It's a beautiful story, but I remember a country song that was played a lot on the radio back in the mid 70's called "The Blind Man in the Bleachers" that's pretty much the same plot. About a kid on a high school football team who isn't very good but gets to play finally and does great. When his coach asks him why he was so good in that game, he explains that his blind father just passed away and it's the first time he saw his son play. As a song, it was pretty corny. I have a feeling it isn't true, but like I said, it's a good inspriational story.