RBR's Lloyd Rebounds from Car Collision, Inspires Football Team

Unable to play football after over the summer, Little Silver resident and sophomore Ryan Lloyd stuck close to his team to root them on and became the recipient of the New Jersey Football Officials Association's Unsung Hero Award at the recent RBR Athletic Awards Night.

"Very often a football player's contribution to his team cannot be measured solely by touchdowns scored, yards gained and tackles made. Sometimes a certain player's dedication and efforts serves as an immeasurable positive motivation to his teammates," said the NJFOA's Dennis Heard.

Heard explained that the award was created several years ago to "recognize students who displayed uncommon strength and perseverance in the face of life's very unfair twists and turns."

Lloyd was nominated for the award by RBR athletic director Louis "Del" Dal Pra.

“Ryan is a 'go to' person. If you need anything done and you go to him, he will give you his honest 100 percent to complete that task. This is a quality that makes him a very successful person. His enthusiasm is very contagious and you can't help but root for him. I consider myself a huge Ryan Lloyd fan," said Dal Pra.

Lloyd loves sports, especially football, and he played Pop Warner football in middle school. He couldn't wait to attend RBR and became its most enthusiastic freshman player. 

Over the summer, Lloyd trained at a football camp with the team, lifted weights constantly and was in superb condition to play in his sophomore year.

Then, back from his volunteer service at . It could have been the helmet he was diligently wearing, or his exceptional physical condition that saved his life that day, but no one who viewed the mangled automobile would have guessed that to be the final outcome. He miraculously suffered just scrapes and bruises to his 5'11" frame, but a serious head contusion ended his football season before it began.

Lloyd underwent a painful recovery suffering debilitating headaches from the head injury. But, his spirit was buoyed by the love and well-wishes of his community and school who visited Ryan often. An ebullient young man, Lloyd is a favorite counselor of the children who attend the Little Silver Recreation program.

He was so excited to be attending his brother's high school and was elected as the Vice President to both his freshman and sophomore classes. In his freshman year he also bowled in the winter season and ran spring track and is a member of the Better Bucs.

His many accomplishments are all the more remarkable because Ryan is a special education student.

"I do not look at him as a child with disabilities but as a person who had to overcome obstacles to surpass what other people think is acceptable, said mother Beth Lloyd. "He pushes himself to be the best he can be. He always tries so hard to do the right thing and be a good person. He has a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone, especially his school. He just loves RBR."

Faced with the prospect of not being able to play his beloved football with his beloved high school team, he did not sulk but rather #78 found another way to contribute, becoming the team mascot and supporting his team at every opportunity.

"Ryan showed up to every practice and game, and displayed as much heart, energy, and handwork as if he was playing in his equipment. He helped us move the bags, set up the cones and motivated our players to run faster and block harder throughout every practice," said RBR Coach Nick Giglio.

Lloyd literally donned a giant Buccaneer head and pirates costume and led the football cheerleaders during the games as the "The BUC." 

At the sports award evening, Ryan's extreme zeal and school spirit was on full display as he enthusiastically accepted the award and publicly thanked all his friends and family for their support following his accident and hospitalization stating, "Thank you, thank you everyone for visiting me in the hospital, for all your gifts, and, in the words of the famous Lou Gehrig, for making me feel like 'The luckiest man on the face of the earth.'"

The audience returned Lloyd's enthusiasm with a roaring applause.