On June 11th, Buckeye Nation came together at the
Fawcett Center for the 2019 Inspiration Awards presented by inTeam (an arm of
Central Ohio Fellowship of Christian Athletes) to honor Buckeye great William
White. White was a four-year starter at cornerback for the Buckeyes under Earle
Bruce and went on to have an 11-year career in the NFL.
JD Bergman, the founder of inTeam, talked about their mission to be a light in a world that is inundated with messages of negativity,
especially on the internet and in social media.
“We share stories…The problem isn’t that there aren’t
phenomenal leaders and phenomenal men in our culture…Kids are bombarded. If a
teenager spends 5 hours a day on social media, they are 70 percent more likely
to commit suicide.”
This is where inTeam steps in to reach kids where they are
with honest, authentic videos from coaches and athletes around the world. This
provides a beacon of inspiration to many young people who have lost hope.
William White was a natural choice to be the recipient for the
2019 Inspiration Award for his ability to display courage in the face of great adversity.
White was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2016. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease is a progressive disease which affects the motor neurons and causes greater and greater muscle weakness over time. ALS is 100% fatal as the person eventually loses the ability to move and usually succumbs to respiratory failure within 3 to 5 years of the initial onset of symptoms.
William White. Photo courtesy of OSU athletics.
Facing such a horrible diagnosis would cause a great deal of fear for the average person and could even lead to despair. White, however, has relied on his strong faith in Jesus Christ to carry him through this trial. This has allowed him instead to use it as an opportunity to serve and encourage others who are going through some of the same struggles he is.
White was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2016. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease is a progressive disease which affects the motor neurons and causes greater and greater muscle weakness over time. ALS is 100% fatal as the person eventually loses the ability to move and usually succumbs to respiratory failure within 3 to 5 years of the initial onset of symptoms.
William White. Photo courtesy of OSU athletics.
Facing such a horrible diagnosis would cause a great deal of fear for the average person and could even lead to despair. White, however, has relied on his strong faith in Jesus Christ to carry him through this trial. This has allowed him instead to use it as an opportunity to serve and encourage others who are going through some of the same struggles he is.
After an opening prayer by Keith Byars (a teammate of
William), Coach Urban Meyer took the podium and shared the mystery to the Buckeyes
championship in 2014. The mystery was that the team had learned to put their
teammates before themselves. This advice carries over into all areas of life.
“Want to be a great husband, put your wife first. Want to be
a great parent, put your children first. Want to be a great teammate, put your
teammates first. Want to be a great person in the community, do what William
does, give back. Always put others before yourself.”
Jim Tressel took the podium next and shared how William
White has always kept perspective and possessed this quality of putting others before
himself.
“All of us who were here back in the 80’s and all of us that
had been touched by William know what he is all about…Watching William’s life
on the field…and his impact when he came back to town has been extraordinary.”
Tressel talked about the impact William had on his players
when he came back to visit.
“He always had a message that resonated. He was always there
for all of us that had a need. He has demonstrated that it’s all about God and
what God wants him to do. And there is no challenge too great. He is going to
make sure that he impacts every single day.”
Former Buckeye Coach Jim Tressel.
Former Buckeye Coach Jim Tressel.
Perhaps no one knows the character and humility of William
more than Chris Spielman, who was a teammate of William in both college and the
NFL.
Chris shared a verse from 2 Timothy 1:7 which embodies the
spirit of the Inspiration award.
“God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit
of strength, and of love and of a sound mind.”
“It’s nice to say,
but when you’re called to actually live that by your actions some of us may
wilt a little bit, but not William.”
The 2018 Inspiration Award winner and Olympic and world champion wrestler Kyle Snyder then took a
moment to share how William has inspired him.
“When I think about William and the way that he is struggling
and suffering. He does it with joy and with happiness in his heart because he
knows he has been given the power to live a steadfast life and to have
endurance.”
“I’m trying to walk my faith out just as I’m sure many of
you are, and when I see examples like William, it just makes it easier for me
to do it and I’m encouraged by it.”
William was then welcomed up on stage with Kyle and was
presented with a $10,000 check to the William White Family Fund for ALS and
then given the 2019 Inspiration Award.
William White with Kyle Snyder. Photo courtesy of inTeam.
William White with Kyle Snyder. Photo courtesy of inTeam.
William challenged the audience to inspire and encourage
others by sharing their own story of how they have gone through trials and come out on the
other side victoriously.
“Everyone in here can inspire someone. There
is someone who is going through the exact same thing.”
“We have to inspire our youth and anyone that you know.
There’s always going to be challenges, but at the end you just keep fighting.”
William explained that our lives are not about ourselves. We
are to love God with all our hearts and then love our neighbors as ourselves.
Before we can love others though, we first have to love ourselves and accept
our purpose in life.
“You are really here for others and not yourself,” William said.
He then shared the verse from Philippians 1:21, “For me to
live is Christ and to die is gain.”
While we are here on earth, we are to serve the Lord, but
even when we are taken home, we win.
William next talked about how he counsels other people with
ALS who are going through similar struggles.
“I’ve been talking to
a couple people that have ALS and they are very depressed because the doctor
always tells them there is a 100 percent chance they are going to die. And I
always tell them there is a 100 percent chance that everyone that’s born is
going to die. So why think about something you cannot control?”
William next challenged the audience to consider their own
mortality and the fact that no one knows when they might die.
“Raise your hand if you are 100 percent certain you are
going to be here in 2025.”
William stressed the importance of making every day count
and choosing to be joyful no matter the circumstance.
“You never know. That’s why the Bible says, ‘This is the day
that the Lord has made. I’m going to rejoice and be glad in it.’ He gave me
this day. I’m going to enjoy it and do what he wants me to do because again
when the day comes that I don’t wake up. Guess what? I win”
Friend's gather in prayer for William. Photo courtesy of inTeam.
Friend's gather in prayer for William. Photo courtesy of inTeam.
Through all the trials of having ALS, William has maintained
an eternal perspective.
“Don’t ever feel sad about me or all that junk about what
I’m going through. As I told my doctor…I said I promise you God is not up there
in heaven looking down saying, man I didn’t see that coming.”
Lastly, William again reinforced to the audience the
importance of sharing their story. To not be ashamed of their past, but to use
it to impact others.
“Everyone in here. You are an inspiration. You need to embrace
it. The things you went through is for others. Start to open up. Tell more
people about the things you went through, so they can understand that, 'You know
what?' This isn’t bad.”
“All you need to do is keep walking. If you keep walking you
will get through the valley and God will be right by your side.”
If you would like to make a donation to the William White Family Fund for ALS you can do so here.
Permission to reprint article required from author
If you would like to make a donation to the William White Family Fund for ALS you can do so here.
Nicholas Jackson
Copyright 2019 Nicholas Jackson - All rights reserved.
Nick is a 1997 graduate of Ohio University, in Athens, Ohio where he received his B.S in Biological Sciences. He went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy at Andrews University in Dayton, Ohio and then his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Chatham University in Pittsburgh. He has been published in the Newark Advocate, The Granville Sentinel, and the St. Louis Metro Voice; and professionally in the Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy. Nick has also been a guest host on 88.9 WLRY and 880AM WRFD
Copyright 2019 Nicholas Jackson - All rights reserved.
Nick is a 1997 graduate of Ohio University, in Athens, Ohio where he received his B.S in Biological Sciences. He went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy at Andrews University in Dayton, Ohio and then his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Chatham University in Pittsburgh. He has been published in the Newark Advocate, The Granville Sentinel, and the St. Louis Metro Voice; and professionally in the Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy. Nick has also been a guest host on 88.9 WLRY and 880AM WRFD
Permission to reprint article required from author
