Struggling Teammate Implores Football Player to Accept My Scholarship

College football players have a strong sense of camaraderie on the field, but one athlete from Eastern Michigan University has taken it to another level off the field. Reporting from CBS News reveals that Zack Conti, a senior, has been facing financial hardships while trying to pay for school. He has been working various jobs, including donating plasma, to make ends meet. In addition, Conti’s mother has polycystic kidney disease and needs a transplant, a situation that has prompted the creation of a Facebook page to raise awareness.

During a recent team meeting, head coach Chris Creighton shared the challenges Conti has been facing. While the NCAA only allows the team to give out 85 scholarships each year, all of them had already been allocated for the upcoming year. Creighton’s request for an additional scholarship was denied, until a fellow teammate, Brian Dooley, took matters into his own hands. Dooley approached the coach and volunteered to give up his own scholarship to help Conti.

The team was taken aback by Dooley’s selflessness. He stood up, walked over to Conti, and presented him with the scholarship. Their teammates erupted in cheers and applause. KXAS reports that Conti had occasionally missed practices due to his work schedule, but now with the scholarship, he can focus more on his studies. Dooley, who only has two classes left in his graduate program, believed that Conti could benefit more from the scholarship than him.

Dooley says, “I feel like he deserves the spotlight, he’s doing this for his family.” When asked about relinquishing his scholarship, he adds, “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” Conti expresses his sincere gratitude, stating that he feels honored and thankful. He believes that his hard work is finally paying off and appreciates the support of his teammates. (Read more uplifting news stories.)