|
|
|
Brookfield, Mo. —
For many young football players, the thrill of Friday Night Lights is something they have to wait for high school to experience. For Billy Stroud, however, he has experienced this thrill for most of his life. Billy’s father Bobby, who passed away in 2006 from kidney failure, was a long-time equipment manager for the Bulldogs football team. Billy was never far from his Dad’s side and lives his family’s legacy on every weekend as a senior on the Brookfield football team.
“I have been playing football since third grade,” said Stroud. “I started in the pee wee football program here in town.” Billy and I sat down near the end zone last weekend before the pee wee and little league football teams played their games for the day to reminisce for a bit.
Much like the little tykes that were staring wide-eyed at one of their “Boys of Fall,” Billy began his love of the game in their shoes. “I just thank God that my Dad got me started early,” said Stroud. “It’s one of those things that just stuck with me.”
“Growing up, what you went to school for all week was Friday night. You got off the bus, came home, and got ready for the football game,” recalled Stroud. “There is no better feeling on a Friday night than coming out of that locker room. I have great teammates and a great coaching staff. The team has been together since third grade, and this is how we have always wanted it.”
Being a Bulldog means the world to Billy Stroud, as being a part of the team meant to his father before him. “This is what I’ve dreamed about, this is what he wanted to see me do. I couldn’t ask for more,” said Stroud. “There isn’t a practice or game that doesn’t go by that I don’t think of him. I know there isn’t anywhere else he would have rather been than here on a Friday night.”
Bobby Stroud had a pair of wishes prior to his passing: one, to see his daughter Bobbie graduate and go to nursing school; the other, to see Billy play on Friday nights. Both of these dreams came to pass, but too late for the elder Stroud to see .
“Not only did I lose my father, I lost my best friend,” said Billy. “[Me playing football] means a lot to the family. There is no better place than Brookfield. I want to thank everyone who has helped me from my freshmen through senior year. There are a lot of memories.”
See the LCL for the full story
For many young football players, the thrill of Friday Night Lights is something they have to wait for high school to experience. For Billy Stroud, however, he has experienced this thrill for most of his life. Billy’s father Bobby, who passed away in 2006 from kidney failure, was a long-time equipment manager for the Bulldogs football team. Billy was never far from his Dad’s side and lives his family’s legacy on every weekend as a senior on the Brookfield football team.
“I have been playing football since third grade,” said Stroud. “I started in the pee wee football program here in town.” Billy and I sat down near the end zone last weekend before the pee wee and little league football teams played their games for the day to reminisce for a bit.
Much like the little tykes that were staring wide-eyed at one of their “Boys of Fall,” Billy began his love of the game in their shoes. “I just thank God that my Dad got me started early,” said Stroud. “It’s one of those things that just stuck with me.”
“Growing up, what you went to school for all week was Friday night. You got off the bus, came home, and got ready for the football game,” recalled Stroud. “There is no better feeling on a Friday night than coming out of that locker room. I have great teammates and a great coaching staff. The team has been together since third grade, and this is how we have always wanted it.”
Being a Bulldog means the world to Billy Stroud, as being a part of the team meant to his father before him. “This is what I’ve dreamed about, this is what he wanted to see me do. I couldn’t ask for more,” said Stroud. “There isn’t a practice or game that doesn’t go by that I don’t think of him. I know there isn’t anywhere else he would have rather been than here on a Friday night.”
Bobby Stroud had a pair of wishes prior to his passing: one, to see his daughter Bobbie graduate and go to nursing school; the other, to see Billy play on Friday nights. Both of these dreams came to pass, but too late for the elder Stroud to see .
“Not only did I lose my father, I lost my best friend,” said Billy. “[Me playing football] means a lot to the family. There is no better place than Brookfield. I want to thank everyone who has helped me from my freshmen through senior year. There are a lot of memories.”
See the LCL for the full story
