Dec. 23, 2005
In this season of giving, we thought it might be appropriate to share just a little of what the Illinois Football family does for others, away from the gridiron, outside of the classroom and off campus.
Balancing the demands of competing at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics in the nation with pursuing degrees at a world-class university, family concerns and social life is daunting enough, but a number of Fighting Illini football players make time to regularly give back to their community.
Illinois football players, along with student-athletes from the other sport programs sponsored by the UI Division of Intercollegiate Athletics have been involved in a number of service activities over the years, among them, programs such as Angel Tree (Christmas gifts for children of incarcerated parents) and their Christmas party with the local Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. There have been canned food drives, school visits and sports clinics put on by Illini athletes for children, and other organized programs, but at the same time, a number of University of Illinois student-athletes have taken the initiative to make hospital visits in the Champaign-Urbana area, both as individuals and in small groups.
Case in point: long-snapper Tyler Keely. Keely is a junior at Illinois with two seasons of football eligibility remaining. A community health/pre-med major, Keely packs a lot into his days and nights. He was up at 4 a.m. on at least one occasion last week, studying for finals. It was no big deal to him. Even in the off-season, he has studies, strength and conditioning training, as well as other activities vying for his time. He has been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board, he has worked at the Mettler Center (fitness center and physical and occupational therapy facility) in Champaign and has been a part of the Big Brother/Big Sister program.
This is his third year making regular visits to the pediatric oncology unit at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. He's developed a special love for children who are fighting cancer, so much so, that he has decided to pursue a career as a physician specializing in that area.
"I've always loved kids---I helped take care of my younger brother when I was still at home, and I really enjoyed hanging out with kids in our extended family," said Keely.
So when one of the UI academic counselors suggested he pay a visit to Carle during his freshman year, he jumped at the chance
"I got to know a young guy who was also named Tyler," he said. "Unfortunately he passed away due to leukemia. I went to his wake--it was pretty difficult. Dealing with kids who are battling cancer is tough, but very rewarding. They love to see someone other than their doctors, nurses or parents. I don't do anything with them from a medical standpoint, of course. Mostly we just visit and play games for a couple of hours, often while they're undergoing chemotherapy.
"I've tried to get as many of my teammates as possible to make at least one trip to Carle. Words just can't express what these kids are going through, and I think it's important that our players are exposed to it. Guys like J.J. Simmons and E.B. Halsey have made some visits. I've always wanted to help children, but this experience has made that desire even stronger."
Last summer he helped organize Illini Survivor Day and spent a day at Camp COCO, which is the Children's Oncology and Camp Organization. More than 125 campers enjoyed the festivities, mostly consisting of sports and games. It's likely he may be there again next summer.
So what's in the future for Tyler Keely? At least one more season of football, he says. Whether he uses that final year of eligibility in 2007 depends on his academic progress. And after that, assuming that NFL teams aren't clamoring for his long-snapping services, it will be off to med school for the Oswego, Ill., native.
And when he comes back to Memorial Stadium down the road as an alum, it will be mighty tempting to address him like this: "Dr. Keely, I presume?"
Merry Christmas
Dick Barnes, editor, www.coachronzook.com
