KFDM COOP Posted October 4, 2008 Report Posted October 4, 2008 Bryant taking life day-to-day after infant son's death Gabriel Pruett The Orange Leader Two tragedies in under a month for the city of Bridge City. First Hurricane Ike has left the town nestled along the Southeast Texas coastline devastated and its residents will feel the effects for years to come. The one upside to any hurricane is how an area can prepare for the worst and get out of harm’s way. Nothing could prepare 1994 Bridge City graduate Matt Bryant and his wife Melissa for the second tragedy last week. Bryant’s infant son Matthew Tryson Bryant, who was three months old, died on Sept. 24 while the child was asleep. It is a life-changing situation for any parent to lose a child at any age and Bryant is now a parent taking life day-by-day and his job game-by-game. Bryant overcame the struggle and hardship this past Sunday when he was perfect on all three field goals as the Buccaneers defeated in Tampa Bay’s 30-21 win over the Green Bay Packers. All off-season and through the first three weeks it was Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rogers who grabbed the headlines. Then came Tryson’s death and Bryant was making front pages across the nation for a reason he would gladly give back. For a man who has gone through so much this year, he still cannot find the answer to some of the questions. “There is no way for me to answer where I found the strength to play Sunday,†Bryant said on Wednesday. “I was drained emotionally and physically. I was literally going on fumes.†Bryant was Agape Christian Fellowship in Groves on Saturday for Tryson’s funeral and back in Tampa Bay for Sunday’s game, a very quick turn around for any employee in any job. The decision to play was not made on the plane or early Sunday morning. Bryant had made a commitment to the Bucs early in the week and he was going to stand by it without knowing exactly how he would feel after burying his infant son. “I had to make a choice,†Bryant said. “Just like everything else in life, you can’t second guess yourself. Before I left I made a commitment to play and that is what I did.†Bryant’s first of three field goals came with 6:43 left in the second quarter to put the Bucs up 10-7. Tampa Bay would stay on top until Charles Woodson scored on an interception early in the fourth quarter. Luckily for the Bucs Bryant was able to once again overcome his obstacles and kick a 24-yard field goal with 2:26 remaining in the game to put Tampa Bay up for good. “It was never about me on Sunday or about me overcoming this,†Bryant said. “It was about me trying to recognize Tryson on a positive note. I wanted to acknowledge him and show him he was still with me and I am still with him.†Even while a majority of his close friends back at home in Bridge City are still dealing with the affects of Hurricane Ike, Bryant saw the compassion Southeast Texas has to offer. “I knew it was bad timing down there with the hurricane,†Bryant said. “A lot of my close friends either went to the funeral or showed up at my parents house. It really meant a lot for me and my family.†For a man who has already had to overcome so much in his life, Bryant was not drafted out of Baylor University, he knows this test will be the hardest. “For me it is day-to-day and game-by-game,†Bryant said. “All I can do is do my best and hopefully everything will work itself out.†print this story email this story comment on this story
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