DENVER — Once again, Peyton Manning hasn’t missed the connection to Demaryius Thomas.
Manning announced last year that he and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame would establish a $10,000 18-88 scholarship that would go to a high school football senior who, like Thomas, was facing adversity in life has overcome. While the scholarship carries Manning’s No. 18, it was his teammate Thomas that he wanted to honor with the No. 88.
And so, Manning presented the scholarship to the very first recipient of the 18-88 scholarship, Ben Miner of Swink, the same night Thomas was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame for his exploits as a Broncos recipient.
“Very fitting,” Manning said in an interview with 9NEWS minutes before the HOF banquet. “Wanted to keep the legacy of DT alive. He always gave something back, helped others. I started a scholarship at Georgia Tech (Thomas Alma Mater) for kids who grew up in his area and I wanted to do something here in Denver.
“I wanted to gift it to a high school football player who has overcome as much in his life as Demaryius. The first winner, Ben Miner, faced tremendous adversity in his life, but he overcame it and is doing well. The scholarship will help him with his college education. Demaryius would be very proud.”
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Denver Broncos quarterbacks Peyton Manning (18) and Demaryius Thomas (88) celebrate a touchdown during an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, September 14, 2014 in Denver. (` Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Miner, who sat at the same dining table with Bobby Gene Thomas, Demaryius’ father, during the Hall of Fame banquet, said he attends Otero Junior College in La Junta, where the $10,000 scholarship covers his first two years of college become. Miner was a great 8-man soccer star at Swink and will likely qualify for the state track meeting in the long jump and triple jump.
He was selected from more than 20 applicants. His biological parents were drug addicts and he and his three younger sisters suffered from abuse and neglect. He credits his foster parents, Mike and Pam Miner, who adopted Ben and his sisters just before his 8th birthday, with transforming his life, adding structure, discipline and love. The Miners, Swink Head Football Coach Dan Hiltz and Swink Principal and Athletic Director Carol Vezzani joined Ben Miner on his big day.
“[The scholarship]is a blessing because Peyton and DT were not only teammates but friends,” Katina Smith, Demaryius’ mother, said in a 5pm interview on the 9NEWS sports show. “And ’18 to 88′ is another prestigious award that I love and will be a blessing to whoever (person) receives it tonight and to others in the future.”
Thomas died of complications from a seizure at his home in Roswell, Georgia, on December 9, 2021, just weeks before his 34th birthday. What does Manning think of when he thinks of his good friend?
“I try to think of the memories not necessarily on the field and the great catches and touchdowns and runs, but in the dressing room,” Manning said. “He always made time to pick up my kids after the game. Got a great picture of him holding my daughter Mosley. The most incredible picture is of him pushing Marshall around in the laundry bucket in the locker room after Super Bowl 50. Just more off the field moments and that great smile he had that will stick in your memory. There’s no doubt it was tough. Demaryius died, Ronnie Hillman died, so it’s been a tough few years. These guys will be greatly missed.”
Also inducted Wednesday night into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame were former US Olympic Committee administrator Evie Dennis, former Widefield High School, Northern Colorado and NFL receiver Vincent Jackson, 1964 US bronze medalist skier Jimmie Heuga , and former Nuggets head coach George Karl.
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