by Logan Hanson
fightingillini.com
Football wasn't always at the forefront for junior linebacker Milo Eifler. In fact, Eifler didn't start playing organized football until his sophomore year in high school at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, California.
His junior season was his "break out year" according to Eifler, and it showed as he was named First-team All-West Alameda County Conference, Third-team All-East Bay and an honorable mention San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro as an outside linebacker. Eifler followed that season up with a strong senior season with another First Team All-WACC and an invitation to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
"Once I got the U.S. Army All-American invite, I didn't know how limited it was," Eifler said. "I looked on the roster and saw I was one of only five linebackers or four linebackers on the team so I was pretty excited. I still have my jersey hanging up in my room so [it was] definitely a big experience for me."
The highly recruited and touted Eifler committed to the University of Washington in July of 2015. During his time at Washington, focusing on football became more difficult when Eifler discovered that his mother, Rachel Morello-Frosch, had a recurrence of breast cancer, her second time fighting the disease.
(Left) Eifler uses a pink mouthpiece as a nod to his mother's battle with breast cancer. (Right) Eifler and his mother, Rachel Morello-Frosch, during his time in Washington.
"I was scared for my mother, everybody loves their mom…When you're away from your mom you have school, you have so much other stuff you have to worry about. You've got meetings, practice, workouts, homework, girls all that," Eifler said. "But definitely when your mom is going through it, you have to check up on her and you start to worry about her."
Morello-Frosch would end up beating the breast cancer near Eifler's winter break. During the break, Eifler finally got to see his mother, which brought him some much needed relief.
"She told me she was fine, was in the hospital for a little bit, came back out with no results. So they took care of it and she was back to work just like that," Eifler said. "I definitely was happy to know she was ok, and it was that winter break that I got to see her, so it was a good time."
Eifler now represents his mother beating breast cancer every time he takes the field by wearing a pink mouth guard. He wants his mom to know that he plays for her and that he is doing his best, just like she did for him when battling the illness.
"I wear that mouth piece just as a symbol, as recognition of me playing for her, giving it my all because I know she does the same for me," Eifler said.
Eifler transferred to Illinois from Washington after his redshirt-freshman season with the Huskies. Now, after having to sit out for his sophomore season due to NCAA transfer rules, Eifler was able to get back onto the football field this past spring wearing the Orange & Blue. But, unlike his teammates, he also has a hint of pink that his mom will get to see on Saturdays this fall.
"She will probably be coming out here to every home game and some away games. I know she's coming to the Rutgers game and UConn, so that will be fun," said Eifler. "[My family] have been my number one supporters. They haven't doubted me since I started playing football. They have been super encouraging, letting me know every day that they love me and they are excited to see me play as much as I am to get out there. I've got to prove something for myself and for them."
Eifler also has a message for anyone else whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.
"If anybody is out there is dealing with breast cancer, always have faith," Eifler said.
