Mark Herzlich Should be the Face of College Football in 2010

Over the past 30 years, Boston College has built a strong football tradition. From Doug Flutie's Heisman-clinching Hail Mary in the Orange Bowl in 1984 to David Gordon's 41-yard field goal to knock off top-ranked Notre Dame in 1993 to eight straight bowl wins to kick off the new millennium, the Eagles have become a major player on college football's landscape. But as rich as Boston College's football tradition has become, 2010 could mark perhaps its most significant football milestone. That milestone would be linebacker Mark Herzlich's courageous victory over bone cancer.

In 2008, then Junior Mark Herzlich enjoyed perhaps the greatest single season of any defensive player to don the Eagle uniform. Herzlich totaled 110 tackles, intercepted six passes, tallied three sacks, forced two fumbles and scored a pair of touchdowns. Herzlich led the 2008 Eagles to 10 wins and a second straight ACC Atlantic division title en route to being name the conference's 2008 Defensive Player of the Year. Among various sources, Herzlich was one of the nation's top 50 NFL prospects, but declined to enter the NFL draft. In May, Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a form of bone cancer. Herzlich's football career was on hold and more importantly, his life hung in the balance. On September 5th, the Eagles took the field against local opponent Northeastern without their leader at linebacker. Herzlich's spirit was however with his teammates, not to mention the 40,000 fans that filled Alumni Stadium to watch the star linebacker lead his team out of the tunnel. Four weeks later, ESPN's College Gameday was on location in Chestnut Hill for Boston College's game against Florida State. The fans that attended on that Saturday wore gold t-shirts reading "Beat Cancer" with Mark Herzlich's number 94 below it. On the set of College Gameday, Herzlich told ESPN's analysts that he fully intended to play football again. Running back Montel Harris' 42-yard 4th-quarter touchdown run capped off the emotional afternoon with a 28-21 Boston College victory.

Mark Herzlich is now free of cancer. Through parts of the Spring and this Fall, Herzlich has once again started practicing with his team. The Eagles will open their regular season on September 4th against Weber State. Herzlich is currently battling a stress fracture making his return unknown. However, there is little doubt that Herzlich will return to the football field this Fall. Like every year before, this college season is sure to have its highs and lows, its winners and losers, the ebb and flow of the regular season, the overachievers and the disappointments, the last second game-winners and the underdogs coming up short. Many players, teams and coaches will be praised and discouraged for their performances on the field. Nonetheless, the perseverance and unrelenting will of one Boston College linebacker can be felt all throughout the country. Whether or not Herzlich's numbers match that of 2008 on the field, all can be appreciative of what Herzlich has been able to overcome off of it. When Mark Herzlich does make his courageous return, all of us can learn one valuable lesson; that lesson is to never give up no matter what the circumstances. Herzlich may not win the Butkus, Boston College may not win the ACC, but the efforts made by one individual and the way in which he has inspired many others, should make Mark Herzlich the face of college football in 2010.