WLLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The center of Farley-Lamb Field on the Williams College campus was the setting for the signing of seven-year-old North Adams resident Elliott Scull from Team IMPACT onto the Williams College Football roster.
Eph head football coach
Mark Raymond had been contacted by Team IMPACT over a year ago about signing Elliott and Raymond readily agreed knowing that his team would be most supportive. The Eph football team is the 11th team at Williams to participate in the renowned non-profit organization
Team IMPACT enhances the lives of children with life-threatening diseases by matching them with college athletics teams, providing an extended support network from which both the children and the teams gain inspiration and perspective. Current Williams head softball coach
Kris Herman was one of the founding members of Team IMPACT
Elliott was born with Spina Bifida which is a condition that affects the spine and is usually apparent at birth. It is a type of neural tube defect and can happen anywhere along the spine.
Elliott had not met any of the Eph football players in person until September 12 because the pandemic had limited him and his family to only Zooming with the Ephs. So, it was no surprise that Elliott was impressed by the size of the players when he saw them in person on the football field.
Elliott was accompanied by his father Jeffrey, his mother Jennifer, sister Corrina, and younger brother Phineas.
Elliott's dad noted that Elliott was named after the character Elliott in the Movie "ET." Before the signing was official some of the Eph players took the opportunity to ask Elliott some questions. The Ephs learned that Elliott was happy to be back in school with his friends and that his two favorite video games are Minecraft and Super Smash Brothers.
Elliott and his family are just as excited as the Eph players that the 2021 football season will begin Saturday at home for the Ephs when they host Middlebury at 2 p.m.
Elliot and his family assured the Ephs they will be at that game.
Photo Credit: Kris Dufour Williams Sports Information; Front row the Sculls (l to r): Corinna, Jeffrey, Elliott, and Jennifer Scull holding Phineas; Back row Williams Players (l to r): John Rooney, Justin Burke and Christian Cuttita;
