In February, it was considered a major addition for the Central Michigan football team when they signed the state’s best running back in Derrick Nash, who led all Michigan high school players in yards rushing last season.
Signing his letter of intent was also a major moment in the life of the young football star, as he called the decision to accept a scholarship to play for the Chippewas the “greatest moment of my life.”
Now just three months later, Nash faces the biggest battle of his life as he has been diagnosed with Leukemia. However the young football player is vowing to fight hard and take on this would-be tackler head on.
Nash was initially worried about how the diagnosis would effect his future. Would he be cut from the Central Michigan team? Would they revoke his scholarship and give it to someone who can help the program on the field right away? Thankfully the answers to these questions are “no”.
In what can be considered a classy move and a great gesture, Central Michigan’s coach Dan Enos has pledged to stand behind the player who has never once suited up for the school. He has applied to the NCAA for a red-shirt exemption on Nash, allowing him to keep his scholarship, to attend school, and to remain a member of the football team. The red-shirt also means that Nash will not have to forego his first year of NCAA eligibility and will still be able to play four seasons after what we hope is a great recovery.
Nash has stated that he will take on this battle with all the fight he can muster, and vowed to one day suit-up and make contributions on the field for the Central Michigan football team.
It would have been easy to cut Nash for the team, as we recently saw the New England Patriots do with Kyle Love when he was diagnosed with a far less serious condition in the form of Type 2 diabetes, but Enos has put immediate football concerns aside her, for the good of another human being and pledged to do all he can in helping Nash recover.
As Nash has begun his chemotherapy to battle the disease, we wish him all the best. We at LWOS hope he can come back on the field and live that moment of glory on the gridiron. He deserves it, as do his coaches. Kudos to them.
… and thats the last word.
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