From DPS to the Denver Broncos: Phillip Lindsay's Story

Описание: TRANSCRIPT:
(Music throughout)

“We always knew what he could do!”
Denver South High School alum Phillip Lindsay has Colorado on its feet.
“Everybody’s fired up about it, and they should be because he’s fired up about them. He’s all about this state. And everything that it represents.”
“What’s up man? What’s up?” (Applause)
It’s why he’s back in Denver Public Schools, meeting with the West Cowboys football team.
“As you know I’m from the DPS, man. I represent to that fullest. And I’m proud to be from here.”
And proud of his story. From dealing with season-ending injuries, to a learning disability. And recently:
“There’s nothing better than being undrafted and you prove everybody wrong. That’s… there’s no better feeling.”
But before all that, before football, there’s the family behind him – deeply rooted in DPS.
“He’s representing all of the Lindsays.”
Tony Lindsay is Phillip’s uncle. He coached him at Denver South.
“Even out there on the field with the Broncos, he goes in there… there’s an energy out there. Ya gotta really watch it. That’s how it was at CU. That’s how it was at South. That’s how it was in little league!”
(Music)
Just as Phillip’s success is no surprise to his family, neither is the resurgence of high school football in DPS.
“We want them to have the opportunity to be able to go onto college and hopefully get a degree, but still play football if they can.”
Phillip and his family – and there are a lot of them – have all been a part of futures football, which started in 2009 to revive high school football in DPS.
“Well you talk about Denver South a few years back making it to the state championship…”
(cheers, claps)
“That was one of the first futures teams for south with Phillip Lindsay on that team.”
Bobby Mestas is director of youth and high school football with the Denver Broncos, which has been instrumental in creating and growing the program. It builds rapport between high school coaches and middle school student athletes while focusing on character development.
“Help these student athletes – as they transition to high school – give them the most that… just give them the best chance for success that we can.”
“A lot of them don’t have that push. So we’re that push for these young men.”
And Phillip’s story of perseverance is that push for students across DPS.
“It’s incredibly relevant for our kids, because they get to see someone who sat in the same classrooms, who played on the same fields… make those dreams come true.”
“Keep that dream alive, brother.”
And it’s why Phillip has never been more fired up about the role he plays in this community.
Football it comes and goes. And Football… it teaches you life lessons. It teaches you character. It teaches you how to be a young man. And I hope that’s what I get to these kids today.”
1-2-3… West!
For DPS features, I’m Ben McKee.