Autism can’t keep player from game
Posted on Friday, October 5, 2007
GENTRY - Gentry junior Eric Watkins may have autism, but that hasn't kept him from developing an obsession for football.
Every Saturday, Watkins keeps tabs on his favorite college team, the University of Southern California. On Sundays, he's all about Reggie Bush and the New Orleans Saints.
And Monday through Thursday, he hits the practice field with his varsity teammates at Gentry High School.
The time of day Watkins most dreads is when football practice comes to an end. He just wants to keep going.
But Fridays are the best days of all: game day.
"He always finds me and says, ' I'm going to drill the quarterback tonight, coach, '"first-year Gentry coach Brian Little said. "You have to love his enthusiasm."
Watkins wears his No. 15 jersey in the hallways with pride. He lets everyone know he's on the football team. And when he runs into a teammate, he looks up and says," I'm ready to bang bang, boom boom."
Watkins has been embraced by his teammates and Little. For this 17-year-old, that's even more important than sending the opposing quarterback to the turf. Watkins lives with autism - a bioneurological developmental disability.
The California native has made significant strides since being diagnosed several years ago, but having the opportunity to put on a football uniform may be resulting in Watkins' largest developmental strides yet.
"I've been blown away by how much Eric has changed since the first practice," said Watkins' cousin Doug Switzer, a senior on the Gentry football team. "At first, he was the most uncoordinated person out there when we did our agility drills, like high knees, butt kicks and backpedaling. But now he's awesome. He's been such a motivating factor for me, watching him work so hard."
"His physical abilities are definitely improved," said Eric's mother, Esther Watkins. "He runs with a gate, but it's so much better than it was. Even his relatives have noticed when they see him now.
"I've always been very disciplined at home, but now he's getting it from other people. They don't let him get away with anything. They treat him just like any other player. There were times when he used to get upset or not do his chores at home before, but all of a sudden, it's never a problem any more."
Watkins, like most autistic individuals, tends to be center focused. He sees the world from his point of view and no one else's. He has an extremely good long-term memory. You mention something to him once and, odds are, he'll be able to repeat it verbatim several months or years later. But truly absorbing instructions and what he reads is much more of a challenge.
"I sit in the stands at the games, and I watch the other players," Esther Watkins said. "I've seen a whole lot of very positive interaction on the sidelines. I don't know if other people know how good that makes a mother feel. Eric doesn't have some of the normal social skills. He's a lot more childlike in some regards.
"People don't often seek out someone with autism to include in their circle. So to see the bond that's developed with Eric and his coaches and teammates, it's something special."
On the Gentry roster, Watkins is listed as a receiver and defensive back, but memorizing pass patterns and such can be troublesome. But even that has become easier with repetition over the course of the season. Those challenges have not dried Watkins' enthusiasm for the game.
Perhaps the most exciting moment for Gentry this season was Sept. 14 at Decatur. The Pioneers had built a considerable lead against the Bulldogs, which provided an opportunity for coaches to shuffle in the second- and third-string players during the second half. Watkins attends every practice but rarely plays in a game. But on this day, it was different.
"I remember some of the guys patting me on the helmet, telling me it's going to happen," Watkins said.
Little put Watkins in the game, and the Gentry fans and sidelines erupted with applause. The junior went running onto the field, and it was obvious he had never been so proud.
"Coach put me in," Watkins said. "I finally got a star on my helmet."
"Eric's come a long way," Little said. "But it's not just Eric that's benefiting. He's impacted me. He's impacted the other players. You watch this kid with all his enthusiasm for one day, and you can't help but learn from him."
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