but I suppose it happens. Incredible story though, great for him that he's so determined and lives his life just like any other person.

Wow great story props to him!

He's getting press because refs wouldn't let him play the 2nd half of a game. Great story though.

How does he play though?

I mean, it's amazing, but how would he hold the ball if the time comes and run?

 

 

Exactly, I saw the story on the news and it's kind of weird because he can't DO anything. I'm not hating, but if that kid comes in, you just blitz your corner and all day long and it's game over.

 

I'm going to try and put him on NCAA, think it'll let me? How tall is he exactly?

 

I appluad them for letting him practice, man, football is the LAST sport that I would want to play.

Um, he is a nose guard and plays on special teams.

 

I meant in a literal sense. Who's he going to tackle?

It said in his last game he made 4 tackles, so obviously he took someone down.

 

And leave it to you to rag on a kid working his ass off and overcoming having no legs.

 

I never "ragged" on him (people still say that?). All I said was some people can't do some things. That's a fact, the way the world is. If you want to dispute that then you don't have a problem with me, you have a problem with something else...

 

All I'm saying is, on average, he has more chance of getting hurt. Let's SAY a big special teams dude wants to make a play but some dood without legs is in his way, one way or another you're getting out of his way. The kid doesn't have the ability to NOT get knocked the f*** out.

 

Is it not fair? No. But you deal with it. I give him props for trying, but if they have to make special allowances (like make special "don't count" plays with him in them) or whatever, then it kind of lessens the point.

 

To Hugg: I'd block him by stepping over him. *step* And if he grabs my leg, he better hold on for dear life. Because he's going for a ride.

How the heck would you block him?

 

 

I would just push him to the ground, i mean he's already low

 

but i would feel weird blockin someone who's 3 feet. That'd just feel mean.

 

But yeah, i'd just get him down on the ground. Yeah cant really drive him.

To Hugg: I'd block him by stepping over him.

 

Um, if you're stepping over him, you're hardly blocking him brah.

To Hugg: I'd block him by stepping over him.

 

Um, if you're stepping over him, you're hardly blocking him brah.

 

 

well, if youre running like to the A gap (between center and guard) on the right, and he's lined up there, you're not really gonna get him out. You just get him on the ground and have the running back read it and go to your left. That's the RB's job anyways, you don't necesarily have to make the hole where it's supposed to be, you just make a hole and he should find it.

To Hugg: I'd block him by stepping over him.

 

Um, if you're stepping over him, you're hardly blocking him brah.

 

Yeah, 'cause I'm sure I need to worry about his 4.3 forty speed.

He can grab BOTH your legs and you aint going no where. I'm not saying he could be a great player, but I don't see why he can't play at the high school level if he's fast enough.

 

A 4.3 forty with his hands? That would be sick.

he can bench press two times the size of his weight.