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Team Spirit, Winning Ways
Aired November 04, 2003 - 15:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Fans are scouring the polls today to see where their team ends up after a weekend of big upsets in college football, but even the most avid fans missed the game we're about to show you. After you see this team and its star player, you'll decide they deserve to be No. 1.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Antoinette Biordi (ph) of CNN affiliate News 12 is tracking the team.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's an ordinary football game being played on an ordinary Saturday morning in Harrison, but for one player, it's a dream come true. His name is Eugene Joseph Greczylo, or E.J. He's on the Somers Middle School (ph) seventh grade football team. And even though E.J. has Down syndrome, it doesnt stop him from being a part of this special experience.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When he was born 15 years ago, we never, ever thought that we would see him participating in something like this. We're overwhelmed with the community support, the school support. We've just been blessed with a lot of angels in our life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you want to make another touchdown today?
EUGENE JOSEPH GRECZYLO, 7TH GRADE FOOTBALL PLAYER: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And E.J. will do just that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We try and, like, give him a chance to run the ball maybe, give him a chance to pass the ball.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Before some of the football games, Somers' (ph) football coaches get together with the opposing team to make sure that E.J. makes his play. They call it the "E.J. shuffle."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll give you the ball soon so you can score for us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is how it plays out. E.J. gets to score a touchdown with the help of his teammates.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go E.J.!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn't count as a point, but in this game it does make a point. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are, like, all his good friends. They're really proud to be part of it. They're learning from it. The fact that E.J. overcomes and is not going to let anything stop him from what he's doing is a lesson to the rest of the team.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, in this ordinary football game on this ordinary Saturday morning in Harrison, an extraordinary kid is given a chance to be part of a team and, in a way, part of something much bigger than just football.
In Harrison, Antoinette Biordi (ph), News 12, Westchester.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired November 4, 2003 - 15:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Fans are scouring the polls today to see where their team ends up after a weekend of big upsets in college football, but even the most avid fans missed the game we're about to show you. After you see this team and its star player, you'll decide they deserve to be No. 1.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Antoinette Biordi (ph) of CNN affiliate News 12 is tracking the team.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's an ordinary football game being played on an ordinary Saturday morning in Harrison, but for one player, it's a dream come true. His name is Eugene Joseph Greczylo, or E.J. He's on the Somers Middle School (ph) seventh grade football team. And even though E.J. has Down syndrome, it doesnt stop him from being a part of this special experience.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When he was born 15 years ago, we never, ever thought that we would see him participating in something like this. We're overwhelmed with the community support, the school support. We've just been blessed with a lot of angels in our life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you want to make another touchdown today?
EUGENE JOSEPH GRECZYLO, 7TH GRADE FOOTBALL PLAYER: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And E.J. will do just that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We try and, like, give him a chance to run the ball maybe, give him a chance to pass the ball.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Before some of the football games, Somers' (ph) football coaches get together with the opposing team to make sure that E.J. makes his play. They call it the "E.J. shuffle."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll give you the ball soon so you can score for us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is how it plays out. E.J. gets to score a touchdown with the help of his teammates.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go E.J.!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn't count as a point, but in this game it does make a point. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are, like, all his good friends. They're really proud to be part of it. They're learning from it. The fact that E.J. overcomes and is not going to let anything stop him from what he's doing is a lesson to the rest of the team.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, in this ordinary football game on this ordinary Saturday morning in Harrison, an extraordinary kid is given a chance to be part of a team and, in a way, part of something much bigger than just football.
In Harrison, Antoinette Biordi (ph), News 12, Westchester.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
