It’s obvious by the sea of purple consuming campus on any given game day that the Tommies aren’t afraid to show school spirit, but for senior football player Luke Hermann, this color has developed a new meaning: awareness.

Hermann was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last summer: a season-ending diagnosis to conclude his football career at the University of St. Thomas. It was difficult news, but he understands that keeping a positive mental attitude is key in his gameplan to beat cancer.

“It was just kind of more shock than anything at first. Then you just have to stay positive about it after that… just work through,” Hermann said.

This isn’t the first time Hermann’s season had been sidelined. Injuries hindered his field time for both his sophomore and junior year, and although these injuries are nominal to what he is confronting now, Hermann said the adversity he faced in previous years has allowed him to become stronger and more focused on how to overcome difficult situations.

“As for how the mindset goes, I am treating it the exact same as an injury. Where I just go out and still try to live a normal life and try to do things as normally as I can,” Hermann said.

Normality is his combat to cancer. He says it helps keep his mind off of his diagnosis. For this reason, Hermann stays dedicated to his team.

“Obviously, I would much rather be playing, but I feel like I can still help the team out … and I know I would hate not being with the guys for game days and practices. I don’t know what else I would do otherwise,” Hermann said.

Coach Glenn Caruso said the team is stronger when they are all together.

“He is there at every meeting, every practice, every game and that’s what I think our team is about,” Caruso said. “We’re very much a family … They should be able to draw strength from each other and to have him there. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Hermann has supported his team throughout his four years, and now his football family has returned the favor to become one of his greatest support systems.

“They have been there every step of the way,” Hermann said.

Caruso has seen his players cope with battles on and off the field and felt compelled to be with Hermann at his very first treatment.

“It’s our job, when you’re a part of a loving community, to wrap your arms around someone who is hurting,” Caruso said. “There are a lot of times where you really have to work hard to give to the greater good of the team or the family or the community, and in difficult times it’s very important that we understand that. That’s where it’s time to allow yourself to be supported by that family and community, and that’s exactly how the team approached it.”

St. Thomas held its 5th Annual Tackle Cancer event during the game against UW-Stout on Sept. 10. The Tommies were the first collegiate team to join the worthy cause, and since then, every college team in the state has followed suit.

But this year, the effort to raise awareness was different.

“It kind of put a little more of a focal point on why we do this. It felt like maybe Tackle Cancer became less of a rally cry and more of a call to action, and our family stepped up,” Caruso said.

Caruso said he is very proud of who his players become as they go through the football program. Part of that is the athletic aspect, but the overwhelming majority of what makes him proud is how his team handles adversity.

“In the long run, that’s what is going to prepare them for the next 40 years of their life after they are done playing here,” Caruso said. “I know adversity is not easy, but I also understand that if met with a positive mental attitude it’s going to serve you well, and the way Luke has attacked this is going to serve him well in the future.”

Caruso said he believes that God only gives struggles to those that can handle them, and he knows Luke can handle them.

“He’s resilient. I’m so proud of him,” Caruso said.

Carolyn Meyer can be reached at cameyer@stthomas.edu.