- The following is an essay by Evan Stilwell, #80 on the Tigers' 2003 State Championship team

The Heart of a Champion

To win the State Championship is still a reality that has not quite hit home for all of us.  It is a memory that each of us will hold close to our hearts for a lifetime.  But as I reflect on how my teammates grew as individuals and as a whole, I think back to the summer of my junior year.  That is when my heart focus took a real change.

The summer of 2002 started with my devotion to working out and preparing for another year of football.  I strived for perfection so that I could give my best as I knew my coach wanted within each of us.  That summer, my brother was diagnosed with a very serious heart condition.  After battling months of fevers and joint pain, the doctors were finally able to find out what was causing my little brother so much pain and he was immediately rushed to Texas Children’s Hospital.  He had to undergo so much.  I remember going to visit him on my 17th birthday.  Although there was no celebration for me that year, a bigger celebration was about to unfold.  I told my family that evening that I was willing to give up football so that I could help the family with Nolan and work to earn money to help the family.  My parents never burdened our family with money situations, but I felt I needed to help in some way.  My brother looked up at me from his hospital bed and said, “Bubba don’t quit.” You see, my little brother has Down’s syndrome and although he might not be able to say a lot, what he says to me means a lot. 

At that point, I committed myself to giving my best for my team and for my brother.  During my junior year, Nolan was not able to see many of my games because of the battles he was fighting for his health.  However, this season, he was able to come to just about all of my games.  Each time the coach would put me in to play, I would look up into the stands near the 50 yard line.  I would point to Nolan, letting him know we were in this together.

Celebrating the State Championship with my team mates has been one of the greatest thrills of my life.  As I looked into the stands at the Alamodome to find my brother that day, I realized that the battles he has faced and won would never get the honor and recognition that we as a team were getting that day, but for me he has heart of a true champion and I am thankful to this day for all that he has taught me about life.