Back prior to 2009, when Bridgeport High School football Coach Josh Nicewarner was an assistant to Coach Bruce Carey, he was already noticing the intangibles. One of those intangibles was something that he knew about, his family knew about and anyone associated with the BHS football program knew about.

 

What he noticed, and thrilled him, was seeing the kid that would do anything for a chance to play. Even better, he loved the kid that would do anything for the chance to help out or be a part of the program.

 

Talon Kent Steadman was one of those kids.

 

“I still think about Talon. You had a kid that didn’t look like a football player. He wasn’t the fastest or strongest. He wasn’t built to be a running back and just wasn’t big enough to be a lineman, but that’s not what I remember most about him,” said Nicewarner. “I remember he understood the bigger picture.”

 

The picture is what is described above. In reality, it’s what makes Bridgeport High School football so successful. It’s what makes the program remain in the hunt for titles year in and year out.

 

“The best memory I have of him was that there was a game and we needed to get a safety and we yelled for someone to get in there and play,” Nicewarner said with a hint of a happy chuckle. “I looked out and there went number 53 onto the field. He never played a moment of safety and it didn’t matter. We needed a safety and he was the first to go. It was like that with everything.”

 

As many of you know now, Talon Steadman passed away in August of 2009. He was killed at the age of 16 in an automobile accident.

 

Three years later, as I’m sure the passing of their son was – and still is – fresh in their minds, Talon’s parents approached Nicewarner about presenting an annual honor. Talon’s parents, Dick and Susan Steadman, wanted to create the Talon Steadman Heart Award.

 

Nicewarner, as he often does about certain things, called it a “no brainer.” Several years later, the award is still being given out and it’s going to players that aren’t necessarily the biggest, fastest or strongest. It goes to the players that go above and beyond and often do it out of the limelight.

 

This year, the honor went to Josh Osborn. And Nicewarner, as mentioned above, called the selection a “no brainer.”

 

“He’s the type of kid that this award is about. If I need a down tackle in a game or a practice, just like Talon, he’s going to be the first to run on to the field,” said Nicewarner. “He stands out to me and the entire coaching staff because he is completely about team and completely about hard work.”

 

While the final selection may have been easy, Nicewarner said he and the coaching staff take it seriously.

 

“We sit down as a staff and talk about the kids we think are eligible for this. I know Dick Steadman tells me he’d like to see 25 kids eligible and so would I,” said Nicewarner. “I can tell you we take this award serious enough that if we don’t have a kid one year that doesn’t fit the ideal of the award then we won’t give it out. It’s that big of a deal to us.”

 

The good thing about the award is that Nicewarner said past winners have become future contributors even beyond the usually quiet things they’ve done to earn the honor. He said Osborn fits that mold this year.

 

“Josh has some talent and I think next year he’d definitely going to have a chance to contribute a bit consistently on the varsity level,” said Nicewarner. “A lot of it comes down to hard work and this award already tells me that’s one thing I don’t have to worry about with Josh.”

 

While Nicewarner and the program embrace the honor and understand despite its newness that it’s already part of Bridgeport’s tradition-rich fabric, he would rather not have to present it.

 

“The unfortunate thing is that we have the award because it’s a reminder we no longer have Talon. It’s a tough night, but it’s a reminder of something special Talon had. The parents have taken a negative and made a positive out of it,” said Nicewarner.

 

The coach said even though many aren’t aware of Talon as time passes, he said the coaching staff makes sure they understand what the honor means. He said you could tell the excitement in Osborn when he was called forward a few weeks earlier to receive the designation.

 

“We want our players to know what that honor represents. Some kids are only satisfied if they play and then you have some that are happy to be there. Talon wasn’t just happy to be there and he decided in whatever way he was going to make an impact,” said Nicewarner. He did that by being the first to volunteer, the first to help and he was the kid that knew sign language and communicated when we had (all-state running back) Corey Wagner (who was deaf). He may not have been playing, but he damn sure made a difference.”

 

That, said Nicewarner, is the lesson those that may take their ability and their playing time for granted need to take notice of.

 

“I’d rather have a team full of those willing to do everything for the team and put the team first than a team full of talent that doesn’t care,” the coach said. “He’s been a blessing to this program and that blessing lives on through kids like Josh Osborn.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Dick Steadman putting the medal honoring his late son's memory around the neck of Josh Osborn as Coach Josh Nicewarner and Susan Steamdam look on. Second photo is after the ceremony, while the bottom photo is of hte late Talon Steadman. Top two photos by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.