It has been sad to hear the news over the past month about some of Notre Dame’s football opponents. Beginning with Boston College (who the Irish play tomorrow) football player, Mark Herzlich, who is battling a rare form of cancer. It was announced a few weeks ago on ESPN that he was 99% sure the cancer was gone, but he still has a long road to recovery. A long road back to the football field.
It reminded me about my own journey and how, once I could walk again I still had an uphill battle to fight to get back in the pool. Even when the first and largest hurdle is overcome, there are still more in the way up ahead.
Last week Notre Dame played USC - another team with a suffering teammate, Stafon Johnson, who crushed his throat with a weight bar in the training room. And next month, the Irish play Connecticut who recently lost teammate Jasper Howard due to a tragic stabbing.
Three families whose lives have been turned upside down in tragedy.
Three athletes whose lives will never be the same.
I hope they are able to find their “new normal” and I pray their new normal finds them surrounded by three of the most powerful forces: family, faith and friendship.
I know Mark Herzlich will feel it tomorrow as he takes to the field at Notre Dame Stadium and is honored before the ND-BC football game. He may be a Golden Eagle, but he’s got the Fighting Irish on his side as he fights to win the competition of his life.