The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
McCoy finalist for 2014 Rare Disease Champion Award
01.06.2014 | Football
Senior QB one of five finalists for award which honors a leader in college football who makes impact on rare disease community.
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Case McCoy was named one of five finalists for the 2014 Rare Disease Champion Award.
The award is presented annually by Uplifting Athletes to a leader in the world of college football who has realized his or her potential to make a positive and lasting impact on the rare disease community. According to the organization, there are more than 30 million Americans affected by rare diseases.
The Longhorns' senior quarterback is joined on the finalist list by Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore, Utah linebacker Trevor Reilly and Nebraska fullback C.J. Zimmerer.
A native of Graham, Texas, McCoy fought a skin condition known as scleroderma for eight years starting at age four. The disease causes the hardening of the skin and the tightening of connective tissues. Treatments included a shot every week on Wednesday's that caused McCoy to become nauseous and violently sick. Once a month the family would make a trip from Graham in West Texas to Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas where McCoy was observed. Finally, in 2004 his scleroderma was no longer active.
This sixth winner of the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Award will be determined by an online vote, which began Monday and ends Jan. 31.
The winner will be presented the 2014 Rare Disease Champion Trophy at the Maxwell Club Awards Gala on March 14 at Revel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.
Previous winners of the award include American Football Coaches Association Executive Director Grant Teaff (2009), Dickinson College quarterback Ian Mitchell (2010), Princeton running back Jordan Culbreath (2011), Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead (2012) and Penn State offensive lineman Eric Shrive (2013).