Giants coach Tom Coughlin - Great Act of Charity
Submitted on November 8, 2010 - 8:40am
Great example by Coach Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants.
Have you ever visited or called a player/family from the opposing team after a serious injury? Or a player in your area who you hear about?
Something to consider.
BY TARA SULLIVAN
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
Giants coach Tom Coughlin is busy preparing his team for Sundayâs game in Seattle, but on Tuesday, he found time to make an important stop at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Coughlin visited with Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, who has been at Hackensack since suffering a spinal cord injury in an Oct. 16 game against Army, an injury that has left him paralyzed.
âI was looking forward to getting to see Eric over the last two weeks and I told his mother [Karen] that,â Coughlin said Wednesday before heading out to the practice field. âShe has done an incredible job. Sheâs so very positive and tough and so committed to making sure Eric understands that his spirits are always up and thinking about positive things.â
Coughlin, understandably hesitant to talk about his visit, opened up because the continued attention to LeGrandâs journey buoys the young manâs spirit as well as interest in the âEric LeGrand Believe Fund,â which was set up by Rutgers in the wake of the injury. Coughlin delivered a signed helmet and said LeGrand repeatedly thanked him for coming by.
âI got down close [to hear him]. He was thanking me most of the time and wanted to make sure everybody got introduced,â Coughlin said. As a longtime football coach, Coughlin is obviously affected by this story. As a father of four with 10 grandchildren, Coughlin feels it even more deeply.
âYou come in knowing full well what you represent, what you want them to understand, that the Giants are here for you, weâre all here for you,â he said. âThen, if you let yourself, when you leave the room you begin to think as his mother thinks. Sheâs been an incredible, strong, strong human being.â
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
Giants coach Tom Coughlin is busy preparing his team for Sundayâs game in Seattle, but on Tuesday, he found time to make an important stop at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Coughlin visited with Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, who has been at Hackensack since suffering a spinal cord injury in an Oct. 16 game against Army, an injury that has left him paralyzed.
âI was looking forward to getting to see Eric over the last two weeks and I told his mother [Karen] that,â Coughlin said Wednesday before heading out to the practice field. âShe has done an incredible job. Sheâs so very positive and tough and so committed to making sure Eric understands that his spirits are always up and thinking about positive things.â
Coughlin, understandably hesitant to talk about his visit, opened up because the continued attention to LeGrandâs journey buoys the young manâs spirit as well as interest in the âEric LeGrand Believe Fund,â which was set up by Rutgers in the wake of the injury. Coughlin delivered a signed helmet and said LeGrand repeatedly thanked him for coming by.
âI got down close [to hear him]. He was thanking me most of the time and wanted to make sure everybody got introduced,â Coughlin said. As a longtime football coach, Coughlin is obviously affected by this story. As a father of four with 10 grandchildren, Coughlin feels it even more deeply.
âYou come in knowing full well what you represent, what you want them to understand, that the Giants are here for you, weâre all here for you,â he said. âThen, if you let yourself, when you leave the room you begin to think as his mother thinks. Sheâs been an incredible, strong, strong human being.â
