Members of the Shepherd University football team compete against community members in corn hole at the Jefferson County/Shepherd University Relay for Life in Shepherd University’s Parking Lot G on Friday. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — At the beginning of last week, Shepherd University’s football team decided they wanted to become a part of a cause bigger than themselves. And so, on Friday night, the large group of young men could be found by the Suzanne Shipley Wellness Center, in Parking Lot G, hosting a variety of throwing games to raise funds for the American Cancer Society at the Jefferson County/Shepherd University Relay for Life event.

“This is all the football team, team 95. This is our very first time, so we’re very excited to be here tonight,” said Defensive Line Coach Bryan Murray. “We have a photo booth, games and a toss challenge — if you win against one of our athletes, you get a free photo of the team.”

Murray said that the team’s fundraising goal in this and future years will be directly connected with its football team number.

“Our goal is $9,500 for team 95. Every year after this, it will be the same — the goal for team 96 be $9,600 and we’ll go on from there,” Murray, who came up with the idea for the team joining Relay for Life, said. “We were kind of late to the party, but we’ve already raised $2,000!”

According to Murray, the team’s decision to start their own Relay for Life team was the result of learning about the medical history of one of their very own, sophomore sports marketing major Brodie Carroll. Carroll, who joined the team last year, fought diffuse large b-cell lymphoma as a child.

Carroll

“I was two-years-old when I was diagnosed with it. It took 10 months to fight,” Carroll said, noting one of the reasons he plays football today, is because of his experience with cancer. “So many can’t do it, which is why I play football. I’m so grateful to be healthy enough to play.”

Carroll voiced his appreciation for his team’s decision to honor him and his survival from his battle with cancer, by participating in Relay for Life.

“It’s awesome!” Carroll said. “Just to see everyone else supporting the fight against cancer and having a good time together tonight, means so much.”

Later on that evening, Carroll, Murray and the other members of the Shepherd University football team could be found wrapping things up early. While the event technically lasted from 6 p.m. on Friday night until 6 a.m. on Saturday morning, the team had to make sure they were well rested for a game on Saturday.

“We have our Spring Game tomorrow,” Murray said, “So the guys are looking forward to a really awesome weekend!”