For those of you who didn’t get a chance to see ESPN’s College GameDay show this morning, I would strongly urge you to view the video at the end of this post.
And I would just as strongly urge you to have a Kleenex or two at the ready.
The only thing I’ll say about this outstanding, powerful piece is that it will make it very, very hard to take shots at Pete Carroll in the future. Not impossible, but very hard nonetheless.
[Writer's note: I was remiss in not mentioning the entire USC football program and recognizing what they did for Jake Olson in the original post. My apologies.]
This was a wonderful and yet tragic story, and one that–on this Thanksgiving weekend–should give everyone pause to reflect on the blessings that we have. I really have no idea how I would deal with what Jake has endured for his entire 12-year-old life, losing one eye to cancer when he was not yet 2 and then losing the other one this year after having several relapses of the disease. I think it is safe to say that he has shown more courage than most people would need to exhibit in a lifetime.
And my hat goes off to Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans. The way that they have taken this kid under their wings and gave him the opportunity to use the last months of sightedness to be with the team that he loves so much shows that they are all special people themselves. Their caring should be an example for all of us to follow.
As well as the Florida fans chanting Jakes name during college gameday, hard to not have a lump in your throat.
@ iraselwin: Great, great point, and a very classy gesture on the part of the UF fans.
This is the type of stuff I wish we’d hear more about. Hats off to USC, their players and coaching staff, for an outstanding display of humanity.
You can’t help but be inspired by a story like that. A life changing experience for all involved….