AnushkaDivorced
Deland’s adoptive parents couldn’t balance parenthood and work life. They would every now and then argue over little things. One day a fight turned into a big one and the duo decided to go on their separate paths. They were divorced and Deland was left to his mother. He once again lost a father figure in his life.
Have To
A broken marriage and a young baby along, life wasn’t easy for Adelle, Deland’s mother. She felt betrayed and living without her husband eventually got tough. But she knew that she has to make it work out for none other than Deland. She wanted to give the child all the happiness in this world. And she made the first move not knowing how would it affect his future.
Excelled At
Adelle knew that what might happen she would not let the demise of a broken marriage affect Deland in any manner. She was determined at giving him the best life. Thus, to keep Deland away from home, she encouraged him to take part in various activities. He was now involved in sports, and in a particular game, he excelled. Little did one know that this game would change his life.
Football Is Life
Deland was nailing at the game of football. He was deeply passionate about this sport. It was the one thing which he loved playing. It kept him stress-free and away from the tension built-up at his place. By the time he reached high school, he was already amazing and was the star running back of the varsity team. Then something incredible happened.
Sherman Smith
As he got better, many recruiters from various universities were attracted to him. They supported and cheered him up. But there was one particular coach who took a keen interest in Deland’s art of play. He was Sherman Smith, who himself was a coach at Miami University in Ohio. Smith offered Deland a lifetime of opportunity…
Dream Come True
Sherman closely observed Deland’s game. He was amazed by the way this young lad would outsmart and defend. With time, they interacted and soon only developed a close bond. With his game, Deland impressed Sherman to the extent that he offered him an opportunity which was no less than a dream come true for any footballer.