Brady Hoke Reaches out to 12-Year-Old Boy Who Named Brain Tumor 'Michigan'

Following Monday's news that starting running back Carlos Hyde, cornerback Bradley Roby and a pair of freshmen were dealing with a bit of legal trouble, Ohio State fans were desperately seeking refuge from the avalanche of bad press.

Who would have thought that Michigan coach Brady Hoke would be the one providing that refuge?

According to NBC's Columbus affiliate, Hoke reached out to Ohio State fan and 12-year-old Grant Reed with a kind gesture.

In case you missed it, Reed, who was diagnosed with cancer less than two years ago, made headlines when it was revealed he named his brain tumor "Michigan." As a lifelong Buckeyes fan and son of two former members of the university band, Reed channeled his hate of Michigan as a source of strength to power through his chemotherapy treatments.

Reed successfully beat "Michigan" when he completed his final treatment two weeks ago.

The news reached Hoke, who, unsurprisingly, was pleased to hear that "Michigan" was defeated. The Wolverines' head man reached out to give the Reed family encouragement, in addition to an amazing offer.

Instead of watching Ohio State's game against Michigan from home this November, Hoke invited the Reed family to see the action firsthand by offering them four tickets, free of charge. According to Eleven Warriors, the rotary club in Jackson, Michigan has also offered to pay for any hotel costs the Reed family collects.

"

Brady Hoke invites Grant Reed to Ohio St.-Michigan game in Nov. Reed's the 12-year-old who named brain tumor "Michigan", then beat it.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 23, 2013"

Troy, Grant's father, was touched by the gesture and noted that it's growing harder to maintain his animosity for the Wolverines.

"It's getting hard to keep my dislike for them, because they've been so classy and unbelievable to us," Troy said, via the NBC article. 

After going undefeated last year, Ohio State will enter the season as one of just a few teams expected to contend for the national title. Michigan figures to be in the thick of the Big Ten race, setting up what should be a tremendous regular-season finale.

Thanks to the classy move by Hoke, the Reed family will be in the stands for that game, hoping that Michigan can once again be defeated.

David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.