08\/12\/2007 <\/p>\n
A special visitor <\/p>\n
Anna Glazer, Texas Media Relations <\/p>\n
The Longhorns received a little extra encouragement during training
\ncamp recently from 12-year-old Dallas Parker. Dallas, a Texas native
\nwho lives for Longhorn football, was born deaf. Texas head coach Mack
\nBrown invited Dallas out to practice after receiving a letter from his
\nfather, David Parker. <\/p>\n
“I wrote a letter to Mack Brown because (Dallas) lives and breathes
\nTexas football,” said David Parker. “A lot of coaches probably
\nwouldn’t have responded, but Coach Brown did.” <\/p>\n
“All three (of my sons) like football because they used to watch me
\ncoach (at Vista Ridge High School),” said David. “But Dallas loves
\nfootball, especially UT football.” <\/p>\n
Accompanied by his father and his two brothers, Tyler and Jackson,
\nDallas, who has been eagerly awaiting this day for months, finally
\ngot to experience Texas football practice up close. <\/p>\n
“He’s been asking about (attending practice) every day since we heard
\nfrom Coach Brown,” said 13-year-old Tyler. “He bleeds burnt orange.” <\/p>\n
The experience was also particularly meaningful for the Longhorns,
\nsuch as Coach Brown who was reminded of former Longhorn Brad Hermes.
\nHermes is also deaf, but like Dallas, he has not let that hold him
\nback. <\/p>\n
“When Dallas came out to practice today I felt like Brad was back out
\non the practice field with us,” Brown said. “He had a great smile and
\na tremendous attitude, and I thought it was great for a lot of our
\nplayers to get to meet Dallas and spend time with him because he’s a
\nspecial young man.” <\/p>\n
For Dallas, who volunteers with the football team at Vista Ridge High
\nSchool in Leander, Texas, being able to attend practice was been a
\ndream come true. <\/p>\n
“The team has been just unbelievable,” said David. “Dallas got to
\nbreak them down (in the huddle before practice), and a few of the
\nplayers came over and were able to sign with him. He’s just in
\nheaven.” <\/p>\n
One of the players that was able to connect with Dallas was senior LB
\nRobert Killebrew. Killebrew has taken ASL (sign language) at UT and
\nunderstands the importance of being able to communicate with the
\ndeaf. <\/p>\n
“I don’t think people realize how big of a (deaf) community there is,
\nor how important it is for them to have people that they can talk and
\nconnect with,” said Killebrew. <\/p>\n
“My girlfriend’s mom is deaf, and so my girlfriend, who is fluent in
\nsign language, always teaches me so that I’m able to converse with
\nher mom when I see her,” added Killebrew. “I’m really happy that I
\ncould communicate with (Dallas).” <\/p>\n
Texas head trainer Kenny Boyd also really enjoyed meeting Dallas,
\nespecially with the two already having a common acquaintance, Vista
\nRidge trainer Michael Henry. <\/p>\n
“One of the joys of the job is to be able to have a kid like that
\nwith the dream of his to come out and be a part of this, and to be
\nable to see the smile on his face and how it makes him light up makes
\nmy job worthwhile,” said Boyd. <\/p>\n
“It makes all the hours and work that we put in seem a lot easier,
\nand it was really nice to have him out here,” added Boyd. <\/p>\n
Please click this link to view video, images and full articles. <\/p>\n
http:\/\/mackbrown-texasfootball.com\/?s=&url_channel_id=40&url_article_id=3107&change_well_id=2<\/p>\n
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08\/12\/2007 A special visitor Anna Glazer, Texas Media Relations The Longhorns received a little extra encouragement during training camp recently from 12-year-old Dallas Parker. Dallas, a Texas native who lives for Longhorn football, was born deaf. Texas head coach Mack…<\/p>\n