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WATCH: Scott Van Pelt offers Purdue cancer fighter Tyler Trent encouragement, opportunity to co-host SportsCenter
By Keith Farner
Published:
The person who has inspired thousands of college football fans took a few minutes this week to discuss what he’s described as a “whirlwind” week as his personal fight against bone cancer was shown on ESPN along with his passionate support of Purdue football.
Tyler Trent, who attended Purdue University before he had to concentrate on cancer treatments, had his story featured on ESPN’s “College GameDay” last week, including his prediction that came true about Purdue beating Ohio State on Satuday.
In a conversation with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, Trent described his last few days and how he’s stayed positive throughout his cancer battle.
“Going to bed Friday night, I didn’t think I was going to be able to make it to the game on Saturday because really I spent the entirety of the day Friday in my bed puking pretty much for 24 hours straight,” Trent told Van Pelt. “Going to bed that night, I didn’t think I was going to be able to make the game. And for me, having had that date circled for a long time, I was pretty heartbroken, but we pray as a family that I’d be able to make it to the game, and next thing you know, I wake up Saturday morning feeling completely normal and totally refreshed.”
He added that the Boilermakers “balled out” and showed the nation what being a Boilermaker is all about.
After Van Pelt shared that he prayed for his friend Stuart Scott, and Scott replied that he could feel the prayers, Trent said he listened to Scott’s ESPYS speech for “literally about a year straight” while he went through treatments.
They also made a bet for the Purdue-Maryland basketball game later this year.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
