As Brian Westbrook headed into the end-zone on a dazzling 49 nine yard touchdown scamper in Sunday's Wild Card game against the New York Giants, he left a trail of sprawled out bodies in his path. Although he is far from a household name, it was evident to the national television audience that this guy is something special. As Brian Westbrook gains more notoriety around the NFL, I think it is imperative that his story be told. The story of Brain Westbrook is not one of glitz and glamour, but of heart and determination.
This story begins in Fort Worth, Maryland, where Westbrook grew up in a small housing development a stones throw away from Washington, D.C. It was here that Westbrook began his dream. A dream that just about everyone told him was unattainable.
At first he was told that he was too small to even think about playing football in high school. Westbrook ignored his doubters and went to play varsity football at Damatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD. Despite being denied an opportunity because of his height during his freshman year, Westbrook at 5'2 came back and made the team his sophomore year.
Although Westbrook was told he was till to small to play football in college, he once again defied the odds and began his career at Villanova University in 1997. He went onto to shatter the record books at Villanova. By the time he was entering in the NFL Draft, Westbrook held the All-time NCAA record, with 9, 512 all purpose yards. In 46 career games, he scored 542 points with 84 touchdowns, carried the ball 734 times for 4298 yards, caught 219 passes for 2,582 yards and 4 TD's on kick returns. In this period Westbrook also established 41 school records and 13 Atlantic Ten Conference records. It must also be noted that in 1998 Westbrook became the first players in college history to amass 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.
Despite all of his collegiate accomplishments, Wesbtbrook still had a difficult time trying to convince an NFL team to draft him in 2002. It was not until the third round that the Eagles took a chance on him. Defying odds at 5'8 and 200 lbs, Westbrook was one step away from his dream of making it to the NFL.
It was not until mid-way though the 2003 season that Westbrook made it known to everyone watching, that he was something special. In an October 19 game at the Meadowlands, he returned a punt for a touchdown in the final minutes to seal the victory for the Eagles. This play many will argue, turned that season around for the Eagles. Although the Eagles lost to the Carolina panthers in the NFC Championship game, people began to notice that Brian Westbrook had arrived.
It was not until the 2004 season that Westbrook began to captivate everyone who watched him. With the departure of Duce Staley to the Steelers and an injury to Correll Buckhalter, Westbrook became the go to guy in Philadelphia. It was during this season that he rushed for a career high 812 yards and led all NFL backs with 73 receptions for 703 yards.
This year Westbrook stepped up to fill the leadership void caused by the season ending injury to Donovan Mcnabb. He has been nothing less then spectacular, once again breaking the 1,000 yard mark. It is amazing that a correlation can be drawn between this player and a famous children's story, "The Little Engine That Could". For those of you who haven't read this story, this is the gist:
"A little railroad engine was employed about a station yard for such work as it was built for, pulling a few cars on and off the switches. One morning it was waiting for the next call when a long train of freight-cars asked a large engine in the roundhouse to take it over the hill "I can't; that is too much a pull for me," said the great engine built for hard work. Then the train asked another engine, and another, only to hear excuses and be refused. At last in desperation the train asked the little switch engine to draw it up the grade and down on the other side. "I think I can," puffed the little locomotive, and put itself in front of the great heavy train. As it went on the little engine kept bravely puffing faster and faster, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."
Then as it near the top of the grade, that had so discouraged the larger engines, it went more slowly, but still kept saying, "I--think--I--can, I--think--I--can." It reached the top by dint of brave effort and then went on down the grade, congratulating itself, "I thought I could, I thought I could."
On Sunday as I sat next to my good friend in section 205 and watched Westbrook put the Eagles on his shoulders in the final minutes of the game and grind the ball into field goal range, I could not help but wonder why anyone had overlooked this little engine. It also left me to wonder how many times this man has been told he could not accomplish something, only to reply with certainty.. "I--think--I--can, I--think--I--can".
Now I know why he is called the wizard. Please, Brian bring us some more Magic.
This story begins in Fort Worth, Maryland, where Westbrook grew up in a small housing development a stones throw away from Washington, D.C. It was here that Westbrook began his dream. A dream that just about everyone told him was unattainable.
At first he was told that he was too small to even think about playing football in high school. Westbrook ignored his doubters and went to play varsity football at Damatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD. Despite being denied an opportunity because of his height during his freshman year, Westbrook at 5'2 came back and made the team his sophomore year.
Although Westbrook was told he was till to small to play football in college, he once again defied the odds and began his career at Villanova University in 1997. He went onto to shatter the record books at Villanova. By the time he was entering in the NFL Draft, Westbrook held the All-time NCAA record, with 9, 512 all purpose yards. In 46 career games, he scored 542 points with 84 touchdowns, carried the ball 734 times for 4298 yards, caught 219 passes for 2,582 yards and 4 TD's on kick returns. In this period Westbrook also established 41 school records and 13 Atlantic Ten Conference records. It must also be noted that in 1998 Westbrook became the first players in college history to amass 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.
Despite all of his collegiate accomplishments, Wesbtbrook still had a difficult time trying to convince an NFL team to draft him in 2002. It was not until the third round that the Eagles took a chance on him. Defying odds at 5'8 and 200 lbs, Westbrook was one step away from his dream of making it to the NFL.
It was not until mid-way though the 2003 season that Westbrook made it known to everyone watching, that he was something special. In an October 19 game at the Meadowlands, he returned a punt for a touchdown in the final minutes to seal the victory for the Eagles. This play many will argue, turned that season around for the Eagles. Although the Eagles lost to the Carolina panthers in the NFC Championship game, people began to notice that Brian Westbrook had arrived.
It was not until the 2004 season that Westbrook began to captivate everyone who watched him. With the departure of Duce Staley to the Steelers and an injury to Correll Buckhalter, Westbrook became the go to guy in Philadelphia. It was during this season that he rushed for a career high 812 yards and led all NFL backs with 73 receptions for 703 yards.
This year Westbrook stepped up to fill the leadership void caused by the season ending injury to Donovan Mcnabb. He has been nothing less then spectacular, once again breaking the 1,000 yard mark. It is amazing that a correlation can be drawn between this player and a famous children's story, "The Little Engine That Could". For those of you who haven't read this story, this is the gist:
"A little railroad engine was employed about a station yard for such work as it was built for, pulling a few cars on and off the switches. One morning it was waiting for the next call when a long train of freight-cars asked a large engine in the roundhouse to take it over the hill "I can't; that is too much a pull for me," said the great engine built for hard work. Then the train asked another engine, and another, only to hear excuses and be refused. At last in desperation the train asked the little switch engine to draw it up the grade and down on the other side. "I think I can," puffed the little locomotive, and put itself in front of the great heavy train. As it went on the little engine kept bravely puffing faster and faster, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."
Then as it near the top of the grade, that had so discouraged the larger engines, it went more slowly, but still kept saying, "I--think--I--can, I--think--I--can." It reached the top by dint of brave effort and then went on down the grade, congratulating itself, "I thought I could, I thought I could."
On Sunday as I sat next to my good friend in section 205 and watched Westbrook put the Eagles on his shoulders in the final minutes of the game and grind the ball into field goal range, I could not help but wonder why anyone had overlooked this little engine. It also left me to wonder how many times this man has been told he could not accomplish something, only to reply with certainty.. "I--think--I--can, I--think--I--can".
Now I know why he is called the wizard. Please, Brian bring us some more Magic.
