Joe & Esperanza Morales look forward to Ohio days!
Good Evening!
T-Minus-229 Days until “The Mid Valley Classic”
There were a lot of nice things said about Joe Morales today. The former South El Monte/ Fullerton College linebacker signed his letter of intent to Ohio University this afternoon in front of family and friends in the varsity locker room at South El Monte High School.
Former Eagles head coach Erick Escamilla said a lot of nice things. Former Eagles defensive coordinator Aaron Williams said a lot of nice things. Former Eagles offensive coordinator Jerry Urias said a lot of nice things.
We’ll get to all of what they said in time, we’ll even get to all the thanks Joe gave in time.
There is one particular thank you Morales mentioned which carried the moment.
If you’ve been around Joe Morales any length of time, you would know playing division one football has been his dream from the get the go.
You’ve seen how hard he’s worked, how he never gave up when a whole lot of people were thinking he should. He kept working when a whole lot of people took him off the radar.
What we didn’t know was when Joe was tired, discouraged, and hurting from a shoulder injury as a newlywed things became hard. The days were long, the classes were tough, and he admitted to family and friends in the varsity room at South El Monte High School he began to consider backing off the dream.
“My wife told me,” Joe said. “‘You’re d-one, you’re gonna do it’…It meant so much to me.”
There are a thousand stories on signing day. There are a lot of reunions as friends and alumni show up in the halls of their alma maters to share the joy. There’s a lot of laughter between parents and athletes about climbing the mountain and getting a scholarship. There are a lot of nervous ball players out there still hoping to get a call, catch a train, or get the break that will get them in the door.
…And they are all awesome.
But Joe Morales is going to Ohio University. He’ll leave at the end of March and hit the field for spring practice on March 30th and compete for a starting position at outside linebacker for head coach Frank Solich.
He’s going because, as many of his former coaches pointed out, he worked hard.
I also believe he’s going because the lady in his life, the one he chose for his wife, told him he was division one and that he was going to do it.
Mrs. Morales’ first name is Esperanza…and if I remember my Spanish correctly… Esperanza means Hope!
And hope is what everyone takes away from Joe Morales and his story.
Stay thirsty my friends…
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