Separated Shoulder Turned Quarterback Into a Coach

Matt Mealiffe has spent a lot of time on the field at Patrick Henry High School football games this year. Exhorting players. Shouting instructions. Slapping skin.

At first, it was as the varsity quarterback. Now, after separating his shoulder in the second quarter of the second game, he’s in a different role.

He’s Coach Mealiffe, offensive backfield coach for the Patrick Henry junior varsity team.

“I like coaching a lot,” Mealiffe said. “It’s better than watching the varsity practice. I’m still involved, and I can contribute something.”

This isn’t the story of a kid who was blessed with exceptional athletic talent. Rather, it’s the story of a kid who possesses modest athletic talent and had to work hard for everything he earned.

Mealiffe intends to become an orthopedic surgeon some day. He’s the vice-president of the Patrick Henry student government and No. 1 in his class with a 4.0 grade-point average. Stanford, Dartmouth, Occidental and Cal Poly Pomona all interest him.

But one thing Mealiffe really wanted to be was the starting varsity quarterback.

He was a backup last year and got into 2 games, the kind where he kept looking at the scoreboard, trying to will more time to appear on the clock. How long did he play? He didn’t even throw a pass, that’s how long. As a result, not many people gave Mealiffe a chance to start this season. So he fooled them.

Last spring, Mealiffe started working out, and he continued the program into the summer. Lifting weights. Throwing. Working on his drops, mechanics and strength.

“He was the most dedicated player in the weight room,” said Chris Miller, Patrick Henry coach. “And that includes our linemen.”

For the 2 previous summers, Mealiffe had worked as a deckhand on a sportfishing boat. He turned the job down last summer.

“We had to talk him into going on vacation with his family,” Miller said.

He worked as much as he could. He participated with the team in a summer passing league. Finally, in the fall, he was named starter.

“Talk about the human spirit wanting to accomplish something,” Miller said. “He’s a winner.”

Two games into the season, the spirit was still willing, but the shoulder was weak. He can still see the play unfolding: receiver Len Bradley was running a 12-yard out pattern. Mealiffe dropped back.

“It was a draw-fake,” Mealiffe recalled. “I wasn’t looking at the line.”

Just as he turned around, a San Dieguito defensive lineman was in his face. Mealiffe threw the ball a split second before the lineman crunched him into the ground like an empty can of soda.

The pass fell incomplete. So, too, did Mealiffe.

By halftime, he was on his way to the hospital. His left shoulder was separated.

That his hard work was down the drain took a little while to sink in. The team played Kearny the next week, but the Granite Hills game, 2 weeks after the injury, was the most difficult.

Patrick Henry won, 35-12. After the game, Mealiffe didn’t join his friends for their usual pizza run. He went straight home and to bed; it took a long time to get to sleep.

“Luke (Lowrey, his replacement) played really well that night,” Mealiffe said. “It makes you wonder, what would have happened if I had still been playing? Would we have done that well?”

None of those thoughts went through Miller’s head.

“Coaching him has been a very positive experience for me,” Miller said. “Seeing somebody mature like that before your eyes really lifts you as a coach. You think you’re in this business for the right reasons.”

The idea of coaching was first mentioned to him by Miller. Initially, Mealiffe wanted to stay involved with the varsity, so he said no. JV Coach Don Shaffer later asked him again to help, and after a couple of days, Mealiffe accepted.

Mealiffe’s first duty was to get a starting quarterback ready to fill in for Lowrey. Mealiffe spent time with Jeff Williams, who was moved from linebacker.

“Jeff has just come on like gangbusters,” Shaffer said. “We have to credit Matt for that.”

Since then, Mealiffe has been a vital part of the program.