BELIEVE

This past Saturday, the northeast got hit with a very early snowstorm. Of course we would, because Rutgers was hosting West Virginia.  It rains or snows EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.WE.PLAY.WVU.AT.HOME. It's a running joke because I have friends who come to this game every year - one brother went to Rutgers with me, and the other brother went to WVU. They tailgate with John and one of his friends. My car is always covered in mud after the game when I drive them to the train station. Two years ago the game was in December at least.  But this was October 29th!

Plows on the field pregame

It looks like the dead of winter

Me in my snow gear...and yes, I can add "shoveled snow on game day" to my resume.

The most exciting part of the day, however, was when Eric LeGrand, the Rutgers player who was paralyzed last October during a game, led the team onto the field.  So disappointing that the weather did not cooperate and we did not have more fans in the stadium, but for those who were there, it was quite an emotional thing to watch.  The anticipation that was building up before we finally showed Eric on the videoboard was intense. We had to scrap the usual pregame routine that our marching band does along with the tunnel they form for the team to run out through so the field could be plowed.

Eric being given the axe, which is given to a different player selected by the team each game to lead them onto the field

Eric leads his teammates onto the field

Rutgers players follow Eric LeGrand

I have had the chance to meet Eric, and also see him every game because he does a pregame, halftime and postgame analysis on the radio, in a booth that is only a few down from where I sit during the game. This 21 year old has an amazing spirit that is so positive, and so uplifting in spite of his situation.  Yes, he is still paralyzed, but he has made some amazing progress. We all continue to BELIEVE that he will recover from his injuries. If you ever have a chance to listen to him speak, or hear his story (SNY recently did a special called BELIEVE - The Eric LeGrand story), you too will believe.

As for the game, Rutgers lost. Bummer.