Trinity Wyman

Being a football fan is something special and, to me, there’s nothing in this world more special than being a Green Bay Packers fan. Sports have played a huge role in my life–especially football–and football has pretty much taught me that I can do anything I can set my mind to and not give up on the little things.

Because I’m disabled, there are many things I can’t do since I can’t walk. But I’ve always loved doing things guys would do–other than wearing makeup or dressing up as a princess–and that includes watching football.

For the past eight years, I’ve watched football and taught myself what different penalties mean and certain plays that were called based on how players were lined up. I even memorized players names by matching them to their jersey number.

I’ve always thought I was tough, and ever since I watched football with my Dad on the couch, I’ve loved watching all the tough guys. I’ve always sat there and admired all the tough guys shoving each other around. I’ve always dreamed of playing football, rolling my wheelchair all the way to the end zone. But it’s too dangerous for me to do, so I’ve always sat and watched football with Dad whenever Detroit is playing Green Bay.

Nothing makes me feel better than screaming at the TV for four hours straight, letting go of any frustrations and anger I have built up. It’s like letting my demons come out that were just waiting to be set free. Being disabled, there’s a lot of demons that are waiting to be set free, but nobody really understands those kinds of demons. When I’m watching football, I can let those demons be free and nobody has to even ask.

In the time I’ve been a Green Bay fan, there is one player who I immediately fell in love with, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Ever since I fell in love with him, he’s always been my idol I look up to, whenever I’d had a “I wish I wasn’t disabled day.”

Every time the season starts, it gives me that freedom to finally watch my favorite player work his magic and inspire others the way he’s inspired me. Watching Aaron be a team leader to rookies is something other athletes should emulate. Everybody should have a role model to look up to, whether it’s a celebrity or not.

My favorite moment was when Aaron threw the game-winning Hail Mary during the last regular season game before the playoffs in 2015. Every single Lions fan I rolled by was so mad the Packers won that no one even came and talked to me.

To me, there’s no team better than the Packers. I had a teacher who was a Dallas Cowboys fan. We made a bet during a playoff game that if the Packers won, he’d have to buy me a cheese head. If Dallas won, I had to wear a cowboy hat. Thankfully, we won and he had to buy me a cheese head hat, which he wasn’t too thrilled about.

I love bickering with other fans about how Green Bay is better than everyone else too, kind of like how Stephen A. Smith does on ESPN’s First Take with the other commentators. I want to follow in Stephen A’s footsteps some day so I can argue with him and other commentators about why certain players are better than others. It’s given me confidence that really isn’t easy to explain. It’s taught me how to be a leader for others and for myself.

Being in Wisconsin is the most amazing feeling for a Packers fan. We would gladly take game tickets rather than going to Disney world. Nobody there judges you for what you are or what you look like. They welcome you with open arms better than teams in other states do.

Going to training camp last summer was the best day of my life. I made so many friends with strangers who were hardcore fans like me. Going to Family Night the weekend after training camp was an indescribable feeling. Watching the fireworks right after it was done was magical, the view of the field from my seat was amazing. There’s more in the world I would want then to go back to my happy place and stay there forever.

Nowhere is better than Wisconsin. It’s rare to find a place close to being that amazing. But anybody who’s a Packers fan will tell you how amazing it is. The memories you end up making there, no matter how long your stay, are priceless and will last a lifetime.