A Souvenir for the Road
March 28, 2011 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Allen Wranglers News Release
ALLEN, TX- Allen Wrangler Nick Fellows had no idea the football he gave to 9-year-old Nathan Abts on Friday Night would leave such an impression on the Abts family.
Shawn Abts will move his wife Michelle and three sons to Wisconsin on Friday, April 1st. As a farewell to Texas, Abts decided to bring his son oldest son Nathan to the Allen Wranglers game on Friday, March 25th.
"I decided I wanted to take my son to one last sporting event before we leave," Abts said. "Nathan is a big time football kid and has played the last couple of years."
After several failed attempts throughout the game to nab a football, Nathan and his father headed to the field after the Wranglers win to get a few autographs.
"He was pretty bummed out that he wasn't able to get a ball," Abts said. "I patted him on the shoulders, rubbed his head and said 'I'm really sorry we didn't get a ball before we moved buddy."
Wrangler defensive back Nick Fellows overheard the conversation and quickly retrieved a football for Nathan from the Wrangler locker room.
"I overheard him asking his dad why he didn't get a ball," Fellows said. "His dad was consoling him, telling him that he might have to wait until they get to Wisconsin. "
After his father handed his son the ball Fellows retrieved, Nathan went straight to the Wrangler to get it signed.
"That's what arena football is about," Fellows said. "You can get up close and personal with the fans and the little kids."
Abts added that the football removed some of the sting from the big move and was a gesture neither he nor his son will soon forget.
"I know that ball will be riding with him in the car when we leave Friday morning," Abts said. "Nick has moved way ahead of DeMarcus Ware and Clay Matthews Jr as his [Nathan's] favorite football player."
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