Elliott Mealer, a former Michigan offensive lineman who graduated in 2012, endured a human tragedy on Christmas Eve 2007. Mealer, his girlfriend, father, and older brother were all involved in a fatal car accident; only the Mealer brothers survived.
Brock, however, was left paralyzed from the waist down, but not for long. In September 2010 — after Brock regained his ability to walk — he was given the opportunity to touch the "M Club" banner prior to a Connecticut-Michigan game. He garnered a thunderous Big House applause.
Some time after the event, a card arrived at Mealer's aunts house back in Wauseon, Ohio. It was from Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who recruited Mealer (unsuccessfully) out of high school.
It read:
"Sandra,
No doubt, the greatest cheer a Buckeye ever received at the Big House!
You must be so proud of those Mealer Boys!
God bless! Go Bucks! Go Blue!
Jim Tressel
P.S. Thanks for the awesome photo!"
The photo to which Tressel referred was a picture of Brock that Mealer's aunt had sent Tressel, along with a thank you note for a signed OSU football helmet he sent to a charity golf outing for her deceased brother.
Mealer, however, had never spoken publicly until now, when he spoke with MGoBlue.com:
"It was hand-written and it really touched me," said Elliott. "Jim Tressel and his brother, Doc, recruited me.
"Jim Tressel, on behalf of the Ohio State team, sent flowers after the accident even though I had already committed to Michigan.
"I've never shared this before, but I think that it's a part of the story that should be told. To have an Ohio State coach write 'Go Blue!' on a card. How neat was that?"
It's the little things like that why Jim Tressel is beloved by so many people across America. In retrospect, the man was simply too good for college football.
