Matt Ziesel's Touchdown Run

http://www.kansascity.com/703/story/1... Freshman Matt Ziesel scores a touchdown against Maryville. Below is a little write-up from the Ziesel family for those of you not familiar with Matt: Matt is a special athlete who has Down Syndrome. He loves football and has grown up in an environment surrounded by sports. His father is a coach/ athletic director, and all his siblings play sports. He grew up at athletic events, and has always been a cheerleader. He registered as a freshman at Benton High School -Saint Joseph, MO this year, and told his mother and father he wanted to play football. The team takes good care of looking after Matt, and he is still the cheerleader on the sidelines. He puts his pads and helmet on, stands next to Coach McCamy and waits for his turn to play. Over and over during the course of the game Matt will say, "Coach McCamy, I am ready! I am ready Coach!" On this Monday night coach gave him a chance. The Cardinals were down by a few touchdowns with 15 seconds left. Coach McCamy called a timeout and asked the coach of Maryville High School if they could run their "Matt Play". He agreed and this is where the video begins. Thanks to Coach McCamy and the freshman coach at Maryville, Matt and his family will cherish his moment forever!

- Sincerely The Ziesel Family

Follow-Up:
Thank you everyone for your interest in this video. It amazes me the number of people across the nation and the world that were touched by this video of Matt scoring a touchdown. For those that don't know, I put the video on Youtube so that Patty, Matt's mom, could see the play because she wasn't at the game. Youtube seemed to be the easiest way to get it to her and my fellow football coaches via a youtube link in an email. Since then it has become a national phenomenon. The Lord works in mysterious ways and I believe he was working through Matt and the freshmen football teams in this situation. Truly a blessing to see the impact this touchdown has had on people around the world. I have received numerous emails from people all across the land sharing their words of appreciation. There has also been over 1,700 comments shared under the video, with the majority of them being very positive. I thank you all. You have no idea how much that means to hear those kind words. There is a lot of compassion in this world and I appreciate those of you supporting Matt. This entire thing has been a life-changing experience many involved.
Coach McCamy

• Category

  Sports

[Lori Cooper]

I know this young man. What you and the other haters don't understand is that he works out with the football team every single day. He attends weight training and summer camp in 100º degree heat with his teammates. He is part of the team, working every bit as hard as his teammates, if not harder. The only difference is, he can't experience the joy of playing in the football games because of his disability. That's what's not fair! Why hate on him because he got the chance to live a dream?

[wetnoodleslapper]

For all of those people hating on this kid because he has a disability u guys are fucking asshole amnd bitches and there is no way u would call him "retard" to his face with his parents around because you would get the shit kicked out of you. You are all pussies.

[Paul Gwiazdowski]

Good job Matt hope you don't listen to these guys it's not nice they have never experienced it

[Will Marchand]

Really? You are going to say that to a kid with down syndrome. Really?

[Jonathon Toal]

Dat wuz de WORST 50 seconds of my life jesus learn how to run

[Dana R.]

Yall need to stop , he is an inspriration to me & for all of you haters out there get a life and do somthing wit it.

[Sergey Porochin]

Half of you assholes that have commented on this video either suck at football, or have never scored a touchdown. Some of you can't handle the sport and what it even takes, just sit on the computer and talk shit. This kid had the guts to face the challenges and all the hard work it takes to be an athlete. God Bless him and his family.

[easton909]

god bless u matt u r awesome i look up 2 u u r an inperation god bless u!:)

[6michaeljordan]

go to hell

[Mport416]

Fuck all yall i love workin with dislexic people they got giant hearts unlike yall

[leonhardrocks]

All you hating assholes get a life stop hating on Matt. If you were like him you would want to live your dreams too, and not be called any bad names. ive been friends and helping kids with his disability since 09 as a freshman and they are the best and nicest kind of people with HUGE HUGE hearts and better than all of you hating assholes get a life and go live it instead of hating on Matt because he has gotten to live his dream and you didnt. SMH

[CallOfDashie]

You are an idiot too.