First Legally Blind NCAA Football Player #BlindAbilitiesTeenCast

Oct 10, 2015, 08:02 PM

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The following podcast was recorded for use by customers of Minnesota’s State Services for the Blind. You can get more information about State Services for the Blind and the services it offers by going to www (dot) mnssb (dot) org. I’m Stuart Holland. (music) Tulane snapper Aaron Golub becomes first legally blind player to play for FBS school in NCAA game This article was written by Andrew Lopez, who writes for The Times-Picayune Tulane's Aaron Golub made history on Saturday afternoon when he became the first legally blind player to play for an FBS program in an NCAA game. Golub took the field for the Green Wave in the fourth quarter and successfully completed the long snap with 8:20 left to play. Andrew DiRocco's PAT attempt was good and Tulane went up 45-17. "It was a great opportunity," Golub said. "I'm happy they gave me a shot. It just felt great."  The sophomore long snapper has zero sight in his right eye and limited vision in his left eye.  Tulane coach Curtis Johnson said he wanted to reward Golub for the hard work he's put in day in and day out and this was the opportunity he saw to do it.  "Every morning I'm up, he's up in the weight room and he's working and working and working," Johnson said. "I would like to play him as much as I can because that's what you do, you reward kids who work. I don't care what they are or how they look. This kid works and he's just like everybody else. I'm going to play him as much as I can."  Johnson had talked to Golub about what to expect when he went in the game so when he approached Golub about entering, the sophomore was ready.  "I prepared and I just know that I've done this thousands of times," Golub said. "It was nothing. It's the same as in practice. It was just me and Pete (punter Peter Picerelli) the holder and I just snapped it to him." Johnson also said he didn't tip off Central Florida coaches that Golub would be going into the game and that Golub preferred it that way. "I don't think of it like that," Golub said. "I don't consider my vision being an issue. I'm happy to go out there and do anything. I wouldn't have wanted them to know."  Johnson said he didn't tell UCF coaches about Golub because he wanted it to be "legitimate and real." And also, don't expect Golub's appearance to be a one-time shot. "They were going to come at him," Johnson said. "I talked to him about that. I wanted to do it against Maine last week because whenever we get up, I'm going to play him. He's one of those kids that just works hard."  Again, that story was entitled “Tulane snapper Aaron Golub becomes first legally blind player to play for FBS school in NCAA game.”