Football teaches more than X’s and O’s.

Football teaches you that sometimes life just isn’t fair. Even when you’re 17 years old and one of the best players on your team.

Knowledge McDaniel knows this better than most.

“It’s never been easy for him in any aspect of life,” Braden River coach Curt Bradley said, “but the thing that’s the easiest for him is probably playing football.”

When the Braden River senior sets foot on a football field, he forgets about his mother’s mental illness that forced him to live with his grandmother, he forgets about what is was like living with nine people in an apartment and sleeping on the floor. When Knowledge plays football, he is free.

“When I was growing up, at first, I thought it was just a game but then I started seeing how it opened doors for people,” McDaniel said.

The FHSAA shut the door on Knowledge’s high school career, banning him from the postseason because he moved in with a teammate’s family, who happens to be a booster. It didn’t matter that Knowledge has played all four years at Braden River and he made the move to help out his own family. It didn’t matter that it meant more room on the floor for his siblings. It also didn’t break Knowledge’s spirit.

“This is just another memory for me,” McDaniel said. “I’ve loved every one at this program, at this school. It’s like a family vibe for me, like it makes me want to be happy around people. I love to put smiles on people’s faces.”

Knowledge has some serious sports fans in his corner, including ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale, who was very vocal on social media with his disgust over the FHSAA’s ruling.

“This goes beyond football. It goes beyond athletics,” Bradley said. “This is a life story and he’s going to go to bigger and better things and know that he didn’t do anything wrong.”

Senior night was the final time Knowledge played in a Braden River uniform. Regardless of how far his team goes in the playoffs, he’ll have to watch from the sideline. It’s just another chapter.

“His story doesn’t end here,” Bradley said. “God’s blessed him with a tremendous ability , but also just a great head on his shoulders. His life could have gone multiple different directions.”

Knowledge is power. And this 17-year-old senior gains power from the knowledge he will play football again, some day.

“Knowledge’s future is going to go far beyond high school football, Braden River high school, it’s going to go far beyond that,” Bradley said. “We’re just thankful to have a four-year piece of him and just know that he is going to do great things in life.”