Sooner or later.

“I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy,

To be calm when you've found something going on.

But take your time, think a lot,

Why, think of everything you've got.

For you will still be here tomorrow, 

but your dreams may not.”

A few weeks ago I wrote about a father and son who I met at the Iowa State V. Oklahoma game in Ames, IA. They were there cheering on their favorite team, The University of Oklahoma Sooners; “cheering” is the only word that comes to mind, but it was much more than that—it was all about an incredible bond between a father and son who were on the experience of a lifetime.

After I wrote that particular entry of “Snap. Shot.” I heard from Bill (the Father) after he had read it. Needless to say he was pleased I had written about he and his son, J.T., but honestly, it was such a unique experience, I felt I had to share—I also left out much of their story.

Until today.

A few days after our first talk, I spoke with Bill again; I wanted to learn more about the leather helmets, passion for OU football, and how it all started with he and his son traveling to games. His story is really quite remarkable, transparent, and something we all need to think about when raising our children. Apparently Bill, like many of us, has seen how outside forces can disrupt our lives and take us on unexpected paths. He dealt with divorce, excessiveness in areas of his life, and a family that was going through a very challenging time. In other words, he was just like the rest of us. No real biggie.

Oh, but it was a biggie!

As he was trying to deal with life’s issues, so was his son. A son who was seriously in need of someone to listen to his needs, and be assured he was going to be heard! According to Bill, it was going to take much more than just a quick conversation that clears everything up and everyone walks away happy. Nope, far from it. JT was struggling, and his calling out for help was well beyond the norm. So he and Bill looked for something… a mutual connection…one that they both could experience “together.” That connection, believe it or not, turned out to be college football held in a stadium that holds over 80,000 people —where 2 in attendance are looking to build an unbreakable bond. Whoa.

The first time they went to an OU game, JT was very close to the action—he had a front row/rail position where he could be as close to the players as possible and get to experience the game; that is, without being hit. As games passed he would give the players—-and anyone else walking by, “high-fives”— as you might guess, over time “strangers” became friends, and suddenly he was very much a part of the “Sooner” scene.

As the years have passed, OU players, and even the marching band, now look for JT at games (he cheers for the band—who cheers for the marching band?);  a group of OU ambassadors--known as the “RUF/NEKS," whose purpose is to create enthusiasm and engage with the fans at the games— regularly seek him out. His passion for OU player, Joe Mixon, (Google him) is well beyond that of a person his age. In fact, if you met JT, at least as how he has been described to me by Bill, you would vote for him to be one of the team captains at something affiliated with the University. (Most probably football!)

Okay, so now what?

This past season, JT and Bill went to every regular OU game and recent bowl game—home and away. (This was not their first time doing this.) This type of bonding is much more than your average father and son outing, it's about how two souls literally “saved each other” from what could have been a very unfortunate outcome. As a pair, they faced the lowest of lows, and have found the strength to rise up and celebrate "one another" through a common passion—Football and The University of Oklahoma. Whereas football is an important part of it, it was the connection and care both had for one another, that made this a story worth writing about. How cool is that?

The photo above was taken at the game; sure it  was a great catch, but the real experience was being able to walk down the sidelines during halftime and witness a bond between a father and son clad in two leather helmets. As parents we need to be present for our children and vice versa. We get busy, we get side-tracked, we sometimes take things for granted—what I learned from these two individuals was love and respect really does conquer all. What an experience for a photographer taking pictures, on a warm November night, in the middle of Iowa.

Thanks for stopping by.