Some things are bigger than any sport, and this is one of them: Tom O’Brien has announced that Wolfpack Offensive Coordinator Dana Bible has been diagnosed with leukemia. We here at Statefans Nation wish Coach Bible and his family the very best, with our hopes for his speedy recovery.
N.C. State offensive coordinator Dana Bible has been diagnosed with a form of leukemia, Wolfpack coach Tom O’Brien said this afternoon.
Bible, who did not travel with the team for Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech, will remain hospitalized for 30 days, according to O’Brien.
“He’ll fight it. If he has a chance to beat it, he’ll beat it,” O’Brien said.
Last Friday, Bible informed O’Brien that his doctor had advised him against traveling to Virginia Tech. It was the first time Bible missed a game or a practice in 34 years of coaching.
Fellow SFN Writer WV Wolf pointed out Heather Dinich’s in-depth article on the game at ESPN.com
“[Current Boston College head coach] Frank [Spaziani] used to say sometimes your strengths are your weaknesses,” said O’Brien, who went to the same high school as Bible. “Part of his strength is he never missed a practice or a game for 34 years. He said to me, ‘I’ll be out Saturday morning, I’ll drive up.’ I said, ‘No, you just do what you have to do.’ He’s a tough old guy and he’ll fight it. If he has a chance to beat it, he’ll beat it.”
O’Brien told quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Mike Glennon on Monday morning, and said he’d inform the rest of the team this afternoon. Bible calls all of the plays for NC State.
“They were both shocked,” O’Brien said. “Certainly you would think that they would be. But I think they understand what I said before about Dana, how tough a guy he is. You ought to respect the family’s privacy in this matter. Certainly prayers would be welcome and they’re definitely needed. That’s the best thing we can do right now.
[..]
Offensive lineman Julian Williams, who found out just minutes before he faced reporters at Monday’s press conference, said the rivalry with North Carolina just took on “10 times” more meaning.
“He’s such a good guy as far as character, and when it comes to play calling he’s the best,” Williams said. “It’s a big blow to us but he has other things he needs to take care of right now and we’ll take care of football. He’s like family. I see him more than I see my own family. It hurts a lot. It’s a big blow to us.”
BJD95 Update (11/24): As we enter “rivalry week,” I feel that it’s important to note how deeply this NC State alumnus appreciates having UNC’s first-class medical center available to treat Coach Bible. My father consulted with the oncology department at UNC Hospitals during his battle with pancreatic cancer, and the doctors, nurses, and staff couldn’t have been more kind, compassionate, honest, and helpful. Despite the shots we take as rivals (mostly in good humor), in all seriousness we recognize and appreciate the many benefits that UNC provides our state and its citizens. My heartfelt thanks to all the hardworking men and women at UNC Hospitals, and my most fervent prayers for Coach Bible and his family.
