(HLNtv.com) -- The father of slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin gave Florida A&M football players an inspiring speech and a great lesson on the virtues of perseverance, said the team's head coach, Earl Holmes. So Holmes gave Tracy Martin something in return: a captaincy. After being invited recently to speak to the Rattlers football team in Tallahassee, Florida, Trayvon's father was named an honorary captain for FAMU's 2013 football season. He will join them on the field September 1 for their season opener against Mississippi Valley State and participate in the pregame coin toss. "He was very, very encouraging," Holmes told the Orlando Sentinel.
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Florida A&M's coach invites Tracy Martin, Trayvon's dad, to speak
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He receives a standing ovation from the players
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Tracy Martin is named the honorary captain for the Rattlers' season
"I think what he's doing with the foundation is big and it speaks volumes, and I want the football team and @placeholder nation to be part of that," Holmes said.