This week in HS Sports: Injured T.R. Miller sophomore provides perspective, motivation for No. 1 Tigers

This is an opinion piece.

Brent Hubbert is in his 24th season as a high school head football coach in Alabama.

He’s never been a part of anything like what happened on the opening kickoff on Sept. 27 in Mobile against UMS-Wright.

T.R. Miller sophomore Ken Lett suffered a broken neck while returning the kick. Hubbert – and probably everyone in the stadium – knew it was serious right away.

“Unfortunately, I’ve seen a lot of injuries in my time,” the Tigers’ sixth-year head coach said. “With Ken, I think I was running on the field before the play was even over. It was that type of injury.”

Lett was immediately taken to USA Health University Hospital in Mobile and, last week, was transported to Shepherd Center in Atlanta – a nationally known rehabilitation spot specializing in complex spinal cord and brain injuries.

“He has started five hours of physical therapy a day,” Hubbert said this week. “I think he does an hour of school work. They’ve have set goals for him that he needs to reach daily and weekly. Right now, I think it’s a 40-day process.

“I have not heard anything negative (about Lett’s future). Everything I hear is a positive sign. His mom (Tonya Lett) posted this week that he was scratching his head and, hopefully, he can get where he is scrolling on social media and those types of things. She says he wants to watch football all the time. He is still regaining sensations throughout different parts of his body, which they say is positive.”

T.R. Miller – the No. 1-ranked team in Class 3A – is idle this week. Hubbert said he plans to go to Maplesville tonight where he will be honored along with members of his 2014 Class 1A state title team. He then plans to head to Atlanta on Saturday to visit with Ken.

“Ken was a kid that never really talked a lot before all of this,” Hubbert said. “He smiled a lot, and his effort was always unbelievable. He’s talked more since the injury. Maybe it’s because it’s more of a 1-on-1 situation. But he’s talked more and been more positive than a lot of kids walking around here every day.

“I think and I hope our guys use it as motivation. Ken is encouraging them constantly from where he is to play hard and work hard. We have a mature group, and they have taken that in. Knowing Ken’s situation and knowing how positive he’s been through it all, I think our guys use that to their advantage in just preparing each week for the task at hand.”

The Tigers – led by Florida commit Myles Johnson – have been undeterred since Lett’s injury. They are currently 8-0 overall and 5-0 in Class 3A, Region 1 play with two regular-season games left. They travel to Bayside Academy on Oct. 25 and then host W.S. Neal in the annual Battle of Murder Creek on Nov. 1.

“I think everybody kind of loses perspective when something like this happens and forgets about enjoying the moment,” Hubbert said. “We struggled the next week against Cottage Hill. I thought our guys were kind of solemn and not into it. We won, but I didn’t think we played like we had beforehand.

“Everyone had a lot on their mind. I took about an hour the next Monday where I just stood up and tried to answer questions as best I could about the accident, about Ken, about whatever was on their minds. The kids were really good about it, and they’ve been focused since.”

A situation like this isn’t just difficult for high school student-athletes. It’s difficult for adults as well.

“I always said it would be hard to walk back on that field if something like this happened and it was at that moment,” Hubbert said. “Some of the things Ken was asking as I got there on the field put some things into perspective about what kids look for in a coach if their moms and dads can’t be there at any point. You see him lying there and you think of him being one of your kids and you are helpless.”

Hubbert said he will always be thankful for the support Lett, his team and the coaches received that night in Mobile and in the three weeks since.

“The dadgum people at UMS … I can’t say enough,” he said. “Coach (Terry) Curtis, the parents, the players, the mayor, the city of Mobile … They put their arms around that kid and that family, and it’s been unbelievable to see.”

Hubbert also thanked UMS trainer Stacy Harrelson and doctors who were on the field with Lett immediately after the injury.

“They kept me informed privately between the quarters and at the half,” he said. “I told our kids to play the game, and I would not hold any information back from them, but we would do it as a team. After the game, I told them Ken’s neck was broken, he was going into surgery and needed prayer.”

Tonya Lett told Rick Karle in a Facebook post this week that her son’s spinal cord remains in shock, and it could take weeks or months before doctors can determine the extent of any possible paralysis. Ken’s positive attitude and our continued prayers will certainly help.

Meanwhile, his team plays on, striving for a state title and surely using Lett’s strength as motivation.

“We have 17 seniors on this team,” Hubbert said. “Three years ago, they had a teammate (Lavarius Bell) drown. This is a mature group, and a lot of credit goes to those guys. They’ve been through a lot, probably more than any of them should be at this point in their lives.”

Thought for the Day

“I’m fighting a battle You’ve already won.

No matter what comes my way, I will overcome.

Don’t know what You’re doing.

But I know what You’ve done.

I’m fighting a battle You’ve already won.” – Shane and Shane.

Ben Thomas is the high school managing producer at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at bthomas@al.com . He can be heard weekly on “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.