2018 Disney Spirit Award Accepted By Purdue Super Fan Tyler Trent
The courageous former Purdue University student and super fan Tyler Trent accepted the 2018 Disney Spirit Award Thursday night during the College Football Awards show. Trent inspired a football team and thousands of fans nationwide with the fearless way he faced his cancer diagnosis.
Disney Spirit Award Night
Disney Sports Vice President Faron Kelley (left) presented the award to Trent and the Purdue contingent, which included Trent’s parents, Boilermakers head coach Jeff Brohm (top right) senior quarterback David Blough (bottom right) and other family and friends during The Home Depot College Football Awards show. The award presentation was televised live on ESPN from the College Football Hall of Fame located in downtown Atlanta on Dec. 6.
Trent was wheeled out on to the stage that night to accept the Disney Spirit Award by Purdue senior quarterback David Blough. He thanked everyone present for the opportunity to share his amazing story.
“This award is undeserved,” Trent said. “A year ago, I prayed that I would have an opportunity to share my story, and now it’s come true. At the end of the day, there is always a light at end of the tunnel. As long as you rely on your faith, things will work out.”
Tyler Trent’s Story
Trent, a 20-year-old native of Carmel, Indiana, was first diagnosed with bone cancer in 2015. He underwent nine months of grueling chemotherapy, sending his cancer into remission. But the cancer returned two years later. This is when he was preparing to enroll as a freshman at Purdue. He still managed to start classes at Purdue on time. This is despite having his pelvis surgically replaced. All of this is a testament to his unwavering spirit.
“Tyler’s spirit is amazing,” Kelley said. “His tenacity and commitment to making life better for others dealing with similar circumstances all while waging his own personal battle with cancer should be an inspiration to us all. That’s why we salute Tyler as the 2018 recipient of the Disney Spirit Award.”
Guided by his strong faith and driven by family support, friends and a growing legion of fans, which include politicians, sports television personalities, national radio talk show hosts and professional athletes, Trent is living life on his own terms.
Tyler Trent’s Purdue Passion
In September 2017, when Michigan was coming to town to face Purdue, Trent – despite his condition – did what many football-crazed fans do before big games. He camped out on campus in hopes of being the first Purdue student in line to get tickets for the game.
Boilermakers Head Coach Jeff Brohm noticed him in line and quickly struck up a conversation, which led to Trent later becoming a fixture within the football program and an honorary team captain for various games.
“I saw a guy dressed head to toe in Purdue garb,” Brohm said. “I remember he had a big smile on his face. He didn’t tell me his story, he didn’t tell me what he was going through, he just had a positive attitude and brought a lot of life to the conversation.”
USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, ESPN.com and The Big Ten Network have all profiled Trent’s inspirational story. He has also been a guest on Scott Van Pelt’s national ESPN radio show.
While waging his own battle with cancer, Trent has found a way to give back to others. He partnered with ESPN and The V Foundation as a spokesman to help raise money for cancer treatments and recently started an organization – Teens with a Cause – that recruits kids for service projects to help families affected by cancer (mowing lawns, raking leaves, shoveling snow, etc.).
Disney Spirit Award Past Honorees
Trent joins 22 past honorees, including James Connor (University of Pittsburgh, 2016), Hank Goff (Concordia-St. Paul University, 2015), Bob Stoops and Sterling Shepard (University of Oklahoma, 2014), Devon Walker (Tulane University, 2013), Nate Boyer (University of Texas, 2012), Carson Tinker and the entire University of Alabama football team (2011), D.J. Williams (University of Arkansas, 2010), Mark Herzlich (Boston College, 2009) and Tim Tebow (University of Florida, 2008), among others. The award was first given in 1996 to Rossville High School’s Daniel Huffman.
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