By Staff
For those of you that think college football is a business, take a step back and look at what first-year Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis did recently.
Despite trying to bring the Fighting Irish program back to the top of the college footbal world, Weis took the time to befriend Montana Mazurkiewicz of Mishawaka, Ind.
For those of you who do not know the story of Montana, it is one that will stick in the mind forever.
Montana, a 10-year-old Irish fan, who was named after Joe Montana, passed away Friday due to an inoperable brain tumor he had battled for a year and a half.
Weis visited Montana's home last week to talk with the young boy about his team and play a little game of catch. Weis told Montana of his own 10-year-old daughter's fight with global development delay, a rare disorder similar to autism.
Though Montana was too weak to throw the ball, Weis gave him some help by climbing into his recliner and throwing the ball with him to Montana's mother, Cathy.
Montana told Weis about his love for the Fighting Irish and how he just wanted to make it through the game because he knew he wasn't going to live much longer.
Before Weis left the home last week, he gave Montana an autographed football and wrote on it "Live for today for tomorrow is always another day." And he made Montana a promise that he could call the first play of Saturday's game against Washington.
Weis stuck with his promise and used Montana's play, called "pass right." As strange as that play seemed to onlookers, Weis kept his word. From the one-yard line, quarterback Brady Quinn passed to Anthony Fasano, to the right.
Though little Montana never got to see the play, his family watched from their home, and they know Montana would have been very pleased with the successful 13-yard gain the Irish had on that play.
Weis called the family after the game on Saturday and told them he had a game ball signed by the team. On Sunday, Weis delivered the ball.
No matter what the circumstances may have been, Montana's family was just happy that the play was used and that Montana's last wish was granted.
So the next time you are quick to criticize college coaches or players about taking the game too seriously, stop and remember that they took time out to bring a little sunshine into the life of a dying little boy.
Go Irish!