Rob Long, team player, was just days removed from an operation found malignant cells in a tumor arose from his brain. With a buzzed haircut and a strong scar, red striped the right half of your scalp, just flashed the variety, toothless smile Hackett had become so accustomed.
"You just do not know what to do in these situations," said Hackett, the team's coach quarterbacks. "I can not hug him? Not slap him on his (ass) What should I do to give the maximum five years? It's like you want to give all your strength, and I think everything he does is incredible."
During the past four years, much has been a symbol of consistency of a program that was not. Through losing seasons, declining attendance and program reviews, the high level of Downingtown, Pennsylvania with firecracker leg cleared the path for two all conference selections. It was a team captain the past two years.
But as the reward came, and orange approached their position in the postseason for the first time in six years, health problems began to snowball minutes for the healthy 22-year-old. In early December, the doctors found what they believed to be a benign tumor after an MRI.A few weeks later, it became apparent that things were much worse.
For those who knew him, however, had little doubt that would stand outside to watch their team take on Kansas State this afternoon at Yankee Stadium shortly before you start two sessions of chemotherapy.
Smiling, as always.
"There really is no place I'd rather be," Long said Tuesday. "Physically, I think I feel great, because brain surgery two weeks ago. Emotionally, it has been a roller coaster in the last month. Every day is a special day now."
The date and time are not hard to remember. At 7 pm Dec. 2, long sitting with his family when the doctors said I'd need to see a specialist as soon as possible. It was just hours after Rob's mother, Mary Jo, she learned that her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"It was like his world came crashing down," said Long.
Throughout the season, Long said he felt fine, but do not think anything was wrong until he began to wake up and do something sick for the first time in the morning. Now had an explanation for the constant pain and chronic headaches. There was a clear reason had lost his speed and distance, although not to swim in the formation or removal.
Now, however, he has much more to think about. Fans have flooded with letters and words of support to help cope with pain. Kansas State coach Bill Snyder took over on one side and told a story about her daughter, who was in a car accident, where doctors estimated that he had never walk again. Today, she is walking.
However, there are some moments that supports itself. This is to digest overnight.
"I'll tell you one thing, going to bed at night has not been easy," said Long. "His mind wanders when you're trying to think what is happening when you're 22 and you got brain cancer. It's scary."
But when he sees his teammates and coaches, you never know.
On Tuesday, he joined the Orange in the practice facility in Florham Park Jets for a workout, and cleared a few balls.
He saw his old roommate, running back Delone Carter, for the first time since undergoing surgery.
As he had with Hackett, Long flashed that smile on Carter and Carter smiled back. The two embraced.
From there, Carter had no doubt things would be fine.
"He knows he has been blessed with much in life, and this is just an opportunity for him to beat something and be an inspiration to many people," Carter said. "And I know I will."
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