ACC = A Conference with Class

Open Letter From The Herzlich Family-

My son is Mark Herzlich, the Boston College linebacker who has spent the past 7 months battling cancer. I just wanted to send you a note saying how impressed my entire family has been by the comraderie and sportsmanship of the schools in the ACC. From opposing teams, to their fans and even to the officials organization - everyone has been supportive of Mark in his efforts. The number of groups that sacrificed personally to raise funds in Mark's honor to support cancer research has been awesome and humbling.

We are blessed and grateful that it appears that Mark has beaten this awful disease and his level of recuperation over the next 6 months will determine whether he can return to the playing field. His intent is to do so. However, before we start down that next path I wanted to relflect upon and appreciate how much the ACC has made this intial part of the journey bearable.

I truly think that this is something unique to the ACC. It is a conference with class. In reading about the backbiting and vitrolence in amoungst teams of other major conference, it's a pleasure to be associated with one whose members can both compete hammer and tong on the playing field but still appreciate, support and celebrate their opponents. Without quality opponents, there is no game. Too often that's forgotten in the world of sport, but not in the ACC.

Best wishes for a festive and fruitful holiday and bowl season.

Sandon M. Herzlich, Sr.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING HERZNATION - A LETTER FROM SANDY HERZLICH

A letter from Mark's father:

Just wanted to send out a quick update as we (hopefully) wind down all this cancer crap.

Mark finished his chemo treatments on November 2nd which marked a great milestone. His test have all come back clean and the doctors are as sure as they can ever be that he's cancer free. We still have to keep our fingers crossed for the next 5 years, but we're entering the "cancer survivor" stage in as good a position as possible.

On Monday of this week Mark underwent surgery to have a titanium rod inserted in the inside of his femur to provide extra strength and stability for the bone that was weakened by both cancer and the treatment. His surgeon, Dr. Dick Lachman, couldn't have been more pleased with the results of the surgery. He said that they got the rod and the accompanying screws exactly where they wanted them. There was no sign of cancer in the bone and the bone itself was very hard and strong.

Mark was up walking, albeit a little unsteadily, on Tuesday and will be coming home from the hospital today. He's in a little bit of pain, but that's not unexpected given the disruption his leg and muscles took during surgery. Everyone keeps telling us it's nothing to worry about, so I'm not worried. We look forward to having the family gathered around the Thanksgiving table on Thursday!

On Saturday, we'll drive down to the University of Maryland for the BC football game and Mark will rejoin his teammates and fly back to Boston with them!

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers as Mark's fought this battle. The support as been felt, is meaningful and helpful. Best to everyone this Thanksgiving holiday. I know that the Herzlich's have a lot to be thankful for.

- Sandy Herzlich

GREAT NEWS FOR MARK HERZLICH

ESPN IS FILMING A DAY WITH MARK HERZLICH - LOOKS LIKE GOOD NEWS

A LETTER TO CLEMSON FANS FROM MARK HERZLICH'S FATHER

Sept. 22, 2009

Dear Clemson Fans:

First - My son is Mark Herzlich, the BC linebacker recovering from Cancer. The entire Tiger Nation should be proud of the complete class your entire program carries itself with. I wear a copy of Mark's jersey to games and I lost track of the number of Clemson fans who approached me to wish him well and to say that they were praying for him. These are people who don't know me, don't know Mark and have little reason to even be aware of his situation yet were both aware and involved enough to say some kind words. Thank you.

Second, for those who missed it, prior to the game Coach Swinney presented Mark with a Clemson jersey signed by the whole team with Mark's #94 on it. I've never seen such an outstanding and unsolicited display of sportsmanship.

Finally, throughout the weekend the major topic of conversation outside football was the graciousness of the Clemson fan base. All of us commented on how welcoming everyone was, both before and after the game. I've been to Clemson before and interacted with Clemson fans in Boston so I wasn't suprised any more but I was glad to see my friends get the message too. There was absolutely no lack of support or fanatacism for Clemson football but it was all wrapped up in an understanding that competing doesn't mean hating, that you need an opponent to play a game and that there's a difference between an opponent and an enemy. My younger son, who's used to the whole us versus them attitude in a lot of fan bases turned to me at one point and said, "you just can't hate these guys!"

Clemson continues to be my favorite road trip. I always root for Boston College to go undefeated and win the ACC, but in the years that it can't be us, I hope it's you.

If you're going to be a bear - be a grizzly!

-Sandon Herzlich

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