Football Emotions

Today has been a day of mixed emotions. I have been close to tears on multiple occasions, for entirely different reasons, but all related to football. On one hand, I am extremely saddened by the apparent suicide of Junior Seo. He was a 12-time Pro Browler, and he seemed so well respected in the NFL and in his hometown of San Diego. Although the news of Junior Seo’s death was a shock, I did not feel like crying until I got home and was watching the Nightly News with Brian Williams on NBC. They showed a clip of what I suppose would be considered a press conference with Junior Seo’s mother and sister. I felt sick that they had to stand in front of all of those cameras and make some sort of statement when they should just be together, dealing with this difficult time as a family. It is also quite something to note that Junior Seo is the 8th deceased member (all below the age of 45) of the 1994 San Diego Charger’s football team. Other members have died of such tragedies such as heart attacks, car crashes, plane crash and one member was even struck by lightening. Life after football may need more attention.

Speaking of life after football, the other story I saw today was Eric LeGrand being signed by the Tampa Bay Bucaneers. Eric LeGrand was the Rutgers defensive tackle that was paralyzed after a tackle ended his football career on the field in the 2010. LeGrand’s story could have ended there and we could never have heard about him again. He was told he would be a quadriplegic and would have to be on a ventilator, but in just five weeks from that diagnosis he was breathing on his own and went back to school in the spring of 2011. He has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated and remained an integral part of the Rutgers football team. As previously mentioned, LeGrand was signed by the Bucaneers today. His coach at Rutgers, Greg Schiano, is now a coach on Tampa Bay and he couldn’t help but think this is the year Eric would have been in the draft class. Schiano said of signing LeGrand, "This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer Men." That statement is so touching and so special. LeGrand got me even more choked up when he said, “Dreams do come true if you really believe. You do the right things in life, good things happen to you.” Seriously??!? If this man can find the good in life, I think we all can. Good things happen if you do the right things. He is so right. Don’t take life for granted. Work hard, be kind to others, do the right things, and good things will happen.