AMS student, an NFL enthusiast who makes choices and starts conversations

Editor’s note: This story was used with permission from the Aspen School District.

It was January 14, 2018 when Porter Hopson fell in love with professional football.

He was 7.

“It was the Minnesota Miracle,” he said when asked what the moment was that made him a huge NFL fan. “I remember watching that match at home.”

It was the play-offs. The Saints won by one point. There were 25 seconds left in the match.

“Viking’s Stefon Diggs scored,” he said.

Porter shakes his head and smiles. That’s it. He was addicted.

This week, the Aspen Middle Schooler, who is now 14 years old, will send his weekly “NFL Picks” report, along with a brief rationale for his picks, to the AMS teaching staff.

“I look at the team’s strengths to see what the quarterback is doing and see if they are good enough. Quarterback is the key,” he said.

He has become the (unofficial) AMS sports analyst and something of an enthusiast.

There are no bets or brackets to complete. It’s just a great conversation starter. And Porter can talk football with anyone, says AMS director Amy Kendziorski.

She remembers that one of the first serious conversations she had with Porter was about her beloved Packers. Now she asks him questions about different teams and quarterbacks and wants to hear his opinion.

Porter’s NFL Picks report started last school year with a few teachers on his mailing list, she said. Now it is a weekly must-read for the entire teaching team.

“Porter is a boy who has grown tremendously since coming to Aspen Middle School,” she said. “That’s the best party, when Porter takes on these kinds of projects that are quite special and for the whole school.”

Porter, who is from St. Louis, is a big fan of the Kansas City Chiefs — he even dressed up as Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes one year for the AMS Halloween Fun Run. And he went to a Chief’s game, where he got to watch from the box suites.

“My dad created some magic,” he said, remembering the famous athletes who were in the nearby suites. He even planted a kiss on the Chief’s defensive tackle’s mother’s cheek.

Porter works with occupational therapist Walker Mills at school. She is part of the Exceptional Student Services Team of special service providers, including school psychologists, physical therapists, speech therapists, counselors, paraprofessionals and behavioral interventionists, who work closely with teachers and district administrators to support students and promote student self-esteem. -effectiveness and sense of well-being by increasing performance, participation and independence in meaningful student activities.

Every week she looks forward to her meeting with Porter, where they will undoubtedly talk football.

“Porter knows more about football than anyone I’ve ever met,” Mills said. “His expertise, passion and willingness to share his knowledge of the NFL with friends in the Aspen School District makes my heart smile. It is a pleasure to work with him and I am very proud of him.”

He’s not shy. He knows everyone. And he is kind-hearted, fun and charismatic. Teachers write back to Porter and tell him what they think of his choices, and conversations ensue.

“It’s just fantastic,” Mills said. “Porter’s Picks is a highly motivating and meaningful activity that allows Porter to connect with friends and employees of the Aspen School District while working on a variety of academic skills such as typing and editing, composing formal emails and writing content, using persuasive and expressive language. ”

And for those keeping score, in week one of this NFL season, Porter was 12 and 4 in his picks.

Football is his favorite, but he also likes other sports. Last March, he did a podcast with a teacher during March Madness. And at the end of last school year, he made play-by-play announcements during the annual AMS Teachers vs Students Basketball Game. He models his presentation after ESPN’s Joe Buck, his favorite sports commentator. And he plays a game called Madden NFL, a football series sports video game with detailed playbooks and player statistics, which helps him hone his predictions about winning games, he said.

Porter has not ruled out becoming a sports announcer in the future.

“Maybe,” he said.

But for now, he leaves us with this for week four of the NFL season: “Give me the Lions,” he said of the Seattle Seahawks.

His thought: They’re playing at Ford Field. The Lions haven’t beaten the Seattle Seahawks since 2012.

“This is the year they will win,” he said.