Elliott Mealer Finds Family with the Michigan Football Program
Football reporting can be monotonous with its repetitive copy of depth charts, injury reports and key match-ups. It’s the stories behind the scenes that are the most fascinating. How individuals become teams and how teams become families. This isn’t hyperbole. There are 122 student-athletes, 17 coaches and a small army of support staff in the Michigan football program, all on the same ride. How these individuals grow together and adapt to each other’s personalities and situations usually determines how rewarding the experience will be.
(Full disclosure: I work with the football team for the University of Michigan Athletic Media Relations office, which gives me tremendous access to what goes on behind the scenes.)
When incoming recruit Elliott Mealer, his family and his girlfriend were involved in a tragic car accident on Christmas Eve in 2007, he wasn’t yet an official part of the program. He lost his father and his girlfriend in the crash and his brother, Brock, was paralyzed. Elliott suffered a severe injury himself trying to rescue his brother from the twisted wreckage of the vehicle. His life was in chaos and his football future was in jeopardy.
Fewer than 10 days had passed since Rich Rodriguez was hired as Michigan’s new head football coach and Elliott was anxious whether or not the new head man would have room for an injured lineman on the team. The events that followed were heartbreaking and inspirational.
Rodriguez, the Michigan football program and the University of Michigan health system embraced Elliott and his family, including his brother Brock. Rodriguez and the football program supported their new additions through their difficult time, helping the Mealer family cope with the tragedy. Rodriguez visited Brock in the hospital for the first time on Super Bowl Sunday and ever since, Elliott’s brother has been a fixture at Wolverine practices and games, becoming an inspiration to all who come into contact with him.
ESPN will air a special on Elliott tonight at 7 p.m., chronicling that tragic Christmas Eve and the events that followed. (Watch a promo video here). Anyone who questions the family values of the U-M football program should watch the E:60 special and judge for themselves how much the program cares for their own.
In front of his entire family and the family of his departed girlfriend Hollis, Elliott made his collegiate debut in Michigan’s opener against Western Michigan this year and has seen action in every game since. Though the pain of that night will never disappear, the Mealers have a much larger family to lean on thanks to the Michigan football program.
(Richard Retyi works for the U-M Athletic Media Relations office. Contact him at richretyi@gmail.com or read more of his work on MGoBlue.com)