Stoops and Perez thank AHS for use of MAC
When Arlington Renegades quarterback Luis Perez visited with Arlington High School’s football team last Friday, he told them something surprising.
“I never played high school football,” Perez said. “I was never in the position you guys are in now.”
Instead, he was a competitive bowler in high school. And good at it.
But he could also throw a nice spiral with a football. And when he went to his high school’s last home football game during his senior year, he got chills. He wanted to be on that field – not in the stands – chasing a dream to play in the NFL.
So, he decided to go for it and tried out for the football team at a junior college the next year. He made it but started out at ninth on the depth chart.
“I worked my way up,” Perez said. “First one there, last one to leave, trying to better myself in any way possible.”
The story Perez shared with the Colts football players was one of hard work and dedication to a dream. That dream – coupled with hours and hours of hard work – has taken Perez to the UFL and the NFL. And it’s still going.
Perez encouraged the Colts to focus on “the process that has to happen in between for you to get to your dreams.”
Perez was at the Arlington High Multipurpose Activity Center along with Renegades head coach Bob Stoops, the former national championship-winning coach at the University of Oklahoma, to thank Arlington High and Colts head football coach Scott Peach for allowing the Renegades to use the MAC. They brought pizza for the Arlington High players, tickets to a Renegades game and a lot of encouragement.
“The Arlington Colt football team is so appreciative of Coach Bob Stoops, QB Luis Perez and the Arlington Renegades for coming to our MAC facility today to honor our players and coaches,” Peach said. “The Arlington ISD has partnered with the UFL for the past two seasons creating practice opportunities on bad weather days for the teams of the UFL. I have had the privilege of calling Coach Stoops my friend since 2003 and am grateful for the incredibly generous gesture today to our football team. Go Renegades and Kick ’em Colts!”
Stoops talked about how much he enjoys and appreciates coming to Arlington High and reminded the Colts that they have an outstanding coach.
“You guys are lucky to work for a man like Coach Peach,” Stoops said. “He’s a great example to you – what a husband, a father, a really strong good person ought to be. So, follow his lead.”