Gophers

Gophers holder and cancer survivor Casey O'Brien receives standing ovation as he accepts Disney Spirit Award

Casey O'Brien has overcome four bouts with cancer to play college football.

December 13, 2019 at 4:32PM
Gophers holder Casey O'Brien and Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck embraced before the Wisconsin game. O'Brien, who had undergone surgery only a few days earlier and went against his doctors' recommendation to be at the game, has beaten cancer four times.
Gophers holder Casey O'Brien and Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck embraced before the Wisconsin game. O'Brien, who had undergone surgery only a few days earlier and went against his doctors' recommendation to be at the game, has beaten cancer four times. (Brian Wicker — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Gophers holder Casey O'Brien got a standing ovation upon receiving the 2019 Disney Spirit Award during ESPN's nationally televised college football awards show Thursday night in Atlanta.

The award, which O'Brien won in November but was presented to him Thursday, is given annually by Disney Sports to college football's most inspirational player, coach, team or figure. O'Brien, who has overcome four bouts of cancer to play college football, made his Gophers debut this season.

His family and coach P.J. Fleck and Fleck's wife, Heather, were in attendance. O'Brien has not been cleared to fly since having surgery recently so he made the 16-hour trip to the College Football Hall of Fame by car.

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