A member of the Mississippi State family was lost Tuesday when Nick Bell lost a short but harsh battle with cancer.
Bell was a junior majoring in Kinesiology and was a redshirt sophomore on the MSU football team.
Originally from Bessemmer, Ala., Bell was recruited to Starkville to be a Bulldog by former MSU head coach Sylvester Croom. Bell was redshirted his freshman year and watched the Dawgs struggle from the sidelines, but once Dan Mullen got to town, Bell got on the field. The defensive end played in every game of the 2009 season, and in 2010 he earned starts in two of the first four games of the season, playing significantly in each of the four games.
It was after that opening stretch when Bell received the news he had a serious medical problem. He had been experiencing severe headaches, and when he was examined by doctors they discovered a tumor on his brain. It was malignant, a form of skin cancer.
Bell immediately had surgery to have the mass removed, and the prognosis was hopeful for the future.
However, on Monday, things took a turn for the worse for Bell and his family. He was scheduled to begin chemotherapy soon, but Bell’s recovery suffered a setback, and the 20 year-old had to have emergency surgery on Monday. Afterwards, he remained in intensive care at UAB Hospital.
Mullen, who was already at a speaking engagement in Birmingham, visited Bell and his family in the hospital and told members of the Birmingham Quarterback Club that Bell was in serious condition.
Mullen was scheduled to speak in Jackson, Miss., but instead, he flew back to Starkville and rode a bus with around 50 members of the football team back to Birmingham to visit with Bell and his family.
The situation appeared dire for much of Tuesday as Bell was in critical condition in Birmingham. That afternoon, Bell lost his fight.
Mullen said the loss is tough swallow for everyone who knew Bell.
“This is a tragedy for Nick’s family, our football program, our community and everyone who had the privilege to meet and be around Nick Bell,” Mullen said in a statement. “Nick was a son and a brother to our football family, and I know he will continue to look over us from heaven. Nick lived his life like a champion and will always be remembered in our hearts that way. During this impossible time, we pray for Nick’s family and all those he has touched.”
Mullen’s wife Megan said what many others have expressed about Bell – that was he was a joy to be around.
“There are few people in the world who have the unique ability to light up a room – Nick was one of those extraordinary individuals,” she said. “Every single one of us in the Bulldog football family is a better person for having Nick in our lives.”
MSU President Mark Keenum expressed his sorrow at the loss of a Bulldog and his pain felt for Bell’s family. He said Bell was an outstanding representative of MSU.
“Rhonda joins with me and Bulldogs everywhere in expressing our sympathies to Nick Bell’s family, teammates, and friends during this difficult time,” Keenum said. “Nick was an outstanding young man, who proudly represented our university with character and enthusiasm in everything he did. He was an exemplary student athlete, always giving the maximum effort on the football field and in the classroom. Nick left us too soon, and we mourn his passing, but we also celebrate the impact he made and fondly recount the many lives he touched in our Bulldog family.”
Funeral arrangements have not been announced by the family at this time, but the Mississippi State Athletic Department has established a memorial fund for the Bell family through the Bulldog Club. Donations can be made by calling 325-3074 and more information is available online at mstateathletics.com. The department will also deliver messages and cards sent to the family. The Athletic Department mailing address is PO Box 5308, Mississippi State, MS, 39762.
Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said the entire Bulldog family is mourning the loss of such a young man.
“Words can’t express our sadness,” Stricklin said. “Nick was a model student-athlete – special in the classroom, on the field and to those whose lives he touched. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his teammates and his coaches. He will be missed by the entire Mississippi State community and our Athletic Department family.”