By Kavin Mistry (@kavinm95):
Every so often sports will give you a moment that makes you take a step back and embrace how truly amazing life is and how much we need to appreciate all that we have.
The San Jose State football team and Team IMPACT gave us one of those moments two weeks ago, when the program welcomed Keannu Linnell, a 16-year old high school student who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2015.
Linnell was introduced to the Spartan program with a draft-day style press conference, where he was asked to choose which school he wanted to commit to between SJSU and Fresno State.
The team had placed two hats in front of him, one with a Bulldog and the other with a Spartan. He slowly moved his hand over the FSU hat and then grabbed the SJSU hat, which sent the room into a frenzy and all the players cheered for him. The look on his parents faces was pure overwhelming joy.
Linnell has signed a two-year contract with the SJSU football team through the Team IMPACT program, in which he will be a part of game day activities, pregame meetings, practices and will be on the field with the team.
Since he was diagnosed in December of 2015, Linnell has lost his ability to play football, walk and talk. He is currently undergoing physical therapy to help regain his ability to walk and build up strength in his body.
At Lathrop High School, Linnell was a quarterback on the football team, catcher for the baseball team and wrestled.
His family said he has received an incredible amount of support from the community and his high school. In 2016, Linnell had a special visit from Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson, who came to visit him in the hospital four days before his procedure.
“I spoke with the coach from Lathrop High School and this is what I found out,” said head coach Brent Brennan. “We are getting a player that is smart, a 4.0 student, he described him as a true leader, (…) gives a redline effort like we do here and he is a hard worker like his parents.”
On the night of his draft, with the help of his parents by his side, Linnell willed himself to stand out of his wheelchair, much to the enjoyment of all the football players and staff.
“Everyone here at San Jose State has been impressed with the toughness, determination and fight that Keannu has shown,” said quarterbacks coach Ryan Gunderson. “I look forward to you injecting that into the Spartans.”
After the press conference, Linnell was taken to the football field, where he was greeted by the SJSU baseball, soccer, football and volleyball teams who welcomed him to the Spartan family.
Linnell’s family was in tears and said they are grateful for the opportunity that San Jose State had given his son. Although he may not retain what he experienced that day, the videos and photos will make the memories last forever.