1970 Annual HL Et alll ri CH a Lira Football 4 i Pd i Austad PLT ell fe | i Evans ne i I Mark Giving Chariman with Heart CONTENTS: Application Pending | The Alumni News The American game of football has been described by one competitor as “legalized murder.” Others have called it “September madness” and the most vats sport ci oman Combat. There are times, however when A ieereath the brutal facade there beats a very human Second-class postage paid at Ogden, Utah Published quarterly at Weber State College with editorial offices in the Student Union Building, Ogden, Utah 84403. Vol. 7 No. 4, October, 1970 Michael C. Macfarlane ‘62 - editor The Alumni News is mailed, at no charge, to alumni of Weber State College. Associated of Weber Alumni State t College Football With A Heart Member American Alumni Council OFFICERS LeRoy Mecham, President Roy C. Nelson, First Vice President Wilford G. Fowers, Second Vice President BOARD Joseph OF Austad To Head Annual Fund 800d prospect for professional football. Bob Wilson has Gift To Environmental Studies Only one good eye. Wilson was just what the doctor ordered for Brett, he sat down and told the boy that it Was still possible for him to be an outstanding athlete, but It would require more of him than it did of the other a. - eS an it would take courage and hard work DIRECTORS H. Florence, Immediate Past President Mary Rae Christensen Allen Ivan J. Heslop Jane Powell Eddins Thair Blackburn Dr. A. LeMoyne Petersen Dr. Rulon Garfield Ronald T. Halverson Paul Bott Lyle Wynn William Hudson Raelene Sommers Brian Norma Litchfield Willie Michael C. Macfarlane, Executive Director Dr. James R. Foulger, Alumni Treasurer ; Business Dean Dr. William P. Miller, W.S.C. President Wayne Hill, Senior Class President Remember When etermination. Brett listened and he believed, he knew where he had to go Bob Wilson had ‘ ie en Parents that a One shot. b i, a Alum nus a confused and very frightened boy when into the hospital. The doctors told Brett’s ere was some hope, only about a 1000 to still some hope they might save the eye. Operating ro Ound courage to take with him into the Who payed a ; in the form of his newly acquired friends Visited the gular visits to the hospital. Coach Arslanian kind Word Oy three and four times a day to pass along a Board Of Directors ~ Ballot ae © eady been. Back Ce ? M. eart. p the Spring of the year we were witness to an incident that put a lump in our throats, brushed the clouds away from the sun and moves us to take our editorial hats off to the football team and coaching staff at Weber State College. Earlier in the Spring, Brett Roberts, 12 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Roberts of Ogden, was playing in his yard when he was hit in the eye with an old phonograph record thrown into the air by some other boys. The boys eye was seriously injured and he was taken to the emergency room at the David O. McKay hospital for treatment. Weber State football coach Sark Arslanian was at the hospital when the boy was admitted and he struck Up a conversation with him in an attempt to cheer him up. Possibly losing an eye was a very sobering thought to an active 12 year old, who like all boys his age had dreams of professional sports. A few days later coach Sark returned to the hospital to see Brett and brought with him assistant coaches Bud Belnap, Doug Hunt, and Jim Schmedding and defensive back Bob Wilson. Bob Wilson took a special interest in the plight of Brett Roberts. Wilson is one of the Outstanding performers on the Weber State team and a Ethnic Studies At Weber State New a The odds a tty to cheer him up. When h 2 ne his eye were never in Bretts favor and faised of oe of surgery he and his parents were BE else - econ, Brett’s Ogra With aa act that oe he a had er lost the eye. te After ns But ne Mer hande rim a_ footba the entire Weber State team and engraved --- Brett Roberts, official member of the Weber State football team.” When Brett’s accident had become known, Bob Wilson and big defensive tackle Bob Pollard went to Coach Arslanian and told him that the team wanted to adopt Brett as an official member of the team and had chipped in to give him a game ball. The boy now accepted the news of the doctors remarkably well. For several days prior to the surgery a deep depression had settled over the boy and he could find happiness in nothing, feeling only that he was going to be “different” from other boys and unable to enjoy a normal activity. Because of the kindness of the Weber State players and coaching staff the boy once more had hope and could look to the future with promise. Brett attended the Spring practice game, sat on the bench with the team and joined them in the locker room at the half. During the 1970 season Brett will join the team for all pregame meals before home games, will be with them in the locker room and will join the other members of the team on the bench to cheer for his heroes and team mates. Newspapers all over the United States picked up this remarkable story. Clippings began pouring in to the Weber State athletic office from every part of the country. Features were run in newspapers in Palo Alto, California, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, San Jose, Detroit and a score of major cities over the AP and UPI wire services. Coach Arslanian showed me a stack of letters on his desk from interested people around the country who sent wishes to Brett and extended a thank you and well done to him and his staff. Many similar letters went to the Roberts home. The Story of Brett Roberts does not end here. We may hear more of this young man in the next few years and we will certainly be watching the local sports pages. Athletics are full of stories of courage in the face of great physical hardship and perhaps the story of Brett Roberts will some day be told along with the experiences of Glenn Cunningham, Eddie LeBaron and Bob Wilson. Football is a rough game and it is played by tough men who must make every play hit a little harder and must look a little meaner to keep their place in this contest of organized violence. But we want to take this time to say thank you to a football team that has proven that their hearts are as big as their muscles and have taken the time to gently lead a frightened and injured boy back onto the road to recovering his health and his belief in himself. Regardless of how Weber State finishes the season, in our book they have won in a big way already. We don’t mean to take up too much time passing out bouquets, but a healthy handshake is in order for Coach Sark Arslanian, his staff, the entire football team and a very courageous boy.