After Another Cancer Diagnosis, Oklahoma’s Reggie Grimes’ Big Day Was All for His Grandma

NORMAN — Oklahoma defensive finish Reggie Grimes had the sport of his life on Saturday afternoon towards UTEP.

Then once more, he was enjoying for one thing a lot greater than himself.

Grimes had 2 1/2 quarterback sacks within the Sooners’ 45-13 victory over the Miners at Memorial Stadium, however his efficiency belonged to another person.

Grimes’ grandmother, Barbara Grimes, received a second most cancers prognosis again in April. The household has been resolute round her, simply as Grimes confirmed Saturday by getting after UTEP quarterback Gavin Hardison with such centered ferocity.

“She’s preventing it,” Grimes informed reporters after the sport. “She knew, along with her going via chemo, she wouldn’t have the ability to make it out to — as a result of she’s at each recreation — that she wouldn’t have the ability to make it out to all of the video games. So she put her chemo and radiotherapy off to come back see me play immediately. So it was actually particular and actually essential to have a day.”

Barbara Grimes traveled all the best way from Tennessee to be right here Saturday. Reggie Grimes stated he performed the sport for her — in addition to for first-time head coach Brent Venables, place coach Miguel Chavis and, in fact, all his teammates.

However principally for her.

“Completely,” he stated. “I play for the identify on the again of the jersey in addition to the identify on the entrance. Each recreation, however particularly immediately. It was a kind of issues the place it was essential to, once more, be who you might be, be who you at all times have been meant to be, and I feel that’s particular in a method.”

He stated having her within the seats and understanding he’d get to spend time along with her after the sport “allowed me to play free understanding that I wasn’t doing it for the blokes within the locker room, I wasn’t doing it for myself, however I used to be additionally doing it for her. So simply to have the type of efficiency I had immediately, regardless of every little thing, I feel it was actually touching, actually nice, and it was actually an important second.”

Her toughness and her will to struggle via and to be there for her household has been on show, Grimes stated. Being away from her has been powerful on him, too.

“Been battling,” he stated. “All that enjoyable stuff however once more, simply going via every little thing, once more.

“It’s nice as a result of I’m with my guys, with my household, however a part of it additionally sucks as a result of I do know that my blood household, they’re again house and so they’re going via issues as nicely. It’s actually a balancing act, however it’s a kind of issues the place she’s fought it earlier than and she or he received, so we’re hoping spherical two goes the identical method.”

For the household matriarch, emotional assist has been every little thing. She’s at all times been there, and now the household is there for her.

“For all intents and functions, we name her Mama,” Grimes stated. “She’s been everybody’s mom. She’s particularly been that function for me. So far as simply having Mama right here, it was essential, it was nice, I liked it. On the similar time, it’s bittersweet as a result of immediately is likely to be the final time she will get to see me play in particular person. It’s actually a kind of issues to the place, within the second it’s wonderful, however afterward, I’m going to go see her, I’ll most likely cry slightly bit. However that’s a part of it.

“So far as issues that she’s taught me rising up, I write on my wrist tape, I write on the highest of my notes each single day, “Be who you might be.” That’s one of many issues she’s informed me to do. That’s a kind of issues she’s expressed simply the best way she lives, the best way my whole household lives. So, simply being who you might be. I feel immediately, particularly immediately, I feel us as a group confirmed that, I feel me as an individual confirmed that as nicely.”