Do you know Max Akin? He is the quarterback at Fossil Ridge High School in Texas.
Recently, he made headlines not for his athletic feats on the field, but for a touching gesture during halftime.
The 17-year-old senior from Texas was recently named homecoming king by his classmates.
But after accepting the honor and posing for photos with the homecoming queen, Akin shared the honor with his friend and football team manager, K.L. Norwood, who has cerebral palsy.
Max Akin knelt down and passed on his crown to Norwood while saying heartfelt words, eliciting cheers and applause from the audience.
“He gave me a hug, and then he said, ‘I love you,’ and then he gave it to me,” Norwood recalled.
Known for his compassionate nature, Akin’s act did not come as a surprise to those who know him well.
“He’s got a big heart. He treats everyone like that, which is why he gets along with everyone,” shared Fossil Ridge football coach Tony Baccarini.
“He’s just a great spirit.”
Unlike his peers who campaigned for themselves, Akin’s focus was on uplifting his school community.”I think whoever positively uplifts this school the most should win,” he remarked, explaining why he felt Norwood deserved the honor.
“As soon as I heard the nominees, I knew K.L. was the one who should get it.”
He continued, “I didn’t know when I would have the right time to do it. But I saw K.L., come over and gave him a hug, and I knew that he wanted that crown more than anything. I thought it was the best hearing them chant K.L.’s name right after halftime, and I know he liked that, too. Everybody was going wild for him. Everybody loves K.L. at this school.”
Norwood is widely admired for his infectious positivity. He expressed his surprise and happiness at Akin’s gesture.
“It was really nice of him to do that, and I’m actually glad he did but yes, it did surprise me,” Norwood said.
“It made me really, really happy.”
Akin described Norwood as “the most positive guy I’ve ever met in my life,” highlighting his impact both on and off the football field.
“At practice, all the football guys love having him around because he’ll laugh at your jokes and make you feel a lot funnier than you actually are, me especially.”
K.L. Norwood couldn’t hide his excitement when Max Akin handed him the homecoming crown. With a big smile, Norwood said, “It was absolutely terrific. I appreciate it.”
Coach Tony Baccarini admitted the genuine friendship between the two. “Max is just like that, and our team is too,” he said. “They love each other, and that’s why we’re successful.”