Sep 27, 2019

Mechelle VoepelespnW.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Mike Thibault looks like the ultimate basketball professor on the sidelines. But as a California teen in the late 1960s, he had a different aspiration.

"I thought, 'I'm going to go to college and be a rock 'n' roll star,'" Thibault said, chuckling, after a recent Washington Mystics practice. "Music was my other love."

Saturday, Thibault turns 69 years old, and Sunday, his Mystics host the Connecticut Sun, his previous team, in Game 1 (ESPN, 3 p.m. ET) of the WNBA Finals. The one-time drummer and trombonist has made a successful life in basketball, and both his children have followed him into coaching.

"He's been doing this for more than 50 years now," his wife, Nanci, said. "Can you believe it?"

It's been an eventful journey for Thibault, who grew up dealing with an extended family tragedy, got into coaching somewhat by happenstance, had a part in two famous NBA dynasties, and ended up becoming one of the most successful coaches and biggest advocates for pro women's basketball. This is his fourth trip to the WNBA Finals, and he's seeking his first title.

"I love that guy; he's family," Mystics star and 2019 MVP Elena Delle Donne said. "To be on the team that could bring him a championship would mean so much."

Thibault said he wants the title for the longtime Mystics fans, who've seen some lean years, and his players for how well they've bought into everything he's asked of them.

"If we win it, I'll probably feel a little more complete as a WNBA coach, but I don't think it's vindication one way or another," Thibault said. "I'm not going to let myself be defined by winning a championship. I'm going to judge myself on why I got into this in the first place, and that's to teach and watch people grow on the court and off the court."

Thibault learned perspective early. The oldest of nine children, he lost five siblings to cystic fibrosis, either as children or young adults. None of them lived past age 21.

"I don't know if it was a coping mechanism, but you say, 'That's just how life is,'" Thibault said of dealing with the disease. "I didn't think it was fair to my parents or to my siblings. But I grew up with the fact that this is just part of life."

Nanci, a retired registered nurse, said Thibault has a lot of empathy, but tends to be stoic and composed.

"For them to go through what they went through, but still have such a strong family bond, I give his mom and dad a lot of credit," she said. "I don't know how much of the tragedy of it all that Mike processed when he was young. To him, it was just the way things were."

Nanci recalled a story told by one of Thibault's sisters who didn't have the disease and would help Mike and their parents do treatments, such as pounding on their siblings' backs to loosen the congestion in their lungs. Thibault used his passion for drumming to do this, putting on music and pounding to the beat.

"It was Mike's way of taking something difficult and trying to make it more fun," Nanci said.

Thibault's work ethic kicked in early, as he got multiple part-time jobs as soon as he was old enough to help with family expenses. He also loved sports. A self-described mediocre basketball player, he'd been cut as a high school junior, but was expected to see playing time as a senior. Then he tore ligaments in his ankle just before the season started.

His coach saw him moping a bit, and asked if he'd like to coach a freshman team to lift his spirits. Thibault did that, but went to college as a music major. Then he was asked to coach another high school team.

"I was trying to do both: play night-time band gigs and also coach," he said. "I was in two totally insecure professions; neither of them has any job security. But I decided I was more in love with coaching."

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Between that, doing other odd jobs and switching colleges -- he ended up at St. Martin's in Lacey, Washington -- Thibault developed his basketball philosophy. He worked at legendary UCLA coach John Wooden's camps, and watched how Wooden approached athletes, no matter how great their stature.

"It always seemed to me that the coaches who were the most honest with their players had the best results," Thibault said. "I will tell every team I've ever coached: You're not always going to like what I say, but I'll always tell you the truth."

Nanci laughs as she says you should never ask Mike his opinion if you aren't prepared to hear it. He doesn't sugarcoat anything.

At the same time, Thibault said, "What I've gotten better at as I've gone along is reading when a player needed a kick versus a pat on the back."

Thibault worked with the Los Angeles Lakers during part of the "Showtime" years in the early 1980s, and then was on the Chicago Bulls staff that drafted Michael Jordan. Maybe most crucial, though, were his eight years as coach and general manager of the Omaha, Nebraska, franchise of the Continental Basketball Association.

"It was the first time on a pro level where every decision had to be mine," Thibault said. "I learned that what you thought was going to happen might not, because life changes quickly. You have to go with the flow and adapt. That's where I really learned how to coach."

After a stint back in the NBA, with the Milwaukee Bucks, Thibault got a job offer to coach the WNBA's Portland Fire. As he and his family were preparing to move, the Fire folded. But another WNBA expansion team, the Orlando Miracle, was moving to Connecticut.

He got that job, and so began a 10-season stay that included two trips to the WNBA Finals. The Sun made it in 2004 as a young team, and Thibault didn't think they were ready to win. They were ready in 2005, but then point guard Lindsay Whalen was injured in the playoffs.

The playoff trip that ended his Sun career came in 2012, when Connecticut had a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals, but lost to Tamika Catchings-led Indiana. Connecticut let Thibault go, which was one of the best things that ever happened to the Mystics.

"It was actually a breath of fresh air," Thibault said of the move. "The situation in Connecticut had played itself out. This was a chance to build kind of from scratch."

The Mystics have made the playoffs six of Thibault's seven seasons. Last year, they advanced to the WNBA Finals for the first time, where they lost to the Seattle Storm. This year, the Mystics had the league's best record (26-8) and Delle Donne won her second MVP. Delle Donne insisted on a trade to Washington from Chicago before the 2017 season to be closer to her family in Delaware, and her presence, along with Thibault's coaching, transformed the Mystics into contenders.

It is a family business; son Eric Thibault is one of Mike's assistants, daughter Carly Thibault-DuDonis is an assistant to Whalen at the University of Minnesota, and Carly's husband, Blake DuDonis, is head coach at Wisconsin-River Falls.

Thibault sees the move to the WNBA as the best decision of his career. The summertime season gave him more time with Eric and Carly growing up. He feels he's making a difference in a league that has benefitted from his strategic knowledge and his advocacy.

"The coolest thing about him," Delle Donne said, "is he's a hall of famer coach, but each year he's trying to learn more."

And he still has his love of music. During the Mystics' trip to Las Vegas for the WNBA semifinals, he caught Santana in concert. He sold his drum kit when the family moved from Connecticut, but Thibault recently got a gift from Eric: studio time with drums.

Thibault thinks back to another memory of his youth in California, when he participated in a 2 a.m. jam session with Jefferson Airplane, playing trombone, at a music festival in Santa Clara.

"That was my rock 'n' roll highlight," Thibault said.

His basketball highlight might be coming up soon.

See more here:
Mystics coach Mike Thibault closes in on elusive title in WNBA Finals - ESPN

B/R illustrationSue Ogrocki/Associated Press

BOCA RATON, Fla. In Lane Kiffin's reasonably-sized office, it's the expansive library that grabs your eye first.

Not the ceremonial rings and watches stationed on the front of his desktokens of previous coaching tenures that are recruiting ammunition for him as the head coach at Florida Atlantic. Not the pictures of his children scattered throughout the room. Not the flat-screen television frozen on a practice repfour days before FAU will take on Ohio State as a colossal underdog in the season opener.

Not the "Winning in Paradise" sign or the satiric name plate that reads "Mr. Wonderful."

No, as Kiffin leans back in his chair, his feet propped on the desk, it's the books collected behind him that stand out, largely because of what they are not. They aren't playbooks. In fact, they apparently have nothing to do with football at all. But these books have had an impact on Kiffin far greater than anything strictly to do with his profession.

There is Ego Is the Enemy. Next to that,The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change. And, in the stacks of hard and soft covers, a book that Kiffin is particularly fond of: The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?

Call them self-help books. Motivational reads. To each person, they may mean something different. To Kiffin, they've meant everything as he explores the kind of person he hopes to become.

Two years ago, The Purpose Driven Life was sent to Kiffin by the Tennessee team chaplain. The first sentence on the first page was highlighted in neon yellow.

"It's not about you."

"I didn't understand that when I was young because it was about me," Kiffin says as he flips through the pages. "I do more with the players now. I genuinely care about their development and want to help them through things. I used to help them, but I helped them with one thing: football.

"I'd get you drafted higher than anywhere else," he continues. "I was going to give you everything in that aspect. But did I do anything else for you?"

By leaving the spotlight that trailed him from one high-profile coaching drama to the next, Kiffin has found serenity. He recognizes the stigmas that exist about him. He also understands he probably won't change them,no matter how good his tweets are.

Twitter has unquestionably helped him remake his image. But the flood of honest, witty tweets he unleashes on a daily basis fail to capture the true transformation.

Once the poster child for expedited coaching ascension, Kiffin has found tranquility in a sleepy Florida town that is still learning to love its programa program that's in its 19th season and has won eight or more games only four times. Under Kiffin, FAU has gone 11-3 and 5-7.

Curious about how one of the sport's most recognized and polarizing coaches has adjusted to life away from the spotlight, Bleacher Report went behind the scenes with Kiffin as his third season at FAU was about to kick off. It is clear the drive and the passion haven't disappeared. But there's another side to Kiffin taking shapea side most assumed he never had.

"I want to win football games," he says. "That's important and everything, but that's not the only thing. Because if that's truly the only thing, you won't be very happy. I've lived it."

The sound of jet engines coming and going from nearby Boca Raton Airport Authority breaks up the silence of the offensive staff meeting, as coaches settle into their chairs and eat their lunches.

There's plenty of youth in this assemblage, starting at the head of the table withKiffin, who's wearing red basketball shorts and a long white-sleeve shirt soaked in sweat from practice. The former head coach of USC, Tennessee and the Oakland Raiders is 44 years old.

Compared with some of his assistants, he's almost ancient. His offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis Jr., is 26 years old. His tight ends coach, former Florida State-turned-West Virginia quarterback Clint Trickett, is 28. His running backs coach, UCF great Kevin Smith, is 32.

This week, the assignment for one of the nation's youngest staffs is daunting. Preparing for a team with the talent and resource advantages of Ohio State is never easy. This particular year, it's more demanding than usual.

"It's a very complicated game," Kiffin says. "[Ohio State has a] new head coach, new quarterback and then a new defensive system, but you don't exactly know which system it is. It's like you've got no idea what to watch."

For the first part of the meeting, Kiffin and his assistants focus on the team's practice from earlier in the day, projected on a screen near the center of the room. After one of the sloppiest practices in recent weeks, the head coach's frustration builds as the miscues add up.

"Get it going," Kiffin says while watching his offensive line. "We're gonna get murdered if it looks like that on Saturday."

For much of his professional life, Kiffin was on the other side of lopsided season openers. After coaching and recruiting some of the nation's most elite athletes, getting accustomed to underdog status has taken some time.

Kiffin accepted the job at FAU after three seasons as the offensive coordinator under Nick Saban at Alabama. While he knew that he would be recruiting different players than he did for the Crimson Tide, he felt confident that he'd be able to successfully navigate the football-rich state of Florida.

"You have these profiles in your head of how every single position should look," Kiffin says. "This is the height, the weight, the speed; and it was that way for a long time. But you're not going to get that here. There's never been an offensive lineman drafted in the history of the school. Not in any round."

As the film session jumps from the team's practice reps to Ohio State's spring game, the obstacle seems to grow larger. Although FAU has faced Oklahoma and UCF and Wisconsin in the last few seasons, life as a cupcake is still relatively new to Kiffin.

"You've got to get some breaks in a game like this," he says. "That's just what happens when you're close to a 30-point underdog.

"Were the players ready to play? Did you manage the game well? Did you substitute well? That's kind of how I look at it now, which is hard to even say. But you've got to be realistic."

No book on Kiffin's shelves offers a closer parallel to his life over the past 10 years than The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change.

Kiffin dives into an analogy for how he found himself in Boca.

"Put a carrot in boiling water, and it will soften and ultimately weaken," he says. "If you put an egg in boiling water, it will become agitated and harden. But the coffee bean will take that water and change it. It'll turn it into coffee that smells good, embracing the adversity going on to make everything around it better."

When Kiffin was fired from USC in September of 2013, he became a carrot. Then, he became an egg. The spectacle of his firinga raw moment that played out in the openleft him heartbroken and bitter.

"When you're in L.A. and you get fired at the airport at 4 a.m., you don't want to go anywhere," he says. "It was painful and embarrassing. And I felt miserable and angry at everybody for a little while. I realized then that I was defined as the head coach at USC, and that's all I was defined as."

The months that followed, a time of self-reflection, allowed him to come to terms with all that brought him to this point. The string of turbulent stops that culminated with the lowest point of his careerfrom Oakland to Tennessee and finally USCbrought him to this life stage at FAU.

"If that night had never happened, I think I'd still be so just drawn by the chase of the championships and the ego," he says. "I just look at things different now."

Kiffin started over by pairing up with Saban, first in an observing role that December and soon after as Alabama's offensive coordinator.

For a coach whose path had been a whirlwind of turbulent climbing, this was a much different opportunity.

"You go back to being an assistant learning from the best that has ever coached," Kiffin says. "That kind of move will humble you. Knock down your ego. It certainly did for me."

The goal was to relearn what it took to run a football program, with the hope that another opportunity would eventually surface.

He also knew that if he was given another chance to lead, he would treat the people around him better. He would view program success differentlynot just through the lens of wins and losses.

This was his coffee-bean moment.

His press conferences these days are outside of the national glare. Most of the time, a handful of local reporters ask him about the depth chart and injuries in a classroom that moonlights as an interview room.

While he still knows how to generate a buzz when he feels it's necessary, mainly through social media, Boca Raton has provided the seclusion he was seeking.

At night, Kiffin can travel to restaurants without being recognizedsomething he was never afforded at his previous stops.

Unlike most football coaches, Kiffin has never played golf: The water has always been his escape. And in Boca that escape is readily available.

"I am happier on a daily basis when I wake up and come to work," Kiffin says. "They love that you're here, and I can go home, take the boat out every day and catch snook in my backyard."

He pauses momentarily, intersecting his personal and professional life.

"Coaches leave jobs for two things: their ego and money," he says. "So what if I don't make three times or four times more money?"

Over the past couple of years, networks have shown interest in doing behind-the-scenes programs at FAU. It's no question that Kiffin's presence has made these opportunities possible. And while they could provide significant publicity to optimize recruiting and elevate interest in his program, Kiffin has denied each request.

"I just felt it wasn't the right timing for now," Kiffin says. "It felt really good to be able to just coach."

One of the other reasons Kiffin is uneasy about doing an all-access show is because he worries about his assistants having to publicly endure criticism in practicean experience that hits close to home.

"There's a lot of head coaches that love that," he says." I don't want these guys to go through that with cameras around."

One of the assistants on the defensive staff is his father, Monte Kiffin, who started his career as a graduate assistant at Nebraska in the 1960s.

The luxury of being able to work alongside his father, a football lifer at age 79, is not lost on Lane as he lives his mid-40s. But he also doesn't see himself coaching and consuming football like his father for 30 more years.

He laughs at the notion that he could one day coach alongside his son, Knox. But his commitment to the sport and FAU is significant: He's on a 10-year contract that will keep him with the Owls through 2027. It's a commitment he intends to see through.

What actually happens before or after 2027 remains to be seen. Kiffin isn't sure what he would do without football in his life.

"My mom says I could've been a lawyer just because I used to like to argue a lot," he says with a smile. "I used to argue a lot and always had to be right."

Whatever comes next, right now he is clearly comfortable. Content. Relaxed. Which are not emotional states this profession often allows or encourages.

The first quarter at Ohio State goes as expected. Undersized and overwhelmed, FAU falls behind 28 points to the Buckeyes almost instantaneously.

But in a natural course of play, the game begins to tighten. It's never in doubt, but the Owls turn what initially has the look of a momentous blowout into a satisfactory 45-21 loss filled with moral victories.

The following week, FAU falls to UCF by 34 points. The first win comes at Ball State the next Saturday, when Kiffin and his players break through 41-31.

In his previous coaching world, a 10-point victory over Ball State wouldn't have meant much to Kiffin. But here, it's a springboard and a potentially season-saving win. (The Owls are now 2-2 after beating Wagner this past Saturday.)

In the next six months, FAU will open the Schmidt Family Complex for Athletic and Academic Excellencea state-of-the-art facility with locker rooms, a weight room, practice fields and amenities that will change the way the football program operates and recruits.

The distance between FAU and the extensive list of programs it is chasing will grow shorter. Kiffin, who has been active in the construction of the facility, recognizes how much this could impact his professional life. It's also not a new factor that will sway his loyalty to his current job one way or another.

"As I've gotten older, I've realized I'd rather make less and live in a place that I really love," Kiffin says. "I'm at a place in my life where what's important to me is just different from when I was 30 years old."

The road to get here has been long. Painful. Maddening. Revealing. It has taken many years and jobs for Kiffin to find happinessa situation that is not defined by status or money.

Failure, in many ways, was the best thing that could have happened to him. It's what brought on his own coffee-bean moment. In the years to come, he will still be defined by the success of his football program. As a head coach, the wins and the losses are inescapable.

But one thing will be very different. It will no longer just be about him.

Go here to see the original:
Introspective and at Peace, Lane Kiffin Talks About His Path to a Happier Place - Bleacher Report

WASHINGTON "Hi! How are you," Sherry Gruden said, as she welcomed visitors with a warm smile and embrace.

Sherry and her husband, Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden, have been happily married for 30 years. They have three sons and two grandsons together. She's been an NFL wife for quite some time now.

But on the other side, Sherry is an accomplished woman with a lot to say. She's a strong force for her family.

"I'm from Louisville, Kentucky and come from a pretty large family there," she said. "I have a couple of siblings and a lot of my family is still there. I'm the only one who moved away."

RELATED: Cut by Raiders, Antonio Brown becoming a Patriot on eve of season opener

"I met Jay at college," she added. "We both went to the University of Louisville. He was a couple of years older, and just on the other side of football. So, he was working now in the coaching office there, no longer playing when we got together which was probably a good thing."

Sherry said that they dated for a short time, then she and Jay were married after he graduated from college. She was in her senior year, and knew that she was marrying into a football dynasty.

"I didn't know a lot about football," Sherry said. "His mother knew more than anybody who had taught me about football. You know, Jon, his brother, had just started out his coaching career. And his father had been a coach."

RELATED: Raiders release Antonio Brown after disgruntled WR told them to

While her husband pursued his football career, Sherry kept busy building her own path.

"I've always been a go-go-goer, like, I didn't sit still very often," she said. "The third child came along, and it's like, I gotta do something else, gotta do something that's more flexible. So, I decided to get my real estate license."

Her growing real estate team became one of the top in the nation for Caldwell Banker. Sherry said she did that for a while until Jay's job took them to Cincinnati.

In 2014, Jay Gruden became the head coach of the Washington Redskins. And, as if going from offensive coordinator to the top job wasn't just a career change, the increased pressure and scrutiny became a life changer for Jay and his family.

RELATED: Antonio Brown not with Raiders amid reports of suspension

Sherry Gruden talks with husband Jay on the football field before start of game.

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RELATED: Redskins RB Derrius Guice tells his haters to 'kiss it'

"It's always most fun when you don't have direct involvement in the game," she said. "When you can sit back as a spectator and watch and just really get into the actual fun of the game."

"When you're in the final stages of contracts and your team's gotta perform or, you know, your job is on the line kind of thing, it's stressful," Sherry said. "So, it's always exciting, but, it's also always stressful because your livelihood depends on every win. So, yeah, right now we're in that stage."

Sherry said she knows Jay hears more of the criticism, but he takes it well.

"Everybody is entitled to their opinion to what they think, and they are passionate sport fans," Sherry said.

"I know that he is putting in 100 percent of effort every week, every week in and every week out, doing everything he can do," she added.

RELATED: Redskins cornerback gives back by donating blood in honor of his namesake

Sherry Gruden gives son Jack a hug as he greets her before kickoff at FEDEX Field.

WUSA9

RELATED: Redskins ragtag offensive line has confidence they can do the job

Sherry said while Jay puts in 100 percent of the effort on the field, she takes care of much of their home life.

"He knows that I take care of things on the home front and whatever he needs, I'm there for him and the kids, and, you know, pretty much the rock of the family," she said.

Download the brand new WUSA9 app here.

Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter: Your forecast. Your commute. Your news.

Read more here:
'Your livelihood depends on every win' | Wife of Redskins head coach speaks her mind - WUSA9.com

Despite years of trying, you cant seem to find the love of your life. Or after years of trying and lots of money, you cant get pregnant. Or youve spent years working to pay off your student loans and theres no end in sight because you incurred more debt from a car that broke down, an unexpected surgery, and now you need to move. You landed that dream job and found it to be more of a nightmare!

What Do We Do When Our Most Desired Dreams Die?

Most professionals will say gratitude journal it away! Be grateful because you have your arms! But sometimes self-improvement can be a band-aide for the pain, if we first dont accept we have the pain. If the pain is ignored, it will haunt us eventually.

Contrary to popular belief, sometimes our dreams dying in front of us, lets us know we are on the right path. I know, we all have things we want and desire in this life, and when weve constantly pursued them to no avail, it just sucks. And you know what? Its OK to say it sucks.

Here are 4 Ways To Get Back Your Joy When Your Dreams Have Died.

I gave a talk on this concept and it startled some people. But one woman came to the talk twice and on the second time, she explained how by giving herself permission to let go of her dream career not happening fast enough, she accepted that it had died. And then later that week interviewed for a new job, although similar to her dream job but not on her radar, ended up negotiating a bigger offer than her dream job would ever pay. She thanked me for teaching her this concept because in effect, she got something better.

Accepting your dreams have died is the first step. If you are increasing your self-care because a dream died in your life, you are in good company!

Do you misspainting? Paint. Been titter totting on whether to do that yoga teachertraining? Do it. Too broke to invest in your passionsget creative. No matterhow broke you feel, budget a small portion to your dreams fund. The dreamsfund reminds you, new dreams are kindling; pursuing dreams does cost money, andsometimes when we dont have the funds to invest in ourselves, it can hurt evenmore. Think about trading services. Think about if you took a small commitmentpart time job and used that money to fund your dream. And even better, if itsin the area of your dream.

Thepain of your dreams death will be nourished with a passion project.

Sometimes we needa coach to help during the process of resurrecting our dreams or finding a newdream. A certified coach, with transformational accredited training, can helpyou unlock your own transformation rather than just give you advice. Advicefeels good sometimes if its relevant, but eventually in relationships to thosewho give advice, if you dont follow the advice, it can cause some additionalpain to the death of your dream. This is because it can lead to shame of oh Icouldnt get result like my so and so coach, I must really be bad, failure, etc.And sometimes a coach who just gives advice, wont know what to do if you cantget the same result because your situation is afterall different.

Having a coachthat is educated in true transformational coaching techniques to be a guide tohelp you unlock your new life is a good coach worth paying for. Coaching isabout you and can create some fantastic results on new dreams or even resurrectingthe ones that have died.

Investingin Your Healing of a Dreams Death, Will Help You Jumpstart Another DreamFaster

This one can invite a little fun into yourspace. By creating a creative vision for your home, even if you live in astudio, use a corner of the room, you can have your this is where I create mybest life space. Creating your best life space is not living in a penthouse.Or if you already live in a penthouse good for you! Dedicate a room to yourinspiration station.

The idea is sometimes to resurrect ourdreams or move past the pain of them dying, we need a space to dream again. Tofeel good again. Clear the clutter of the space. Add white holiday lights to iteven if it isnt the holidays. Make it a place that lights up your soul andstart there. It can help you grow the conditions for inevitable success whereyou get to welcome your dream or a better dream on a daily basis.

Aninspiration station becomes a physical space reminder that you are living foryour dreams rather than dwelling on that your most desired dream died.

An honorable mention:If your dream was a person, like aspouse that passes, a divorce, or a breakup, or for some of you, just didntget a yes to the date you desired, acknowledge the beauty of the pain that youloved or liked this person, whether you were super close or loved at adistance. Its never a crime in loving someone, no matter how long or short.Write a letter to them (that you may or may not send), and bring closure toyour feelings for them. It could be one paragraph or a novel, but the joy of havingloved them will bring you some peace. In the event of spousal death, find ananchor to remember them by, of the love you shared, not the end result. If youbroke up or got denied a date, write the letter and consider whether to send itif applicable. All emotions are welcome as long as it doesnt hurt you orothers. When we deny feeling our emotions, they come back to haunt us, evenwhen we are intentional on being mindful.

These are some unique ways to consider how to approach your wellness when your desired dream(s) have died, whether temporarily or permanently. Who knows? Something better might be around the corner today!

Originally posted here:
4 Ways To Get Your Joy Back When Your Dreams Have Died - Thrive Global

ULYSSES, Kan. 12-year old Quincy Sierra decided he wanted to compete in athletics this year, his first in junior high. But, like everything in life, Quincy has to work even harder than most kids his age.

When he sees he has no central vision, explained Whitney Teeter, Quincys mom. Its like hes looking through Swiss cheese, because there is so much scarring. The vision he does have is very limited.

Quincy is blind, caused by scarring to his retinas at birth. Despite that, he wanted to run.

My blindness does not matter, Quincy said with a smile. I am confident. Even though I have vision problems, I am still confident with that.

Confidence is not enough though. State requirements dictate Quincy must be tethered to adult in order to compete in sanctioned events.

I didnt know how it was going to go down, Teeter admitted. I thought I better start training because I am out of shape.

But Teeter didnt have to worry about that. Quincys coach, Cory Bixler, stepped up to make sure Quincy got his chance.

If I dont do this, he doesnt get the chance to compete, and thats not going to happen, Bixler said. Thats kind of the why you know? If I dont do this, he doesnt get to run. Theres no chance, he doesnt get to run. I mean, somebody else would have done it, but I am going to be there anyway.

Bixler will be there, because he coaches both the Junior High and High School Cross Country teams in Ulysses. But instead of his normal coaching duties, Bixler will run too. Tethered to Quincy, every step of the way.

Thats the point of it, Bixler, a coach for more than two decades, said.This is about helping kids, and thats what it is all about.

Bixler will tell you that anyone would have done what hes doing to help Quincy, and that may be the case as Quincy is pretty popular around campus. But for Quincy, it means something that his coach is the one who stepped up.

Im glad he said you know what its time to help. And its a good thing he did, because we have become a great team, Quincy beamed.

A social media post from Quincys first meet went viral. And the attention has made a difference Quincys life.

He just has so much more he believes in himself, Teeter admitted. There were a lot of times where he was shy about trying new things and nervous. He called me the other day and said mom I tried out for jazz band. He was like I just think I did awesome. Ive seen that in him. More self-confidence.

And while his mom and coach admit they are scared he might stumble, he has, Quincy isnt worried about it. He gets up, and just gets up and keeps running.

He doesnt limit himself. I see that it is inspirational, but I guess for us weve been around it and to us we are like thats just Quincy.

We asked Quincy if he wanted all of this attention to inspire others. He quickly said yes, and added

If you ever have limitations you want to pass the limit. Oh wait, you dont want to pass the limit, you want to beat the limitation you set. Oh wait, you dont set one. The only limits that are there are the ones you set for yourself.

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Blind cross country runner competing with help of coach - CatchItKansas

JakeKelbert takes the snap.

The Livonia Franklin quarterback fakes a handoff to the wide receiver on anoption sweep and rolls to the right. After a 5-yard gain, he hears the whistle and an ensuing voice.

Youve got to look inside, bro.

Kelbert jogs back to the line of scrimmage towardhis head coach, clad in gym shorts and a Franklin t-shirt, with the whistle around his neck and his arms crossed.

Livonia Franklin quarterback Jake Kelbert stands with his father and head coach Chris Kelbert(Photo: Colin Gay | Hometownlife.com)

Shortly after practice, the head coach calls for his captains, yelling Kelbert in the direction of his quarterback. The senior obliges, jogging over for a quick meeting.

On the field, the relationship between the head coach and his quarterback is already close, with Kelbert entering his third season as the varsity starting quarterback.

When exiting the field though, the relationship changes. The head coach and his quarterback walk off the field together,toward the parking lot.

CoachChris Kelbert is JakeKelberts ride home.

To be a coach's son could seem like a good idea, in theory.

But for two area families, the Kelberts and the DeWalds Jim DeWald coaching his two sons, Caden and James, at Birmingham Seaholm this is reality, and it is something they had to get used to.

When driving towarddowntown Birmingham, the DeWaldname is plastered at many points along the side of the road. It wasnot referencing the Seaholm football program, but rather Erin Keating DeWald, the area realtor.

Erin grew up in Birmingham, graduating from Seaholm prior to attending Western Michigan, where she met her husband Jim.

When she's not working, she spends much of her time in the football stands, watching Jim coach, dating back to whentheir two boys roamed the sideline as ball boys.

Football was ingrained inthe DeWald family, although it was never pushed,and Erin knew that both of her children would play on Friday nights in the future.

They look up to their dad, Erin DeWald said. Its just like if their dad was a doctor or something. Its kind of like the boys mimicked and follow in their dads footsteps.

Jim DeWald, head coach at Birmingham Seaholm, stands with his two sons: Caden and James.(Photo: Colin Gay | Hometownlife.com)

What she did not know was her husband would eventually coach both of her sons ather alma mater, a momentshe called surreal.

As both Caden and James grew up, in age and in size, it became more of a reality for the family that Jim would have to coach them at some point.

I had a lot of people say that it was going to be hard," Jim DeWald said."I go, No, it should be simple because you coach the film and you do what you do.

Actually, early on, it was actually harder than I thought.

Both Caden and James DeWald call it the outside noise. JakeKelbert did not have a name for it, but experienced it: the notion of favoritism associated with being a coachs son.

All three heard it in the locker room and in the hallways: "they did not earn their respective spots" or "they were only there because their dads wanted their sons to be successful."

Its a perception both coacheswantto avoid, both admitting that they treattheir sons more harshly thanthe other players. Both expectmore out of their sons on the football field.

Hes like, Ill send your ass back to J.V.'

If the team sees that I have these crazy expectations for him, then they are going to see that we need to rise to the level, too, Coach Kelbert said.

James was the first of the DeWalds who experienced this from his father.

Promoted to the varsity level during his sophomore season, the now-senior linebacker said it was difficult for him to deal with the expectations that his head coach gave him, along withdealing with that "outside noise" for the first time.

Especially early on, James DeWald felt as though he had to prove his spot.

At first, I was close to not even being on it, so thats when he was really on me because I was doing stuff wrong, James DeWald said. Hes like, Ill send your ass back to J.V.

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It was not only on the players to prove their worthiness of the varsity level. It was on the head coaches, their fathers, to make sure the expectation of the quality of play remains the same despite the familial connection.

Chris Kelbert never pushed football onhis son. Much like the DeWalds, Jake served as a ball boy from an early age, finding his way onto the field behind center in elementary school. Jake enjoyed playingquarterbackfrom the moment he took his first snap, but it was never something that his father thought would be long-term.

Jake Kelbert stands behind the fence, watching his father Chris Kelbert coach on the sideline.(Photo: Jennifer Kelbert)

But with the more camps Jake attended and the more training he had behind center, the more apparent it became to Chris that a decision would eventually have to be made: to start his son or to leave him on junior varsity.

The whole situation was hard on Jake Kelbert.

The Kelberts live in the Farmington school district where Jake attended school. With Chris Kelbert teaching at Franklin, Jake transferred to Livonia PublicSchools.

In the summer before his freshman year, just prior to that move,Jennifer Kelbert found Jake in his room crying.He said teammates were telling him he would never get anywhere, and the only reason he had an opportunity was because his dad was the head coach.

Chris Kelbert had the same worry in Jake'ssophomore season.

Many of his assistant coaches wanted to bring the younger Kelbertup to play varsity quarterback earlier. But because of who he was and what the perception could be,the decision was especially taxing on the head coach.

If Jake was not his son, he would have, without a doubt, pulled him up when he did. But because he was his son, I think he had a harder time doing it because of what others would say. They would say he just pulled him up because of who he was, Jennifer Kelbert said. But then after a couple of games, they realized why he did it.

In his first season as the Patriots starting quarterback in 2017, things were not perfect for Jake Kelbert.

He completed 55 percent of his passes for 1,089 yards, averaged 6.12 yards per carry and accumulated 15 total touchdowns.

Jacob Kelbert, far left, sits with his father - Franklin Patriot coach Chis Kelbert, right, and Seth Winter, (#55) on Sept. 20 as the offense goes over a play early in the game.(Photo: John Heider | hometownlife.com)

However, more importantly for Chris Kelbert and for Franklin, Jake Kelbert was a winner, finishing 7-2 during the regular season, advancing the Patriots to the Division 2 state title game before losing to De La Salle.

Franklin found its quarterback. And it happened to be the son of its head coach.

In those times where emotions run high on the football field, both head coaches realizedthey might not be able to be the familial support for their sons.

That is where Mom comes in.

She would be the balance, Chris Kelbert said. He gets the tough, stern approach from me, and then Mom is his sounding board. She will listen to what he has to say.

Chris said his wife Jennifer tells him to chill out at times, allowing Jaketo find his own way of addressing what he is feeling.

The role of the mother is not only as the one to keep the familial atmosphere alive between a head coach and his player, to make sure feelings are heard and support is given.

It is to be the cheerleader.

Erin DeWald stands with her two sons, Caden and James.(Photo: Colin Gay | Hometownlife.com)

Its great when you get chewed out on film and you come to your mom and she says You had a great game, Caden DeWald said. I say, Yeah, I know I did.

But its not like the father takes a back seat when any praise comes towardhis son.

To Jim DeWald, he believes he put both of his sons on the Seaholm varsity team for a reason. Instead of just giving James and Caden praise, he lets their actions speak for itself.

I would go to him as a parent/coach and ask do I deserve it? Caden DeWald said. And he would show me the film.

As soon as James and Caden DeWald took their first snap at Seaholm, as soon as Jacob Kelbert threw his first pass at Franklin, both families knewthe clock had started.

On a team usually filled with juniors and seniors, all three players took the field for the first time on varsity as underclassmen. For James DeWald and JakeKelbert both in their senior season the time on the clock is running out.

And its something that Jennifer Kelbert is not ready to face.

The Kelberts stand in front of their house.(Photo: Colin Gay | Hometownlife.com)

I dont ever want the season to end, she said. I dont know how to put it into words.

Jennifer said she doesn't know how Chris Kelbert will do next year without his son on the football field, pointing to the fact that both do everything together during the year: from watching film and working on plays to driving to school together.

However, when Chris thinks about the end of JakeKelberts tenure at Franklin, he is focused on what the Patriots will lose on the football field.

Chris said he has never seen a quarterback pick up an offense as quickly as his son did, crediting how long Jakehasbeen around the program, after attending his first football game two weeks after he was born.

Jake just understands what is expected.

Thats what Im going to miss: just his ability to run the offense and his knowledge of what we are looking for, Chris Kelbert said. It makes our job as coaches, easier.

But the Kelberts are not done with this process. Both of Jakes brothers Drew and Ethan play football, as well, possibly becoming the next in line to add the family name on the Franklin roster one day.

Jennifer Kelbert said Chrisjokingly was saying he would quit his job as the head coach of the Patriots and move on to college next season, taking Jake with him wherever he goes.

I was like, No, you are not going to move to college, because you have two more kids that are just as excited to have you coach them, Jennifer Kelbert said. So now you have to wait.

For the DeWalds, they dont have time to wait.

Im trying to enjoy the moment, but I do get sad because this is the end.

James currently is playing his senior season for the Maples, while Caden has one more season to go. There'sno other siblings waiting in the wings to get their shot to be coached by Jim DeWald.

The Seaholm head coach said he has tried to make an effort to be more of a father on the field towardboth of his sons this season than he has in the past.

For Erin, there is a sea of emotions attached to her two sons. She said she will continue to go to Seaholm games to support her husband, but, when James and Caden go off to college, she will make an effort to support each of them fromthe stands.

But to Erin, it will not be the same.

Im trying to enjoy the moment, but I do get sad because this is the end, Erin DeWald said. Back-to-back, you know? This is the end.

More: Hometown Life staff football picks: Week 5

More: Hometown Life-area top 10 high school football teams: Week 5

During the football season, Saturdays in the DeWald and the Kelbert homesusually are determined by the success of Seaholm and Franklin the night before.

A win leads to a normal weekend for the families, a lively house usually dominated by college football and rest. A loss leads to a bit more of a quiet atmosphere.

Caden and James DeWald talk to their father Jim on the sideline of a football game.(Photo: Erin DeWald | Special to Hometownlife.com)

Erin DeWald wants to make her home feel inviting and comfortable to the rest of her family, describing it as a place to relax, a place to forget about the stresses of what happened on the football field.

Erin said its something she wants to bring other people into, encouraging her sons to invite friends over, even though, she said, no one usually takes James and Caden up on the offer because of who their father is.

In the Kelbert house, Jennifer knows what to expect on aSaturday in the fall. She said she expects to hear Jakecall his dad coach, something that happens each football season.

One night, (Jake)made a comment that he thought it was funny that his coach is dating his mom, Jennifer Kelbert said. Im like I dont think Im dating your coach. I think Im married to him.

But win or loss, the feeling is the same in each household: leave it on the football field, be a normal family.

And maybe see which team is on the schedule for Seaholm and Franklin next week.

Reach Colin Gay at cgay@hometownlife.com, 248-310-6710. Follow him on Twitter @ColinGay17.Send game results and stats to Liv-Sports@hometownlife.com.

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The family dynamic: How to balance life on and off the football field - Hometown Life

The Voice is back! Season 17 of the NBC music competition premiered this week, and fans are already swooning over Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton's romance.

Of course, episode one was already filled with drama, like Stefani blocking Shelton from adding contestant Kyndal Inskeep to his team. But there were no hard feelings, as Shelton joined fellow coaches Kelly Clarkson and John Legend in welcoming Stefani back to The Voice with a fun rendition of her former band's 1995 hit "Don't Speak."

On Wednesday, Legend kicked off his Trailer Talk series, which offers behind-the-scenes footage of the coaches as they discuss the competition, performances that didn't make it on-air, and even a bit about their personal lives.

Legend shared his latest Trailer Talk to Instagram, which shows the A-list group singing "Don't Speak" together as Legend plays the piano. "With #TheVoice back in action, so is season 2 of #TrailerTalk! Tonight I have my fellow coaches @blakeshelton, @kellyclarkson, and @gwenstefani! Last season #TrailerTalk broke big news about @Hootieofficial, and this time Blake asks Gwen a very important question..." Legend captioned his post. Stefani also shared a clip of the talk to her Instagram, and it's just so good.

Before the group got to singing, Legend asked Stefani and Shelton some hard-hitting questions about their love life as the couple's four-year anniversary approaches in November. The lovebirds actually met on set of The Voice when Stefani joined the show as a coach in the fall of 2015. A lot of fans have been curious about wedding bells, so Legend just had to ask.

A lot of rumors have been swirling around about you and Blake. Ive been told that you guys are getting married, Legend said. Have you popped the question Blake?

Shelton and Stefani were shook but played it off with a laugh. Shelton even knelt down and pretended to propose right there, which would have been epic. But he stood up to let everyone know that he was just messing around. Don't play with our hearts like that, Blake!

Stefani, who first joined the show in 2015, replaced Adam Levine and is once again coaching alongside her boyfriend. "I thought it was gonna be [extra] this time because I feel like were so far into the relationship and itd been such a long time since Id been on the show and I didnt know how we would be just us and competing, the Stefani told Andy Cohen in a recent interview on his radio show.

"Hes so good at the show," Stefani told Cohen. "Blake is literally a unicorn. Anywhere he goes, people are just attracted to him. Hes such an incredible talent." In episode one, she was caught mouthing "I love you" to Shelton, so we're predicting more cute on-screen moments ahead. Maybe there will even be a proposal at the end of this...!

Like what you just read? Youll love our magazine! Go here to subscribe. Dont miss a thing by downloading Apple News here and following Prevention. Oh, and were on Instagram too.

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'The Voice' Coaches Sang Gwen Stefani's "Don't Speak"And It's Giving Us Life - Prevention.com

He argues that the key to happiness is to not care about most things, and choosing a few specific, values-based things to actually care about. Its an approach the Hollises agree with. We think the most important foundation for a couple is establishing your relationship values, they said. Essentially, deciding which things matter most to you together so you know where to put your time and your effort.

The thing about forming new habits is that the behaviors themselves often arent intrinsically motivating. But if we can connect to the underlying values behind those actions, that can be much more powerful. Youre not just making an effort to give your partner more compliments or do the dishes without being asked; youre working on becoming a specific kind of partner, like a sensitive, kind or trustworthy partner.

To identify the values in your relationship, try having a conversation with your partner about the following questions:

What do you think defines a great relationship?

What qualities in a relationship are most important to you?

What would you like more of in our relationship?

The reason I know my husband loves cuddling so much is because I asked him, What are the top three ways that you like to be shown love?

After 12 years together, I think I know the guy pretty well, but I still like asking him those kinds of questions. For me, the concept of curiosity keeps me on my toes and prevents me from settling into complacency. It means there is always something new that I can learn about him. If youre having trouble identifying core values in your relationship, or you want to start a bit smaller, the top three question is a great one to begin with.

Instead of trying to overhaul your relationship in one fell swoop, try to pick one specific starting place for improvements. The Hollises said that laughter is one of their core values. They told me, It may sound cheesy but we are best friends first and laughing together is what made us friends in the first place. From there, they brainstormed ways to bring more laughter into their lives. Can we watch a comedy special, can we play a game, can we go on a road trip, do something weve never done before, add a date night on the calendar, plan a trip? There are all sorts of roads that will get you to your goal but you only see the available paths when youre looking for them.

Once you have a list of possibilities, pick one to start with. Barrie Davenport, author of Mindful Relationship Habits, said in an email: Its impossible to successfully make several changes at a time because were rewiring our brains to accommodate new behaviors. Just one new behavior can feel overwhelming until we groove new neural pathways to make the behavior automatic.

Having trouble picking your starting place? In his book The All-or-Nothing Marriage, Mr. Finkel outlines eight love hacks that are effective at bringing couples closer together. Mr. Finkel recommends picking a specific love hack with your partner, then creating a concrete game plan for putting it to work. I asked Mr. Finkel to share a few of his favorites, and he outlined three:

1. Reappraise conflict: The basic idea behind this is to think about conflict from the perspective of a neutral third party who wants the best for everybody. In other words, if a therapist was in the room with you, what might they say when you and your partner are arguing?

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How to Actually Follow Through on the Relationship Advice You Get - The New York Times

GettyAron Eisenberg at the fifth annual official Star Trek convention at the Las Vegas Hilton August 18, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Aron Eisenberg, the actor best known for portraying Nog on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, has died at age 50, his widow announced on Facebook.

Eisenbergs cause of death is not yet known. Eisenberg had suffered from medical issues since he was a child, having been born with only one kidney. He had his second kidney transplant nearly four years ago.

Eisenberg and his widow eloped late last year and were planning on having a big wedding to celebrate the occasion.

There will never be another light like Arons, Longo said. The beauty that he was and the legacy he leaves behind is beyond words. I love him dearly and will miss him eternally.

Heres everything you need to know about Eisenberg:

Eisenbergs widow, Malissa Longo, confirmed that he was dead on September 21, 2019.

Eisenberg was sent to the hospital in critical condition earlier the day he died, Longo said.

He was an intelligent, humble, funny, empathetic soul, Longo said. He sought to live his life with integrity and truth.

Eisenberg has 26 acting credits to his name, according to his IMDB page. This includes appearances in Star Trek TV shows and video games like Star Trek: Renegades, Star Trek Online, Star Trek: Voyager and of course Star Trek: Deep Space Nine where he had arguably his most beloved role as Nog.

Nog, not wanting to emulate the wasted potential of his father, was determined to join Starfleet. Not only did he become the first Ferengi to join Starfleet, but he even reached the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade, according to Gizmodo.

Nog was a fantastic character, and Eisenberg imbued him with a distinct and powerful sense of life, wrote Julie Muncy of Gizmodo.

Eisenberg was nominated for Best Guest Actor in a Syndicated Series in the Online Film & Television Association Television Awards for his work on Deep Space Nine. The award went to Wallace Shawn, who portrayed the leader of the Ferengi, Grand Nagus Zek, on Deep Space Nine.

According to the official Star Trek website, the producers for Deep Space Nine didnt tell Eisenberg anything about the character including how many episodes he would be called to do.

I thought every episode I was doing might be my last episode, he said in a 2012 interview with the website.

He went on to appear in over 40 episodes of Deep Space Nine.

It took about an hour and a half to put on the makeup for Nog, Eisenberg told Red Carpet News TV.

He told Red Carpet News TV that the story arc for Nog paralleled his own life pursuing acting as a career.

To have a character like Nog who steps out of the norm of what his family was or what his heritage is, what his race does, and say I want to do this and then went for it and failed many times I think Nog was one of the most human characters because of that, Eisenberg told the publication. Because he would fall and pick himself up and try again.

Early in his career, he appeared in the TV series Straight Up, the TV movie Amityville: The Evil Escapes as well as the films The Horror Show, Playroom and Beverly Hills Brats, according to the Star Trek website.

He along with fellow Star Trek Veterans Cirroc Lofton and Ryan T. Husk hosted a podcast called The 7th Rule.

According to his Facebook page, he studied theatre at Moorpark College in Moorpark, California.

He was also a professional photographer under his company, Aron Scott Photography, according to the Star Trek website.

He also coached his sons soccer team. Coaching soccer was one of his passions, according to Longo.

Eisenberg was born with only one kidney, according to the official Star Trek website. The kidney failed and he went on dialysis at age 14 and had his first transplant at 17 from a cadaver.

He underwent a second kidney transplant on December 29, 2015. Longo set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise $10,000 for the surgery and they made $13,995 from 330 donors. Longo said that any money left over from the campaign will be given to charities that help support organ donation and other needs for donors and recipients.

Longo said that Aron was cracking jokes all the way up to his surgery. Within a day of the surgery, the kidney had already started to function.

For his second transplant, he spent four months on the waiting list before matching with a friend named Beth Bernstein, who saw his Facebook post about the need for a new kidney and offered to donate one of hers, according to the Star Trek website.

She is just so incredibly selfless to give to me like this that words cannot express my gratitude to her, said Eisenberg in a 2015 interview with the website.

She is giving us the best gift we could ever receive, said Longo at the time. There is no way we could repay her enough for her amazingly generous donation.

One of the nurses told Longo that in all of his years working at the hospital, this was the first time he had seen a donor and a recipient placed in rooms side by side.

On the campaign page, Longo shared that Eisenberg was adopted.

Arons mom has often told me that adopting Aron was the best thing she has ever done, Longo said. I can absolutely understand why. He is a charismatic, precocious, individual, with so much love to give. He always wants to see the best in people even if they have harmed him in some way.

Longo said that she and Eisenberg eloped on December 28, 2018.

They were planning to have a big wedding, but they delayed it to save up on money.

According to the Star Trek website, Longo and Eisenberg were engaged on November 26, 2016 and dated for three years prior.

He made me (and still makes me) want to be the best human I can possibly be, because he always strove to be the best human he could be, Longo said. His resilience and willingness to learn was and is an inspiration.

Longo is an actress in her own right, starring in Valor Infinity: The Evander Chronicles and appearing in other TV shows. Both she and Eisenberg appeared in the show Renegades.

Fans of Eisenbergs work have taken to Twitter to mourn his death. Among those grieving are the official Twitter accounts for Star Trek news website TrekCore.com, The 7th Rule, Star Trek Online, and What We Left Behind, a feature documentary on Deep Space Nine.

Players of Star Trek Online hosted a torchlight vigil at the in-game Quarks Bar the day after Eisenbergs death, as reported by PC Gamer.

Eisenbergs son is hosting a memorial for his father in World of Warcraft on September 29 at 7-8 p.m. PST. His son said that the two played the game together for the past 15 years and Eisenberg ran his own guild.

I even recently got a tattoo from the game on my arm because those times made me so happy to spend with him growing up, his son said.

Eisenbergs son posted the announcement on the Star Trek Subreddit. The moderators of the Subreddit verified that it was him posting the announcement.

The memorial will be hosted on the server Area 52 in World of Warcraft (not World of Warcraft Classic). Eisenbergs son said that Longo would be joining the memorial. Hes also trying to get in touch with Eisenbergs coworkers from the shows he appeared in as well as his podcast since they all used to play the game together.

Correction: This post was updated to state that Eisenberg had his own podcast, not a TV show.

Read More:Eddie Moneys Net Worth: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

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Aron Eisenberg Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know - Heavy.com

ATHENS, Ga. The Georgia Bulldogs put up a decisive 55-0 win against Arkansas State Saturday to improve to 3-0. But the days game was about more than football.

Thousands of fans showed up in pink, not their team, but to support the head coach of the opponent. It was thanks to a couple of fans who learned his story and took it to heart.

It started with a tweet. A simple plea to wear pink.

Dwight Standridge from the Bulldogs Battling Cancer charity was compelled.

I saw the story about coach Anderson, and his wife passing away from breast cancer three weeks ago, he said.

Blake Anderson lost his wife, Wendy, to breast cancer after 27 years of marriage. Less than a month after her death, Anderson returned to coaching.

The idea of a pink-out went viral. Retweets and endorsements followed including one from ESPNs Scott Van Pelt.

I knew Dawg National would show up and show out, he said.

Its personal for Dwight and charity co-founder Theresa Abbot.

"Shes a 15-year survivor. I lost my mom to ovarian cancer, he said. At the end of the day, I think my mom and Wendy Anderson will have their arms wrapped around each other today.

Dawg fans didnt disappoint. Fans flooded the stands in a sea of pink.

"Its just helping someone else out going through the battle, Dwight said.

And it didnt go unnoticed.

Just one of the classiest moves Ive ever seen. Hard to truly prepare for something like that. So, I would say thank you, Anderson said.

Im rooting for Georgia the rest of my life for that, Arkansas State player Jacob Still said. They didnt have to do that and they did, what were doing here is bigger than football.

The Red Wolves didnt shock the world, but the result didnt matter. Football is helping Anderson heal.

Its that energy that keeps me going, he said. I dont want to let her down or her legacy.

(Blake Anderson) is a great person and I have a lot of respect for him, said UGA coach Kirby Smart. Hes such a wonderful person. I cant imagine what hes been through. Our fans showed up and showed out. It was a great turnout and Im so proud they embraced a program that has been through some tough times.

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