He was an average football player from North Miami High who became a star linebacker for Division II Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. She was a hometown girl who taught him how to drive a stick shift car, took him home to her family for Thanksgiving dinners and helped him get acquainted to life in the Midwest.

Three years later, Tanya Stokes got pregnant heading into Everald Flowers senior season. Their plan: She would take care of their son with the help of her family and finish graduate school; he would return home and do the same at FIU.

We pretty much finished everything and were planning marriage, said Everald Flowers, the father of University of Miami freshman right tackle Ereck Flowers. Then, she got sick.

Stokes was diagnosed with stomach cancer in February 2000. She died a few months later before the couple could marry, the day after Thanksgiving at age 30, leaving behind a broken-hearted college sweetheart and a very sad and confused 6-year-old boy.

I didnt really even know she was dying, said Ereck, who moved to North Miami a few months after his mothers passing to live with his father permanently. Then, I woke up one morning and the ambulance was there.

What Flowers didnt know was his parents had been planning for his mothers eventual passing for months.

She said I want you to raise our son to the best of your capabilities, make sure hes the best guy he can be, said Everald, 40, who now works for the federal government. In the end, you always want your kid to have a better life than you.

Making a commitment

Twelve years later, Everald Flowers feels like hes on the doorstep of that reality.

His only child and the only person hes made time for since Flowers mother died will start in his first college game Saturday at Boston College. And like every single one of his sons previous games, Everald will be at Alumni Stadium to cheer Ereck on in person, fulfilling a commitment he made long ago.

Excerpt from:
Father’s mentorship guides success of Hurricanes’ Ereck Flowers