The Jacob Durham Award is presented every year in honor of my son Jacob Alan Durham who passed away October 24, 1998 at age 9 after a 3 and a half year battle with cancer. During the long years of his fight with cancer Jacob’s courage and faith inspired the ECS community and especially the ECS football team.
His example led the ECS Athletic Booster Club to establish a perpetual award in honor of his life. Other than the Captain’s Awards, it has been the only award given at an ECS Football Banquet since 1999. Obviously this award is special to me and my family. But I think it is a testimony to the young men of the 1999 State Championship team who declined all individual honors save this one, which seeks to honor character and faith above all else.
So each year The Jacob Durham Award goes to the Senior Football Player who best exemplifies the spirit of the passage found in Joshua chapter 1 verse 9.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Perhaps this verse more than any other captures the character and spirit of Jacob. His short life was an example of courage and faith, a courage founded in his confidence in Jesus Christ and a faith tempered by the fires of trial. Jacob was a tenacious young man who loved life and could often be found wearing a t-shirt with a frog strangling a stork with the caption “Never Give Up” blazoned across the front.
It was that Never Give Up attitude that gave Jacob his infectious spirit of encouragement. He rallied the spirits of those around him even in the most difficult of circumstances and habitually pointed them to Jesus.
That is exactly what this year’s recipient does.
In the interest of complete honesty, I can say that I called this one two years ago. Even as a sophomore tonight’s recipient was demonstrating the character qualities that this award seeks to honor. Despite some all-too-obvious physical disadvantages, this young man NEVER seemed to concede to the idea that he could not be a major contributor to our team. He demonstrated a never quit attitude in practice, and perhaps most importantly, he never quit working his guts out in the weight room.
By the time he was a junior, it had become quite apparent to us coaches ---though it was a reluctant admission--- that he was indeed one of our better players. He just did not fit the persona and physical stereotype of an impact player. But he was becoming one.
I knew he had most assuredly become an impact player last year, when in one of Coach Hutto’s ecstatic exclamations he shouted through the headsets, “That boy can marry my daughter if he wants to!!!!” Those of us who have daughters can understand the fullness of that exclamation.
As a senior he has led in the best way possible. He has led by example: in the weight room, on the practice field, and in games. He is recognized by his peers as a young man of unquestionable faith, courage, and integrity. He truly seeks to honor Christ in all aspects of his life.
He may not always be able to accomplish all his heart desires, but his heart always desires to accomplish everything that he is able. He has done the most with what he had, and in this manner I believe he has demonstrated the best qualities of a Christian athlete to our coaching staff and our team and our school.
The 2011 recipient of the Jacob Durham Award is Austin McCann.
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