Eric LeGrand, College Football's Feel-Good Story

It seemed so fitting that former Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive tackle Eric LeGrand had to weather a snowstorm to lead his teammates onto the field (in his motorized wheelchair) today against the West Virginia Mountaineers, considering LeGrand has been so valiantly weathering a much greater storm since that fateful day last October.

For those of you who don't know the story, a year ago Eric LeGrand was just a mostly unknown college football player for Rutgers University when he gained notoriety in just about the last possible way one would want to. During the Scarlet Knights game against the Army Black Knights on October 16th, LeGrand was going in to make a very routine tackle on a kickoff. But after his violent collision with Army kick returner Malcolm Brown, LeGrand was left motionless on the field, in one of those moment's every mother of a football player undoubtedly experiences in their nightmares.

The Recovery

In the immediate aftermath of his injury, LeGrand was told that he would need a ventilator to breathe from that point forward and that the odds of his regaining neurological function were next to nothing. But the doctors had underestimated the fight in him. By January, LeGrand had regained feeling in his entire body and reacquired the ability to move his upper torso. In July, he thrilled the multitude of fans cheering him on with pictures of him standing upright posted to his twitter feed.

But while the physical fight is impressive, it's nothing compared to the attitude LeGrand has maintained throughout this entire ordeal. Despite the fact that he could easily have given up, or at least spent a little while (understandably) wallowing in his misery, LeGrand has maintained a positive mindset throughout. Less than a year after the incident, LeGrand is taking classes via Skype. Pursuing the broadcasting career he had always planned for in his future, he has been doing pregame, postgame and halftime spots for the Rutgers Radio Network.

Most importantly, he has shown a great appreciation to those who care about him. He still interacts often with his Rutgers teammates, going to the locker room after home games and attending team tutoring sessions. He has actively engaged his concerned fans on Twitter, posing such questions to them as "things to do when I get back on my feet." 

LeGrand's physical recovery has been remarkable, but one can't help but think that some of it has been a direct result of the optimism and determination with which he has faced his challenge. Author William James once said, "It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect It's successful outcome." Eric LeGrand is living proof that that's true.