While teaching and coaching at Andover High, he wrote a book, "The Word Quit Does Not Exist: Memories of a Teacher-Coach." This book is a collection of his memories of the students, athletes, and collegues that affected him. Our cheer, "Fifty One!" is the title of a chapter in this book and at the end of this chapter you will find this story about Dan Ely... I saved one special story for last...Three weeks after his sophomore season ended, Dan was involved in a moped accident that left him paralyzed. The night of the accident, Dan's dad called to to tell me the news. He added that, for some reason, Dan kept mumbling "fifty one, fifty one," but he didn't know why. I knew immediately, and I rushed to the hospital in Boston. I have used the slogan "Fifty one" with a number of teams. It means to think positively, no matter what the odds. For example, if you are a shotputter who throws around 45 feet, don't simply hope your opponent will throw 44 feet. Instead, if he throws 50 feet, you are going to throw 51. Many a team has roared onto the field shouting, "Fifty one!" and played their hearts out. This is what Dan meant as he lay immobile in that hospital bed. He was going to beat it, he would never quit. The doctors unanimously concluded that he would never walk again, but they didn't know Dan. He threw not 51, but 61. He did indeed walk again, and even graduated from high school using two canes to get around. As honorary captain of the football team during his senior year, he walked to the center of the field before every game for the coin toss. A graduate of Northeastern University, Dan has a prosperous business career. Even more significant to me, he symbolizes everything Andover stands for. The word quid did not exist for him, and as a result he became the greatest success story of the past forty years. I couldn't be more proud of him; I love him and will never forget him.
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AuthorFormer mathematics teacher and track & field coach at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. Categories
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April 2017
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