- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
- Messages
- 71
Last night was 27 years to the day I lost a good friend to leukemia. We were only 15 years old then. In May, he set the junior high 400m track record. In the fall, as a freshman, he was getting snaps as the 2nd string tailback on a high school football team that went to state. November 7 he was gone. Shortly after he passed, his father gave me the Miami hat he wore in the hospital to hide his chemo ravaged balding head. The next season, UM went undefeated and won a National Title. I was hooked. Years later, I had the U and his football # tattooed on my shoulder on October 30, 1997. UM was I believe 2-4 at the time, struggling through probation. But I believed that it’s always darkest before dawn. The sun would rise again on Miami. UM became my way to hold on to my friend. My loyalty paid off. 16 years ago, I sat in the Rose Bowl to watch us win another ring. 27 November 7ths have come and gone. 27 straight November 7ths I’ve been at that cemetery to visit him. We talk about old times. We talk about girls. And we talk about Miami football. After 27 years, my love of this university has grown so deep. It’s been an honor and a priveledge to be a part of it all. It’ll be an honor and a priveledge to enjoy what’s to come. I love you my Cane brethren...and I love this U.