-Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan and Ohio State is the greatest rivalry in college football, but it took a twist when 12-year old cancer patient and Buckeyes fan Grant Reed named his brain tumor “Michigan” because he really wanted to beat it.
You can grab your box of tissues now before continuing to read the remainder of the story. You have to love the spirit of Grant as he battled through chemotherapy sessions hoping the tumor would succumb. The good news is that the chemo worked and his cancer is in remission.
According to NBC4i, Doctors said his prognosis “looks good”, and Grant even had a special visitor visit him in the hospital last December when Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer stopped by his room and spent time with the Buckeyes fan, who hopes to make it to a game this fall.
Upon leaving the hospital, Grant and his brother made sure the Buckeyes spirit lived on by donating a couple of wagons with very special lettering on the side — ‘beat Michigan’ — and will be reminders for the next patients to face their problems with the same attitude as Grant.
Ohio State and Michigan play in Ann Arbor Nov. 30 and I hope Grant and his family are able to attend the game in the Big House. Maybe Ohio State can provide tickets and transportation for the Reed family so they can celebrate after their two-year battle with cancer.
Ohio State won in Columbus last year 26-21 to finish 12-0, with the Buckeyes winning 10 of the past 12 games in the series. Wolverines fans will make an exception and cheer for this Buckeyes fan for his big victory against cancer.
Patrick’s a college football writer for Rant Sports and radio host on Sportstownchicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickASchmidt and add him to your Google network.
