Don was too big for peewee football

Twelve-year-old Elijah Earnheart dons his practice pads for photos outside his home in Mesquite, Texas, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. The 6-foot, 300-pound 12-year-old has been ruled ineligible to play Pee Wee football in the Dallas area. Despite being a young seventh-grader, officials say is more than twice the maximum allowable Pee Wee weight of 135 pounds. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

“Isn’t bigger better in football? Football is a contact sport. If you don’t want your son tackled, get him off the field.”

Cindy Earnheart said that barring her 12-year-old, 297-pound, 6-foot, 1-and-half-inch son from playing peewee football is discrimination.

Elijah Earnheart hasn’t played football before and although it’s been ruled that while he can’t play peewee, he could play with kids that have two years of experience on him.

Don understands the issues surrounding Elijah’s size. He too found himself taller and bigger than his classmates and he wanted to play football.

According to Don, standing at 6-foot, 1-inch, “When I was that age, I was almost the height I am now.”

He was told that in order to suit-up and take to the field with his fellow classmates, he’d need to go on a diet. While he did shed a few pounds, it wasn’t enough to get him on the team.

So 6th grade Don joined the 8th grade team.

For bigger kids that have grown faster than their peers, they’re not necessarily as coordinated. Once they step out on the field, they may turn into a punching bag for the more experienced players.

“You either get killed or rise to the occasion,” said Ron. The hosts supposed kids that appear built for football, but with little experience, are more likely to quit as frustrations builds.

That’s why Elijah wanted to play peewee before taking up with kids that may be closer to his size. Learning the fundamentals could mean the difference between just being big and on the field and becoming an excellent athlete.

Peewee football is getting underway, and it’s unclear if Elijah will suit-up alongside the 8th graders with the same sense of spirit and athleticism as Don.

“They’d hand me the football and I’d just go run over all the other kids.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.