Denard puts smiles on faces in Coopersville, MI
I saw this story from Fox 17 West Michigan about a 13 year old boy named BJ Young, who suffers from mitochondrial disease, complex 1 and 3 and thought it was definitely worth sharing. Earlier this month BJ was able to score a touchdown in a youth football game and the story made local news, prompting a fellow resident to reach out to Michigan and the Jacksonville Jaguars, receiving a signed Hoke picture and a personal video message from Denard among other things.
The video below tells the story and shows BJ exclaiming that he would watch the Denard video 10,000 times without getting sick of seeing it.
Operation Endzone link.
Michigan/Jacksonville link.
Information about mitochondrial disease.
October 30th, 2014 at 3:56 PM ^
This is one reason why wins are merely statistics. Great story.
October 30th, 2014 at 3:58 PM ^
Funchess agrees
October 30th, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^
This is a great story, and kudos to Hoke and Denard. But to your point, if the wins/losses trend (statistic) persists, the future BJ Youngs will be wearing green and white asking for Leveon Bell autographs.
October 30th, 2014 at 7:04 PM ^
So the poor kid will wear Leveon Bell jerseys while driving and smoking weed at the same time?
Give him more credit than that.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:52 PM ^
The Michigan diffrence. Its more then sports! Go blue!
October 30th, 2014 at 4:00 PM ^
I watched this video of Denard 10,000 times too without getting sick of it:
Miss you Denard. XOXOXO
October 30th, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
I can't help but think how Green or Smith would have either cut this run up early for a 1 yard gain or strung it out to the sideline for a 1 yard loss. Denard was just plain special.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^
I think you are right, but that's less a criticism of Green or Smith and more a praise of Denard.
It is becoming more and more clear that Denard was a once-in-a-generation talent who carried this program on his back.
I enjoyed every minute he was here, win or lose, so I have no regrets about taking his talents for granted.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:53 PM ^
with play of the century as far as I'm concerned, it would be interesting to know where it fits in terms of all time plays that people love/remember.
October 30th, 2014 at 3:58 PM ^
Denard has been putting smiles on faces in MI for years. Great story - not unexpected though!
October 30th, 2014 at 3:59 PM ^
Can't say enough about what a great alum he is.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^
I have a warm and fuzzy feeling that when the NFL is over, Denard will be one of those alumns that will be seen a lot around AA for many years as one of those "face of the program" type guys.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:00 PM ^
Denard is the best.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^
He is the greatest.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
Amazing story. Is there anyone better than Denard?
October 30th, 2014 at 4:04 PM ^
Denard has it.
Hang in there BJ!
October 30th, 2014 at 4:04 PM ^
Great job Denard! Have a kid that goes to my church that has mito, seems to be a pretty rare diease or one that's just not talked about enough.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^
Ha! Coopersville was a rival cowtown where I grew up in West Michigan.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^
I grew up in Hudsonville. I used to play Coopersville in peewee football.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^
Sparta. We scrimmaged Coop in football I think, and played them in basketball. They had very good football teams.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:58 PM ^
We played Sparta in high school sports...the tennis team...struggled.
Coopersville always had good football teams. Corn-fed country boys
October 30th, 2014 at 5:17 PM ^
Fellow Salad Bowl City guy myself, though a Sader in hs.
October 31st, 2014 at 9:22 AM ^
UCHS alum. Go Saders! We'll kill or convert you!
October 30th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
I feel like I say this at least once a month...but man, I love Denard even more.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^
What a class act and a great Michigan Man! Just to think, he came via RR, while that old curmudgeon Lloyd Carr would have never brought him to Michigan.
One of my favorite YouTube videos which shows that play no less:
October 30th, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^
Just another reason why everyone loves Denard... Class act.
October 30th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^
a Michigan man on and off the field. Denard is the best!
October 30th, 2014 at 6:53 PM ^
Salt of the earth.
October 30th, 2014 at 7:15 PM ^
A ray of light in an otherwise cloudly time, never get tired of this stuff.
October 31st, 2014 at 12:38 AM ^
Who doesn't Denard make smile?