October 6th, 2009 at 7:33 PM ^
I'm glad we have a kid with that much heart on our team.
That's a truely sad story.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:38 PM ^
I wont forget who 57 is nor who the #57 stands for. Heartbreaking
October 6th, 2009 at 7:39 PM ^
wow, great story. profound respect for Elliot and I'll look for him on the field.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:40 PM ^
Damn. I gotta admit I had tears rolling down my cheeks. It would be really awesome if he could start in the next few years.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:40 PM ^
Is there anywhere to see it again? I only got to see the very end, I missed the begining.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:41 PM ^
Would anybody be kind enough to mention anything we hadn't heard till now? What was the meaning of #57?
October 6th, 2009 at 7:43 PM ^
57 was the year his late father was born
October 6th, 2009 at 7:44 PM ^
The year his father was born.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:41 PM ^
please don't neg bang me for having feelings.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:42 PM ^
hell of a story, feel so bad for the guy. my wife got pretty choked up during it. i like that he has a deep meaning behind his number.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:46 PM ^
if RichRod hadn't ruined all the family values at Michigan.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:49 PM ^
Just asking, no sarcasm.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:58 PM ^
He talked about how he let Mealer know that even if he could never play a down of football his scholarship would be honored, and how Mealer would have the opportunity to earn his way onto the field like everybody else.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:00 PM ^
yeah, it sounds like it was RR's decision to still honor his scholarship. he told elliot that whether or not he played, he would have a scholarship to michigan.
Edit: damn! slow typer!
October 6th, 2009 at 7:50 PM ^
sometimes its best to just shut the F*** up if you have nothing intelligent to say
October 6th, 2009 at 7:55 PM ^
Tongue in cheek.
That was a terrific story about how the UM football team pulled together like a family when something happened to one of their own, contradicting all the nonsense about the lack of family values that got reported when Rodriguez took over.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:59 PM ^
The "family values" joke is played. Let it RIP.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:08 PM ^
But I just kept thinking about all the shit that got said and reported early on, and how different the reality is, and the contrast struck me.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:18 PM ^
In this case I think it's absolutely more than fair to harp on it. There's a lot of people, notably Ohio State fans but they're certainly not the only ones, who think Rodriguez is some kind of scumbag. A lot of it has to do with that flip quote by Boren. The OSU theme when it comes to RR is "still an ass."
This story has always been why I've always known they're 100% full of shit. There was a News story last year where Elliott's mother had nothing but the highest praise for RR. When you hear that kind of thing, in stories where it really matters, it sure is easy to remember why we have the right coach right now, regardless of what shitheads like Boren have to say or idiotic shredding "controversies."
It's awesome seeing Elliott on the field, and the one thing that struck me is how he hurt his rotator cuff. That never came out til now - I just assumed he had his arm in the wrong place at the wrong time or something, it'd be an easy injury to get in a car accident.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:24 PM ^
Just dont have much patience when people exploit these kinds of situations for personal gain and i can only infer your intentions based on what's written.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^
Sometimes tone can be difficult to interpret on the typer.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:34 PM ^
What was he trying to personally gain? Not trying to be an ass or anything, just asking?
this story was terrific, I can't believe they never got an apology. That kid has been through hell's fury. Putting on that jersey on Saturday's is special for everyone but after going through something like that, wow, just ... wow. One thing I don't get and maybe someone can clear up for me is why did he move in with his girlfriend's family?
October 6th, 2009 at 8:47 PM ^
who enjoy being a class clown through exploitation of other people's misgivings. But like i said, apologies if misunderstood.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:35 PM ^
I'm not positive about staying with his girlfriend's family but I think his mom may have been staying at the hospital with his brother. Rather than be at home alone, obviously pretty much impossible given the situation, his girlfriend's family took him in and helped him deal with everything.
I was pretty amazed by her family as well as everyone else in the story, they seem to be loving almost beyond belief.
My wife and I were both crying by about two minutes into the story and didn't stop until it was well over.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:48 PM ^
Is now my favorite wolverine. Easily.
I hope he plays a lot during the Delaware State game. I'd love to cheer for him in person.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:52 PM ^
Here is the article that I am sure is exactly what is said in the piece and on the page it also says it will re-air at 11p on Monday on ESPN2
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/e60/news/story?id=4534334
October 6th, 2009 at 8:13 PM ^
i missed it on TV but thanks very much jcgary for the link.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:57 PM ^
That story really grabs you. Had me rusting up.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:23 PM ^
I haven't seen anything on television that hit me like this in a long, long, long, long time. Man. Oh my goodness. It's hard to even put into words. Obviously, this kid is going to be someone that we all pull for, both as a football player, and as a person.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:17 PM ^
I really like the show E:60. It's a solid show. I'm glad I decided to tune in tonight. I haven't really watched a full episode before, but that was really good T.V. Really touching story on Mealer. Glad to see he got his chance to play in the season opener. I hope we have many more blowouts in the future that allow him to play.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:51 PM ^
Wow. Just read the article and had to call my dad right afterward.
Think someone else mentioned it, but I had no idea that he injured his shoulder trying to turn the car back over. Unreal.
I have a feeling we are going to hear a lot more from this kid in the next few years. God bless and Go Blue!
October 6th, 2009 at 9:25 PM ^
You can find the full video on ESPN here:
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4537842
October 6th, 2009 at 9:40 PM ^
when he choked up trying to explain the balloons. glad twwl asked him to do it, and glad he agreed to share his story.
October 6th, 2009 at 9:58 PM ^
away from Wauseon and am known as a big michigan fan and whenever i talk to people about michigan they immediately ask me about Elliot. The love and generosity being output to elliot and his family in NW ohio and the SE michigan is just tremendous from OSU and UM fans.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:13 PM ^
wow. that is a truly amazing story about El and had me almost teary eyed as well
October 7th, 2009 at 3:43 AM ^
Hey man... Thank you for posting this.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:17 PM ^
seriously, if you've ever lost someone suddenly......thats just hard to watch, because you know exactly how he feels.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:18 PM ^
Our tailgate made the background. I was wondering what was going on when they were filming next to us. Great story,
October 6th, 2009 at 10:35 PM ^
It'll be great to get to see Mealer get some more playing time the next few years.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:51 PM ^
to watch, knowing what happened. However, when they showed Eliott break down at the anniversary with the balloons, I had to pause the TiVo and leave the room for a minute.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:04 PM ^
Glad to see that ESPN didn't shy from the faith aspect of the story, which is huge, and really sustained them.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:44 PM ^
I had no idea his family was such OSU fans. It's cool that one trip to UM changed all that for him. Can any of you imagine being a great high school football player with your love for the blue and then taking a trip to OSU and falling in love with it? Seems almost impossible. Very cool. How does he look for future PT?
October 6th, 2009 at 11:48 PM ^
and that is your reaction - the OSU / Michigan rivalry and playing time?
October 6th, 2009 at 11:59 PM ^
No That's not what I took from that video if you noticed my first comment earlier in the thread. I was just making a comment about the story other than the terrible tragedy. I also want to see him on the field and was wondering about his future. Sorry to offend you sir.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:52 PM ^
Not a big fan of buying jerseys but I would buy his if i saw it.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:20 AM ^
I don't even know what to say to this. I had tears in my eyes the whole time while I was watching it. I've spent the past few days pissed because of the loss and stressed out because of all the work I have to do for school and then I watch this and it just reminds me there are bigger things in life than sports and school. I feel that most people like me who haven't lost anyone close take things like family for granted all too often. As a Michigan student and fan, I hope for nothing but the best for Elliot, his family and will cheer for him every time he steps on field.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:35 AM ^
Losing your "first love" would be ridiculously difficult. They seemed like a couple that really cared about each other - went to church together, knew each other's family well, etc. I don't know how long it would take to "move on" if something like that happened. Honestly, if that happened to me, I would have shut myself in my room and become a hermit.
I don't know about anyone else, but I didn't like it when Lisa Salters asked Elliott what he said to Hollis as he held her. Some things should be left between you and God.
Go blue.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:49 AM ^
Give Elliott a shout out when you see him at the Victor's Walk. My son & I did at the ND game and he made eye contact and nodded in appreciation. He's easy to spot cause his hair is shoulder-length. Sidenote: RR & Rita attended the father's funeral service as representatives of UM, RR had just been named HC the week before the crash. LC & team were prepping for CapOne Bowl, so RR & Rita represented UM.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:57 AM ^
and hopefully success both on and off the field.