Blind 6-Year-Old Gains Self-Esteem Through Singing Anthem

The presentation of the national anthem before the Brigham Young-New Mexico game on Jan. 31 will be special.

Cody Broyles, a blind 6-year-old boy, was one of 21 people selected from 48 who auditioned to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before a New Mexico home game and his chance comes next Saturday.

Broyles, who was born blind, has been singing the national anthem since he was 2, according to his mother, Lisa McGuire.

“He’s kind of a born performer,” she said. “When I ask him what he wants to be when he grows up, he says he wants to be a country singer.”

She had Cody sing for longtime Albuquerque Public Schools choral director A.V. Wells, who recommended the boy audition for the UNM events.

“He’s got an impeccable ear,” Wells said, “and maybe that sense is better because of (his blindness). He’s a very special little boy.”

Wells said Cody’s vocal range extends into the upper register.

“Mostly, young kids can’t do that,” he said.

McGuire said singing boosts Cody’s self-esteem.

Rivalry week

ESPN’s second annual “Rivalry Week” began Saturday with the Xavier at Dayton game and will continue through Thursday night’s Massachusetts at Rhode Island and Louisville at Cincinnati games.

In between are Syracuse at Georgetown, Oklahoma State at Oklahoma and TCU at SMU, all on Monday; Wisconsin at Minnesota and Kentucky at Vanderbilt on Tuesday; and West Virginia at Pittsburgh and Clemson at North Carolina on Wednesday.

The 10 games over six days will feature 13 teams with winning percentages of better than .700.

Poll vs. RPI

The Top 25 and the RPI rankings rarely agree on where teams are placed, but this week seemed to offer unusually different views.

Eight teams ranked in the AP poll weren’t in the first 25 teams ranked according to the computer: No. 25 Clemson (26th in RPI); No. 21 Cincinnati (28); No. 22 Rhode Island (31); No. 11 Princeton (32); No. 18 Arkansas (33); No. 4 Utah (34); No. 19 Xavier (54); and No. 10 Iowa (60).