You no doubt heard about the courageous kid who was stricken with cancer, named his cancer “Michigan” and made the goal to “beat Michigan.” This young man, named Grant Reid is obviously a huge Ohio State fan. And Mr. Reid did in fact beat his cancer. He’s currently in remission. Michigan Wolverines coach Brady Hoke hooked Reid up with free tickets.
Obviously, matters of life and death, serious health issues are much bigger than college football rivalries. It makes us realize it’s only a game. Brady Hoke knows that.
This came up at Big Ten Media Day
Q: What were your thoughts when you initially heard Michigan being compared to cancer, and what was the reaction from Grant Reid when you called him and offered him tickets to the game?
Brady Hoke: “Well, number one reaction is we were glad. We were excited for that young man. And being a father, our children are so important and you try and put yourself through what that family has gone through.
“So him beating Michigan in this context, we were all for it. But it’s just something — I’ll be honest with you, it was something that we had
talked about, Justin Dickens (Michigan Sports Information Director) and myself, because our kids do an awful lot in Mott Hospital, C.S. Mott. And our
daughter was five months in the hospital when she was born, and so you just imagine what that family was going through.
And I spoke to Grant a little bit. He’s doing well. He was excited.”
Brady Hoke has perspective. He has priorities. Brady Hoke is a class act.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An analyst for 95.7 The Fan, he also writes on Chicago sports media for Chicago Now. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)