Minnesota sophomore holder Casey O’Brien played for the first time in college earlier this season during the Golden Gophers’ demolition of Rutgers in one of the most emotional moments of the college football season.
He beat cancer four times since he was 13 years old, according to the Star Tribune in Minnesota, and had more than a dozen surgeries, including three on his lungs and a knee replacement. Doctors told him there was no chance he’d play football again.
O’Brien — who had osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, but has been cancer-free for nearly two years — accepted the Disney Spirit Award at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
“Those doctors had never met me before, and they didn’t know how much I love football,” O’Brien told ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi after winning the award, which is given to the most inspirational member of a program.
“Wake up. Kick ass. Repeat.”
Four-time cancer survivor Casey O’Brien shared some inspiring words after winning the Disney Spirit Award. pic.twitter.com/coNiaysn6C
— ESPN (@espn) December 13, 2019
O’Brien also told Rinaldi and the crowd about the hand-painted motivational sign he has in his room with just three words written on it:
“WAKE UP, KICK ASS, REPEAT”
Bigger than sports 🙏
Four-time cancer survivor Casey O'Brien made his debut for Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/nKwiPfTKQv
— ESPN (@espn) October 19, 2019
When asked what impact he hopes he had on Minnesota’s team this year, O’Brien said:
“I would just say the perspective that football is just a game, and there are a lot more important things than football. And to be able to be healthy and to be able to enjoy moments like I have had with people you love, like your teammates and your family and your coaches, that’s more important.”
Minnesota plays Auburn in the Outback Bowl on January 1 for a chance to finish the season with an 11-2 record.
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