At 125 pounds (and that could be with old Doc Fee leaning a bit on the scale) Landon Eagan's nickname is Bug on the Franklin Knight football field. He is small, perhaps not the fastest or strongest, but he is dedicated. He said the name was really a miscommunication that just sot of stuck and he goes with it now.
Last year, as a freshman, he showed up to practice hobbling around. He weighed even less then, but first year head coach singled him out because he was giving everything he had. The coach hadn't even learned his name yet, but he put him up front and used this kid's heart as an example of what it takes.
Landon, or Bug, came out again this year.
Last year, as a freshman, he showed up to practice hobbling around. He weighed even less then, but first year head coach singled him out because he was giving everything he had. The coach hadn't even learned his name yet, but he put him up front and used this kid's heart as an example of what it takes.
Landon, or Bug, came out again this year.
And he gives everything a 125 pound kid with string bean arms and toothpick legs can give. "It doesn't matter if I start or even if you get to play in a game," he said. "I just love it, I love being a Franklin Knight."
"He is the first person to step up and help if we need something on the sidelines," coach Matt Turk said of Bug. Turk told a story of him ripping his chin strap off to give to a player who came off with a broken one. "He said 'he can have mine, and then made sure we could get that player back on the field in a hurry." Turk said adding how much Landon means to him and this team.
Bug wants to be a part of the team and tirelessly proves that by not missing practice and when called on to play he gives it everything he can. During a recent game against Meadville, near the end of the game coach Turk called on him to go out for a couple of plays.
Bug wants to be a part of the team and tirelessly proves that by not missing practice and when called on to play he gives it everything he can. During a recent game against Meadville, near the end of the game coach Turk called on him to go out for a couple of plays.
He was in at wide receiver and he ended up taking his opponent to the ground. "I pulled him down, I probably shouldn't have, I could've gotten a penalty, but I didn't get caught," he said with a laugh.
"He was so excited he couldn't stop talking about it," said Turk who just loves his enthusiasm.
Tonight, Franklin ventured down to face yet another powerful team in Butler. They again went out and played with the end result being similar to all but one of their games this season, losing 60-8.
Turk gets that he can't build a championship team with players with Bug's 125 pound physique, but if he had 30 kids with Bug's attitude (and 100 pounds of muscle give or take) he knows he'd be filling the trophy case at Franklin High School year after year with gold colored state championship swag.
Franklin has one more game scheduled next week against Lakeview. Turk knows the importance of getting his young kids reps on the gridiron, and despite a rough couple years he is seeing growth. The W's might not be there but the heart sure is. Players like Bug prove that.
"He was so excited he couldn't stop talking about it," said Turk who just loves his enthusiasm.
Tonight, Franklin ventured down to face yet another powerful team in Butler. They again went out and played with the end result being similar to all but one of their games this season, losing 60-8.
Turk gets that he can't build a championship team with players with Bug's 125 pound physique, but if he had 30 kids with Bug's attitude (and 100 pounds of muscle give or take) he knows he'd be filling the trophy case at Franklin High School year after year with gold colored state championship swag.
Franklin has one more game scheduled next week against Lakeview. Turk knows the importance of getting his young kids reps on the gridiron, and despite a rough couple years he is seeing growth. The W's might not be there but the heart sure is. Players like Bug prove that.
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