From Tuscaloosa came the news today of the death of John Mark Stallings, son of former Alabama football coach Gene Stallings at the age of 46. The news is indeed sad for the stilling of the heart of a man that by all accounts never had an unkind thought in his life, but who stayed with us on earth far longer than anyone expected.
John Mark Stallings had Down Syndrome. When he was born in the early 1960s, his father was an assistant coach at Alabama. His mother, Ruth Ann Stallings, discussed what it was like to raise a child with Down Syndrome then in Gene Stallings' book, "Another Season: A Coach's Story or Raising an Exceptional Son":
“Things were different back then. People didn’t know how to react to the news,” Ruth Ann Stallings said. “Some didn’t acknowledge his existence; others would look away in his presence. I’d dress him so cute, his blonde hair shining, blue eyes so excited when he’d meet someone. Often, they’d compliment the girls, never looking his way.” She sighs. “You remember the people who stepped forward and those who didn’t.”
His father told a reporter earlier this year: "I had a whole lot less tolerance for the gifted and a whole lot more tolerance for the guy that wasn't quite as gifted. With Johnny, I saw him struggle to walk, struggle to kick a ball, struggle to do everything that he did. So, I had a little tolerance for the guys that had to struggle. If you had talent and didn't lay it on the line, I didn't have much tolerance for you. The less talented guy can't play on Saturdays. But he can get you ready to play on Saturdays. I wanted the guys who played on Saturday to have an appreciation for that guy who got them there."
During his father's tenure as head coach at Alabama from 1990-96, John Mark was a constant presence, accompanying his father to every practice and game. After an Alabama touchdown, the TV cameras would cut to John Mark and his mother in the skybox and the joy on John Mark's face could light up the stadium. The football equipment room at Alabama is named in his honor.
The Alabama athletic director said today: "For someone who never played or coached a game, I think John Mark may have touched more Alabama fans than any other person ever did. I would like to thank the Stallings family for sharing their love for John Mark with all of us."
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