The Blessing of Life

With violence erupting around the world and economic conditions causing pain to many here in America, we can always appreciate those heart warming stories presented to us.

In the sphere of athletics is where I come into contact with many of these stories.  Almost every week, Tom Renaldi of ESPN College Gameday has a tremendous essay involving someone associated with The Color & Pageantry of college football.

Who can forget the tear jerking experience had by young Jack Hoffman at the spring game at The University of Nebraska.  Hoffman, with pediatric brain cancer, was allowed on the field on that day to run for a score, touching anyone with a heartbeat.  Hoffman became a star, and even won an ESPN ESPY Award, and is the face of the Team Jack Foundation.

Florida State University has a couple of such stories making the rounds this week.

Coach Jimbo Fisher and his wife Candi were guest on FOX & Friends on Tuesday morning discussing their Kidz1st Fund, which they created to battle Fanconi Anemia, which Coach Fisher's son Ethan has.  Upon learning of the diagnosis, the Fisher's decided to appropriately utilize their position to help bring awareness to Fanconi Anemia, and they report strides are being made.

Another story making the rounds in Seminole nation is that of Peyton Poulin.  Former Seminole Club of Greater Orlando president Fred More recounts a story:

Six years ago Payton Poulin was the guest of Sherri Holstrum, his art teacher, at the spring banquet of the Seminole Club of Greater Orlando.  As a friend of Sherri and past president of the Seminole Club of Greater Orlando, I had the honor of introducing Payton to Bobby Bowden, then, of introducing Payton to the 300 plus Seminole Boosters in attendance.

Following the telling of this very moving story, Rob Sahlin and Bill Neal, on cue, lifted Payton and his Seminole bedecked wheel chair into the air, all the while Payton giving the Seminole Chop a heavy dose of lifelong devotion and enthusiasm.  Coach Bowden led the standing ovation, while a number of us tried to hold back the tears of shear admiration.

For the rest of this amazing story, please see the following video presented by Tomahawk Nation:



We are all God's Children, wonderful in the eyes of our Lord, and every day is a blessing.

These Are The True Awards Of Manly Sport

Evil seems to be gaining strength in America, but not in Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday.

For those of us who treat the color and pageantry of college football as a religion, there are three seasons; National Signing Day, spring practice culminating with annual spring games and the excitement of the regular season.

Although the south is rampant with this enthusiasm, many across the fruited plain are as well.  Nowhere is the support for the home team any stronger than in Lincoln, Nebraska, home of the five time national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers, who hold the record for the longest home sellout streak in the nation, continuing at over 300 even with a dismal economy.

After wicked weather postponed last seasons spring game, a day of sunshine was expected at Memorial Stadium on Saturday for the Red-White game.  For those who could be among the 60,000 who were able to attend, the game was broadcast live on The Big Ten Network.

Many fans, eager to get a glimpse of the progress of some of the young Huskers who are expected to contribute to a young team next fall, it was a youngster who stole our, and the nations, heart on this day.

Jack and Rex Burkhead

Rex Burkhead, a standout running back from Plano, Texas who exhausted his Nebraska career last year in an injury riddled senior season, had befriended a pediatric cancer patient in young Jack Hoffman.  Throughout last season, Hoffman and Burkhead forged a friendship Burkhead visiting Hoffman after treatments and with Hoffman having an opportunity to visit many practices of the Big Red.  Hoffman meant a lot to the entire team, and led the 'Huskers on to the field in a home game versus Wisconsin last fall.

But on Saturday, as the spring game was nearing conclusion, a magical event took place as Jack Hoffman got the opportunity of a lifetime.  Please see the following video:


All Big Ten quarterback Taylor Martinez re-entered the game along with Jack to run the pitch sweep to the right, and Jack Hoffman got loose.  Hoffman gave glimpse of former 'Husker greats Mike Rozier or Ahman Green breaking into the next level. 

There truly is no place like Nebraska, as BTN analyst and former 'Husker running back Damon Benning said on the broadcast, as Hoffman hit pay dirt.

I had tears in my eyes watching this live from my living room.  At the Orange Bowl in 1971, someone asked me what the "N" on my hat meant.  An Alabama fan sitting next to me replied, "Nice People."  That was very well put.

There have been many moments over the years, but I cannot recall being more proud to be a Cornhusker than I was on Saturday.

As the story has appropriately gone viral over social media and the cable news networks, many have described this touching event in outstanding fashion.  BTN, the Omaha World Herald, the Lincoln Journal Star, ESPN, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post and FOX News.

Jeffrey Koterba, cartoonist for the Omaha World Herald, gave us an overview of those in the Scarlet and Cream.

 

For those instrumental for putting this action together, inclusive of Burkhead, and via ESPN, former Husker Jeff Jamrog and current fullback CJ Zimmer, may I extend the heartfelt thanks from 'Huskers everywhere. “Obviously, Jack is a young man who has touched the hearts of a lot of people,” Husker coach Bo Pelini said. “People have got behind him and he’s become a big part of the team. … I thought it was a pretty special thing” reported the LJS.

 

The academic excellence of the football team is second to none, and while Nebraska is not quite the team they used to be under legendary coach Dr. Tom Osborne, the program is on solid footing both on, and off the field under Bo Pelini.  I saw that on Saturday.

 

But like most of America, particularly those of us fortunate enough to be fathers, the spirit of the action touched our hearts. As Lincoln Journal Star columnist Steve Sipple quipped, "The day belonged to Jack!"

 

The team coming together for Jack Hoffman on Saturday was a testament to the words engraved on the northwest corner of Memorial Stadium, Courage; Generosity; Fairness; Honor; In these are the true awards of manly sport.  

 

Engraved at the southwest corner reads "Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory."

 

Jack, and all those fighting these terrible diseases, exhibit courage we all can be proud of.  We all pray for their victory. The action on the field Saturday when Hoffman took the field on Saturday was a most moving gesture indeed, capturing the hearts of the nation.

 

With any luck, the extended awareness this act of kindness brought to the country on Saturday will help expedite the finding of cures for those who fight these diseases on a daily basis .  #TEAMJACK

 

There truly is no place like Nebraska.  Well done Big Red! Very well done. N #GBR