Mike MacIntyre (The Associated Press)
BOULDER — In an informal poll of reporters covering Colorado football, none of us had heard of anything like the charitable fundraising effort that Buffs coach Mike MacIntyre has coordinated for this weekend.
I’m always glad and grateful to hear of any charity pursued by coaches, even those that are quick and easy, as one might say.
This cause by MacIntyre was anything but easy. It involves several football programs, in addition to Colorado, which will host No. 25 UCLA Saturday in Boulder.
Here’s the breakground:
Offensive lineman David Quessenberry was a former San Jose State walk-on who would become a three-year starter at left tackle for the Spartans under MacIntyre.
Quessenberry, 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, earned second-team all-Western Conference honors in 2011 as a junior and first-team all-league honors in 2012 (MacIntyre’s final year at San Jose State).
NFL scouts were impressed, and Houston selected Quessenberry in the sixth round of the 2013 draft.
While in training camp, the California native became ill with what he thought was a virus that potentially has become pneumonia.
Tests revealed something more serious. Quessenberry was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer of the lymph tissue.
“David Quessenberry is the best leader, the best captain, that I’ve ever been around, as a coach or a player … and he’s in a battle for his life,” MacIntyre said.
To support Quessenberry and bring awareness to the potentially fatal disease,
MacIntyre went to work.
He got the go-ahead from CU to have Buffs players wear “DQ” decal on their helmets for Saturday’s home game against No. 25 UCLA. Several members of Colorado’s coaching staff served under MacIntyre and became close to Quessenberry and liked the idea of honoring him.
But that was just a start.
Quessenberry has a younger brother, Scott, who is a starter at offensive guard for UCLA. Another younger brother, Paul, is a starting defensive end for Navy — which happens to be hosting San Jose State this weekend.
All the stars seemed to be aligned, so MacIntyre contacted Navy, San Jose State and UCLA.
“All of them wanted to do something; all of them are into it,” MacIntyre said. “All of them believe in it and understand the battle ahead of him, but not just for DQ, but just to get the word out there about this.”
MacIntyre said Quessenberry is in his seventh round of chemotherapy. Quessenberry started “DQStrong 10” to raise money and awareness for cancer research.
DQStrong 10 asks supporters to do 10 pushups and contribute a minimum of $10 to the Lymphoma Research Foundation.
“Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common blood cancer in adults and the third most cancer overall among children,” MacIntyre said, adding that it is estimated that 80,000 people will be diagnosed with the disease this year.
“This is something that’s near and dear to our hearts,” MacIntyre said. “Our players know about David. For somebody who’s 24 and in the prime of their life — if anybody can beat it, I know he can.”
