It's not just about the game for Shannon

Many miraculous things can happen on a football field any Saturday during the Ivy league season. The most miraculous thing the Penn football team will see tomorrow when they travel to Dartmouth will be the simple fact that offensive tackle Mike Shannon is lining up against them.

After a successful move into the starting lineup as a sophomore, Shannon stayed at Dartmouth over the summer, taking classes, and training for the upcoming season.

When he awoke the morning of July 30, 2004, his leg was red, and Shannon felt dehydrated. Not having much energy, and continuing to feel dehydrated despite drinking plenty of water, Shannon went to sleep early.

By the time he woke up the next morning, something was clearly wrong. Shannon's temperature had soared, and he couldn't even pull himself out of bed to the bathroom.

Shannon, who could not be reached for comment for this story, called his father, Mike Shannon Sr., who immediately drove to Hanover, N.H., to take his son to the hospital.

At the hospital, the doctors gave Shannon fluids and antibiotics to combat his symptoms. His leg had swelled a bit, but diagnosis of Shannon's condition proved a bit difficult.

The doctors were not even certain which symptoms were related to the condition -- which turned out to be a bacterial infection in his leg -- and which were caused by the treatment.

Shannon condition deteriorated as the infection continued to attack his body, and his lungs filled with the fluids meant to hydrate him.

He started slipping in and out of consciousness. To this day, Shannon has no memory of the two-week period starting with August 3.

He was put on life support, and it became clear that his leg needed surgery. It got to be so bad, that Shannon's parents were asked if they wanted a priest present to read their son his last rites. The necessary surgery was not guaranteed to work, and amputation or death were real possibilities.

"The challenge he faced last year was the greatest challenge: he stayed alive," his father said.

"We tried both medically and spiritually to get him through that, and I think he really hung in there."

The surgery ended up going as well as anyone could have hoped for. The infection was removed from his leg, and Mike began to recover. After 26 days, Shannon was released from the hospital.

This story is not just one of the triumph of Mike Shannon over a near-death experience, but one of the solidarity of Dartmouth football during this time of distress.

Shannon's teammates rallied around their fallen friend, staying at the hospital nearly constantly. His teammates stayed in his room from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., watching over him in shifts to allow his parents time to sleep.

"They were at the hospital non-stop around the clock," Dartmouth football coach Buddy Teevens said. It was a true "measure of friendship. I would like to believe it made a difference in the end."

"I can say that after this event, we have three sons, but we also have close to 100 adopted sons as well," Shannon Sr. said.

Upon his release from the hospital, Shannon began to look toward making a comeback for his senior season.

His teammates were there every step of the way with "some humor, busting his chops, and keeping his spirits up," Teevens said.

"His quest to get back on the field represents a success story, not only to the hard work that Mike put in, but also to Dartmouth College's ability as a whole to rally around him," his father said.

Mike certainly had a long way to go, if he wanted to be the same player he once was. He lost 30 pounds while in the hospital, and it will be essential to regain his strength to succeed at offensive tackle.

"Essentially he spent the better part of the last 12 months in the weight room trying to build his body back up again," his father said.

Now, a year later, Shannon is back where he belongs, starting at offensive tackle for the Big Green in their Ivy League opener.

"Obviously it's a great story, with everything that's happened," Penn football coach Al Bagnoli said. "They've graduated some kids on the offensive line, so I think it's a blessing they were able to get him back. He gives them upperclassman leadership and a lot of experience there. It's just a marvel that he's actually playing."

"He's an example of the Ivy League athletes, playing for the love of the game," his father said. "Him getting back on the field has been an inspiration not just to the medical staff and the medical center, but to Dartmouth as a whole."

Shannon's is the type of story that will win him fans, not just in green, but also in red and blue.

"It's one of those situations where the kid is just so grateful to play," Bagnoli said. "They now have a whole different perspective, a whole different energy level was brought to the kid, and you don't take it for granted anymore that you're part of something. It's a great success story, and I'm really happy for the kid.

So tomorrow, when Penn and Dartmouth kick off their 2005 Ivy League campaigns, the Big Green will be focused on the task at hand, trying to stop a Quakers team that beat them handily last year. But maybe, when the action dies down, they'll take a moment to reflect on just how lucky they all are to be playing there.

At least one of them certainly will.

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