In 1968, I was a barely 6 foot tall and 185 pounds. I was the starting offensive center for the Canoga Park California High School varsity football team. That team would go on to win the Los Angeles City Championship for the first and only time in its 100+ year history (before the city was divided into divisions). All that season I wanted my head coach, Jack Mathieson, to let me play linebacker. That’s the position my Dad wanted me to play. During half-time at the league championship game coach Mathieson, frustrated at my poor performance, looked me in the eye knowing I wanted to play defense, and said “Carr, you couldn’t even be a pimple on a football players (butt) here or anywhere, offense or defense!”
This was just one of the thoughts that swirled in my head as I sat on the stage in the Brigham Young University Athletic Hall of Fame 42 years later. I was waiting my turn to be inducted as one of the few defensive players and the only linebacker in BYU history to receive that honor.
With coach Mathieson in the audience looking as proud as if I were his own son, I smiled as I looked out at my family and friends, and all the people I cared about. They were all there to support me, to cheer me on.
Little did anyone really know the price I paid to be there.
Introduction of new HOF Inductees at LaVell Edwards Stadium 2010
Me as a Junior center – 6′ 185 lbs. Canoga Park HS – 1968 Los Angeles City Champions
Why faith and football? It's easy. Outside of my relationship with my wife, these 2 issues clearly define my life. They seem almost like opposites, certainly unrelated. My faith has always provided me a foundation that not only kept me moving forward when everything inside said to quit, but eventually led me to a discovery that changed my life. I actually played the sport of football for a relatively brief period of time, just over 10 years. But during that time I created memories and friendships that continue today, some 40 years after my last play. I loved my time playing football, but it came with a heavy price. In 2008, I was diagnosed with concussive brain damage, due to those years of football. My symptoms, which started some 20 years before my diagnosis, began with language problems and culminated in severe emotional and significant cognitive disabilities. At that time there was, and continues to be no cure or effective treatment for the disease, and so the symptoms progressed to the point where I nearly gave up all hope. It was the faith of my wife which eventually led us to serve a mission for our church in Boston. There, some 2,500 miles from our home, we found the answers we were searching for, the only place in the world where such answers could be found. This blog chronicles that search and what we found along the way.
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2 thoughts on “BYU Hall Of Fame”
Larry….thanks for letting me and the rest of our 1968 CPHS Championship football team know of your current challenges. I think a blog is a great thing to do for getting the word out about this challenge relating to playing the game of Football. I’m sure everyone of us will do what ever we can to walk the challenge with you!
Dr, Carr, Very amazing story and I wish you all success and victory over this battle you are fighting. I love this blog and your willingness to always fight for what you believe is right.
Football and the Brain 
Larry….thanks for letting me and the rest of our 1968 CPHS Championship football team know of your current challenges. I think a blog is a great thing to do for getting the word out about this challenge relating to playing the game of Football. I’m sure everyone of us will do what ever we can to walk the challenge with you!
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Dr, Carr, Very amazing story and I wish you all success and victory over this battle you are fighting. I love this blog and your willingness to always fight for what you believe is right.
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