a story for week 1

So, I share with you, in the spirit of optimism for week 1, this heartwarming tale.

I am a high school teacher in Vermont, and this is my 29th year in fact. Now, there are some Steelers fans around here, as there are everywhere, but they are definitely in the minority in what is Giants and Patriots territory.

We have in our school an advisory system- what other schools would call a home room, that I share with another teacher. Students join us in 9th grade and stay there for all four years of high school.

So, on the first day, it's just 9th graders, who are usually milling around looking lost. This year was no exception.

So, this tiny kid wanders into our classroom, looking much younger than a 9th grader. He was obviously lost and wasn't on mine or my co teacher's list as we had already accounted for our whole class.

I asked him his name, and he gave the name of a former Jets player who was also an announcer in the 1970s. As I am wont to idly and stupidly do, I mentioned that I'd heard of a former Jets player with that same last name.

So, I am expecting to be met with a blank stare. Instead, I heard :

"Was he on the Super Bowl III team? Because that was some team, Broadway Joe and the guarantee. Of course, they would not have won if Johnny Unitas hadn't been injured. Don Maynard was really good though".


My jaw hit the floor. I recovered and said- " so, are the Jets your favorite team then?"

I then hear "No, I am a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Steel Curtain teams of the 1970s".
He then starts listing off names from Steelers history that he knows about, reeling off the entire 70s defensive team and then going back to Ernie Stautner, Bill Dudley and Walt Kiesling (?)

Walt Kiesling? Does any other 9th grader in America know about Walt Kiesling?

So, I'm thinking this can't be real. Was he a plant? Did one of my colleagues set this up?

But oh no. He went to the Hall of Fame game in Canton and saw Troy's induction and even had a picture with him which he showed me proudly on his phone.

So, I said to him, I don't know who your real advisor is supposed to be- but I'm keeping you.

And so we did.

You can easily spot him in our advisory- he's the kid in the Steelers shirt.

 

Cool story

 

Bro.... Just finishing the previous thought.

But nice one.

 

Nice story!
I thought you were going to say he's easy to spot 'cause he's the one with the FMTI shirt!

 

My son is in the 9th grade and knows a ton about sports presently and some history but probably not that much. Just be happy that the kid has some good open dialog. My son is very shy but will surprise people with his sports knowledge. He has always wanted to be a sports announcer and practices since he's been about 3. I told him he needs to work on his shyness. He's actually a really good announcer for his age.

 

Great Story.

 

Good luck with Your Son. He may get over His shyness as He gets older. I did .

 

You sure did

 

Wow..were you S.T.D before your shyness? LMAO. I just had to ask.

 

I may never use the word "cool" again You got an against the rules for it.

 

Cool story bro, changed my life

 

now to follow up- I need to get this kid on this board. Today he spent about 5 minutes giving me a detailed and thorough analysis of the skills and ills of Kevin Dotson's blocking technique. I was amazed- I wonder if he is working for PF Focus on the side.

 

So who the hell is Walt Kiesling?

 

Yes....I just didn't get my 1st dose until after My shyness.

 

LoL

 

He was the 1930s/40s version of Mike Tomlin, except for the winning part.

 

He was a very mediocre Steelers HC in the 1950's who prior to that had a Hall of Fame career as an offensive lineman.

 

Isn't this kid the Footballanalyst?