Penn State OL Brought to Tears after James Franklin’s Unthinkable Move to Honor Fan With Incurable Condition

On an ordinary fall afternoon at Beaver Stadium, the Penn State football team gathered on the turf for a major announcement. When sophomore offensive lineman Cooper Cousins introduced his bosom friend and greatest source of inspiration, the players erupted in celebration, their cheers echoing across the field. “New guy joining the family, that’s Ganon.” Clutching a No. 24 jersey, 10-year-old Ganon Kupko wasn’t just a fan welcomed onto the field. Ganon had officially become part of the Nittany Lion family.

Our little star, Ganon Kupko, was paired with the team through IMPACT (an organisation that connects children with serious illness to sports teams) last year, and since then, his journey with Penn State has been nothing short of unforgettable. For Penn State Nittany Lions, it’s more than a football story. “We are not just playing for the community of Penn State here, you know, we’re playing for Ganon as well,” acknowledged Cooper Cousins in an appearance with CBS Sports College Football.

Ganon’s story is one of resilience. Born 12 weeks premature at just 13 ounces, doctors doubted whether he would survive. His skin was so fragile that you could see his tiny heart beating, his organs underdeveloped, and rarely does a day go by without him visiting the doctors. Yet through it all, his ingenious smile and energy have inspired an entire football program, particularly his favorite player and best friend, Cooper. “It’s super motivating because of how much he’s been going through,” Cooper says, his voice brimming with emotion. “It just makes me think like no matter how bad my day is, I can always be positive because that’s what Ganon would do,” he poured out. “It’s hard not to be emotional.”

Walking on the turf, with Ganon beside him, Cooper poses a question to the young football fan. “What’s your favorite part of the games, though?” “You,” answered the young sweetheart. The respect is mutual, for Ganon, Cooper is his biggest fan, and for Cooper, it’s Ganon. “I’m very thankful for him because, you know, a lot of people’s favourite player isn’t an offensive lineman. So, to have someone who idolizes you and you’re an offensive lineman, it’s huge and awesome,” Cooper confessed.

Ganon has fulfilled a dream that once felt out of reach. “He always wanted to be a football player. He would dress up in his little helmets and get down on the floor like he was offensive line. [But we had to] tell him, ‘No, you can’t play.’ It was kind of heartbreaking,” Ganon’s mother Jennifer recalled. “But when Team IMPACT said, ‘No, he can play, he can be a part of the team,’ it was a surreal moment.”

Ganon and Cooper first met at Penn State’s Children’s Hospital, and their friendship has now transcended football. “I’ve always wanted like a younger sibling. I kind of think of Ganon as my little brother,” said Cousins.

Ganon is now a Nittany Lion

To make his football dream come true, the Nittany Lions football team did something extraordinary, which deeply touched the hearts of the whole Penn State community. “Ganon, can you please sign on that line there?” asked the official, embracing him; he is now part of their unit as an impact teammate. Standing right beside him through it all on signing day was Cooper, his biggest supporter.

There’s something beautiful about the way Ganon lights up when he sees Cooper. Though he isn’t supposed to run, he can’t hold back his joy—his face beaming as he does a little shuffle before wrapping him in a hug. “Ganon loves the ball. He definitely loves the football.”

“It is seeing his dream being fulfilled,” Ganon’s mom got teary-eyed over this heart-touching moment. She could barely contain her emotions. “Ganon’s a warrior. He’s part of our team. You know, when I go out there and I strap up, I’m doing it for Ganon as well,” Cooper added. In eachother, Cooper and Ganon have found strength, joy, and the reminder that bonds built over football outlast the game itself.