The Heart of a Champion

Stefanie Spielman and her family on the field at halftime of a game in September.

Stefanie Spielman, wife of OSU linbacker great, Chris Spielman passed away yesterday after a lengthy bout with cancer. This is very sad for the Buckeye Nation but it is also something worth celebrating.

Chris said this in an article which appeared today in the Columbus Dispatch, "Stefanie has gone home to be with the Lord," he said. "For that, we celebrate, but with broken hearts. I want to thank everyone for their support. ... Together, with your help, hopefully we made a difference in this fight."

When they received the news, they decided to use this for good. She said this shortly after her diagnosis, "I know there's a reason God gave me breast cancer, and I'm supposed to do something with it," she said that year.

This family is an inspiration to me in many ways and as I have read more about Stefanie, my admiration for her has grown. You can get a glimpse of her faith and positive spirit in these words: "I do not feel sorry for myself. I do not wish this would have happened to anyone else," she wrote on July 11, 1998. "I pray I grow stronger with each passing day. I cannot let this get the best of me, and I will not let this ruin the rest of my life -- no matter how long it is."

What a great example of how to live. Prayers to the Spielman family!

Go Bucks!

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3b-5

Using Bad For Good

Chris Spielman shows his college football hall of fame plaque awarded to him on

Sept. 5 at Ohio State to his wife, Stefanie.
His four children and Ohio State great Archie Griffin look on.

Chris Spielman is one of my favorite Ohio State football players. He was a guy who gave his all on every play. The team seemed to feed off of his intensity. Without question, he is one of the greatest linebackers ever to wear the scarlet and gray. He also was a tremendous player in the NFL for many years.

However, I gained even more respect for him when, in 1998 after 10 seasons in the NFL, he put his career on hold to be at his wife, Stefanie's side as she began her battle against breast cancer. I don't think many men would have chosen to do that. What a great example.

I was at the game on September 5th of this year in which Chris' induction into the College Football Hall of Fame was celebrated (pictured above). I didn't realize that Stefanie was sick again until I saw her in a wheel chair.

A week or so ago I saw an article online which appeared in the Canton Rep in which they shared a little about their struggle. The last section of the article focused on their Christian faith and how that has gotten them through some difficult times. This same article appeared in our local paper a couple of days ago, only they decided to omit the entire section about their faith. Sad.

This quote was contained in that section:

Their journey together has been about football and fame, but it also has been about strength, courage and keeping things in perspective.

“I think we’ve been given certain assignments in life,” he said. “I like to think we’ve done the best we could for (cancer survivors) in service as opposed to shutting down. Hopefully, we’ve been able to make a difference with the monies raised and the people we met and talk to that our experience can help in a small way.

“This is an honorable and humbling journey we’ve been on. It’s something that is way bigger than being a football guy.”

What struck me as I read this article was they way they have used this as a positive thing. The Speilmans have used their celebrity and influence as a platform to raise millions of dollars for cancer research. But they have done so much more than that...they have given hope to many, many people who are dealing with tough circumstances in their own lives. What an incredible and honorable thing.

"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Esther 4:14b