After his father’s death, 49ers’ Corliss Waitman found purpose amid his pain (paywall)
“In 2013, Waitman, a senior at Milton (Fla.) High School, was being recruited by Oregon and Auburn, two years after the Ducks and Tigers played in the national championship game. But he passed on the bluebloods. His heart was set on a startup: the University of South Alabama, which began playing football in 2009.
Waitman’s dad, Jose, played basketball at South Alabama before embarking on a 15-season professional
career in Europe. In 1987, he was named MVP of a Dutch league.
Jose Waitman, 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds during his playing days, was a towering presence in Corliss’ life. He died at 48 on April 17, 2013, when Corliss was 17. Months later, Corliss sent an email to a coach at a fledgling program a year removed from a 2-11 season that didn’t know he was interested. He asked if the staff could recruit him.
“I went to South Alabama,” Corliss said, “solely to honor my dad.”
…In the months that followed, Corliss, alone, began climbing a fence to enter Milton’s locked stadium to practice punting.
“His efforts and commitment to football changed dramatically,” Marsh said. “It just kind of lit a fire into him. He was dealing with a lot of grief, but I think he made a commitment to being the very best he could be.”..
…When his parents divorced, Corliss spent summers with his father. He eventually left the Netherlands to live with Jose full time. He and his mother, Adolfine Chaar, agreed that Corliss — a gifted, highly emotional athlete with an inconsistent work ethic — could benefit from Jose’s firm guidance and exacting standards.
Asked about Jose’s tough-love approach when it came to athletics, Corliss smiled and offered an example. He used to run wildly around soccer fields to celebrate individually when he scored goals. Jose put a stop to that: Always celebrate with your teammates. Watch Waitman the next time he drops a punt inside the 10-yard line. The lesson stuck.
“My mom thought it would be good to have my dad more in my life to kind of push me and get me mentally more ready for what might be ahead — to kind of get the engine going,” Waitman said. “It was great. He was really hard on me and helped shape me into the man I am today.”
….Looking back, Waitman says he struggled to process his emotions that followed his father’s death. At 17, however, it did provide the first sense that time was fleeting and his chances to realize his athletic potential weren’t limitless. Without his dad, he also felt a responsibility to finish the work that they’d started together. And then there was his fury at life’s unfairness.
“It kind of made me angry and I used some of that to just start working harder in sports, which is not necessarily a healthy thing to do,” Waitman said. “But it did make me a better punter.”
…Waitman, a regular in the 49ers’ postgame prayer huddles, credits his faith for his outlook. But he hasn’t found answers to the questions that followed his father’s death. Does everything happen for a reason? He’s not sure why he lost his dad at 17.
“I feel that everything that’s happened helped get me to here,” Waitman said. “I wish some things were different, but I don’t feel like every single thing that happened has to be explained. I just have to deal with it, keep pushing and trying to inspire people.”
Lack of 49ers roster moves hints at Week 10 status for top three CBs vs. Cowboys
“The 49ers are expecting their three top cornerbacks to be available Sunday to face the Dallas Cowboys.
The 49ers on Saturday did not make any roster moves to bolster their depth in the defensive backfield.”
Report: 49ers rookie DT Gracen Halton undergoes surgery, expected back for OTAs
“Despite the significant injury, Halton is expected to be back in time for the team’s organized team activities (OTAs), offering some encouraging news about his recovery timeline.”
49ers checked in on veteran Eagles tight end; Mac Jones asking price was too rich for the Vikings
“The 49ers must feel pretty confident that Jones will sign a big enough contract this offseason to net the team at least a third-round compensatory pick.
If you’re the 49ers, it’s wise to make a team you could face in the playoffs overpay for a quarterback. It might have been a different story if another team had inquired about Jones.”
