Ten Years Later Everman's Corey Fulbright Still Struggles

[Matthew328]

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12/24/4506697/injured-athlete-finds-will-to.html

Fulbright was injured in the 2002 3A Division I State Championship

[1st and goal]

Tough but Good story. Stay grounded Corey. Keep the Lord in your life at all times.

[Matthew328]

One thing I'll never forget is the kindness and support that the people of Burnet showed....


A title wave of emotions for Everman

State champions, paralyzed player honored

12/20/2002

By DAMON L. SAYLES
The Dallas Morning News

EVERMAN Players and coaches were relaxed and upbeat Thursday as the
town celebrated Everman High School's second straight state football title.

Their hearts are still heavy from the paralyzing neck injury teammate
Corey Fulbright sustained in Saturday's Class 3A Division I championship
game.

But unlike the previous few days, no tears were shed over Corey. If
anything, celebration took the place of melancholy.

Several hundred spectators watched the parade, which began at Everman
High and wound through a residential area before returning to the school.

For the Everman players and faithful, tears were put on hold for a day.

It was time to celebrate being champions.

"We'll always have Corey in our hearts, but I know this is what he would
want," senior football player Jonathan Harrell said as he jumped into a
convertible with "No. 7 Corey Fulbright" in gold shoe polish on the
windows.

"We are ... [showing] the kids how important it is just to stay
positive," said Leslie McDowell, an English teacher at the school. "It
hurts, but it's just like a family you have to be positive and
encourage others to see the positive and not the negative."

Said David McCollum, a longtime Everman resident who videotapes the
team's games: "Corey would want us to carry on. He's a very lively,
popular kid on our campus. He would want us to move on and not worry,
but we're just going to continue to support him."

Corey remains hospitalized at Fort Sam Houston's Brooke Army Medical
Center in San Antonio with a fractured C-5 vertebra. He had two
surgeries Sunday and is in critical but guarded condition. Corey, who
doctors said will be a quadriplegic, was upgraded from stable to guarded
Wednesday.

Ironically, the hit that hospitalized Corey was the turning point for
Everman in the championship game against Burnet. With Everman trailing
7-0 in the first quarter, Corey, a defensive back, put a jarring hit on
Burnet running back Patrick Miller, causing him to drop a third-down pass.

Huy Nguyen / DMN
Everman High School players hoist teammate Corey Fulbright's jersey
during the parade to celebrate the school's second consecutive state
football title.

Everman tied the score and went on to win, 35-14.

Albert Riley, team member Wallace Jones' father, said he has been in
contact with Corey's mother, Tammy Fulbright.

"From what she's told me, he's doing pretty well," Mr. Riley said. "He's
off a ventilator the doctors had him on after surgery. We all know he's
going to be all right. We're all not accepting that he's paralyzed for
good."

More than 50 cars made up the parade. All were garnished in Everman
purple and gold. Several football players held up seven fingers to honor
their teammate, and senior tight end Ed Sinclair hoisted Corey's No. 7
jersey while standing in the bed of a gold pickup.

Cheerleaders wore No. 7 glittered on their cheeks, and many signs
commemorating the title and Corey were held aloft. Even elementary
school students chanted, "Corey! Corey!" as their parade drivers pulled
out of the high school parking lot.

"It's very emotional, but it's helped the community come together as a
whole," said Ruth Riley, Wallace's grandmother. "My grandson and Corey
are friends, and even though we're celebrating another championship,
we're also doing this for Corey."

Huy Nguyen / DMN
Several hundred supporters including fans from Fort Worth, Arlington
and Grand Prairie cheered the Everman football team and Corey during
Thursday's parade.

Not only did Everman fans cheer for the players and for Corey fans
from Fort Worth, Arlington and Grand Prairie also attended.

"I just hope he gets better. It's kind of sad that bad things happen to
good people like him," said Ember Wright, a freshman at Navarro College
who graduated in May from Southwest High School in Fort Worth.

Albert Riley said additional events to help support Corey's medical
bills will take place Saturday. A barbecue is scheduled for 11 a.m. at
the school, and donations will be accepted.

Thursday's events added to actions by supporters in Burnet. The Central
Texas town of nearly 5,000 opened "Corey Fulbright Fund" accounts at two
local banks, held a prayer vigil Thursday and plans a silent auction to
aid Corey and his family.

[toddg]

has it really been 10 years?!!! seems like yesterday that happened!! God bless that young man!!

[bobcat1]

has it really been 10 years?!!! seems like yesterday that happened!! God bless that young man!!

+1 Prayers said for his circumstances

[lbjacj]

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12/24/4506697/injured-athlete-finds-will-to.html

Fulbright was injured in the 2002 3A Division I State Championship

I was there with my youngest son who was 14 at the time. Shook him up pretty bad and it's something that I will never forget! The way that the town of Burnet responded made me proud to be a Texan! God be with you Corey!

[OLE'BULL]

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was a senior in high school. I wasnt really sure what was in store for him at the time, and I didnt know much about his injury, but as it sank in I just couldnt imagine being in his shoes. He had plenty of prayer coming from Bellville. Thanks to Matthew328 for updating us on Corey, I will keep him in the back of my mind.