The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is one of the most intense rivalries in college sports.
But, at least for a night, it didn't seem that way.
"Special thanks to the michigan men's basketball coaches and staff and the Ohio state men's basketball team's coaches and staff. They came together to do this for chad. Amazing!!!! Love and thanks to you all!! Bigger than the rivalry!!"
That's a Wednesday night post from Tammi Carr -- the mother of a 5-year-old little boy named Chad Carr. And though there's a good chance you've never heard of Chad, I'm certain you know his grandfather, Lloyd Carr, the legendary former Michigan football coach.
Sad story coming.
Chad was diagnosed with a rare and inoperable form of brain cancer in September 2014. He was initially given about nine months to live. Courageously, he beat that projection. But things have taken a bad turn recently. Chad can no longer walk. His breathing has worsened. His speech is sporadic. Doctors think the end is near. So Tammi and her husband, former Michigan quarterback Jason Carr, started Chad on hospice care this week.
"We believe it's time to stop fighting and to let him relax and be at peace," Tammi wrote.
At this point, frankly, there is little anybody can do. But that didn't stop the Michigan men's basketball staff and the Ohio State men's basketball staff from coming together Wednesday night to try to lift Chad's spirits in even the smallest way. Representatives from both schools -- it was OSU coach Thad Matta's wife, Barbara, who came up with the idea, I'm told -- arranged to have Chad's home decorated with Christmas lights, proving that even rivals can put aside their differences when their differences don't really matter in the real world.
It's not a cure, obviously.
But it's cool.
And it's sweet.
More than anything, it's just cool and sweet.
