This is high school student Bobby Martin from Dayton, Ohio. He was born without legs, and he can't wear protheses because he doesn't have thighs to attach them to. He does coverage and is a backup noseguard for the varsity football team, and by all accounts he's been a competitive athlete for years, even coming in second in the city's wrestling tounament in the 7th grade.

Anyhow, according to the first part of an article that I can't access because I'm not an SI subscriber

It's halftime of a game in Dayton on Sept. 16 -- Colonel White High against Mount Healthy. After Colonel White leaves the locker room, the refs approach the coaches on the sideline. Crew chief Dennis Daly announces, "Number 99 cannot play in this game anymore. He's not wearing shoes, knee pads or thigh pads."

Kid was pulled out for the second half of the game. What the fuck? Kid looks like he can play, apparently makes tackles, and otherwise isn't getting hurt out there. He made it through the first half without incident. His coach, his parents and anyone else that's been supporting his athletic career should be getting fucking medals for encouraging him to play and letting him excel at football despite his rather obvious disabilities.

Fortunately, though his coaches appealed the decision, and according to this USA Today article he's been cleared to play by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Game officials made a mistake when they kept a high school football player who has no legs from playing last week, the Ohio High School Athletic Association said.
Bobby Martin, a senior at Colonel White High School in Dayton who was born without legs, was told at halftime of Friday's game at Mount Healthy High School in Cincinnati that he could not finish the game.

The officials said Martin was violating a rule that requires players to wear shoes, thigh pads and knee pads. Martin had played in his team's previous three games as a member of the punt return squad, using his arms to move down the field.

"The officials erred, but they erred on the side of caution," said Bob Goldring, an assistant commissioner with the OHSAA. "They did not want to see him get hurt."

Scroll through the pictures on the SI article above. They're awesome. This kid is awesome. Via Thurgreed Marshall at Lawtalkers.com.

Tags: football, lawyer board, sports