EGG HARBOR CITY, N.J. -
A middle schooler is breathing a lot easier now that the fight over pink football gloves is over.
"Everything is like gone. My throat's clear and my stomach's clear," said 12-year old Julian Connerton, who was having serious anxiety.
It was all over pink gloves we wore to football practice for his mother who has breast cancer.
"I wanted to wear them not only for her but for everybody who has breast cancer. I just wanted to say I'm supporting them," said Julian.
But when he took to Lincoln Memorial Field in Egg Harbor City, N.J., his coach said he couldn't wear the gloves.
So, Julian decided to quit the team.
His mother Mayra Connerton said, "I didn't realize it was something that was that important to him."
Paul Burgan, coach of the Crusaders Football Organization, now says it was all a misunderstanding. Tuesday he was at Julian's home to apologize. The coach says he eventually remembered Julian's mom has breast cancer.
"Me, personally, I forgot. It's not that I didn't know what pink stood for, it's just I forgot," said Burgan regarding Julian's mother having breast cancer.
Julian also says when his coach said he couldn't wear the gloves, he didn't remind him why he wanted to do it.
"I was just raised not to say anything back and just listen to whoever is older and in charge of me," said Julian.
The family accepted the coach's apology, and Julian will back on the field just in time for the season home opener this weekend.
His mother said, "I think coach Paul learned when you make a mistake it's OK to step up and say 'I'm sorry.' He did that, and we're happy and we appreciate it."
Coach Burgan says this weekend the entire team and cheerleaders will be wearing pink socks he ordered for the game. And Julian will be wearing his pink gloves.
