Copyright M Live Michigan
KALAMAZOO, MI –– Lance Taylor sported a No. 99 jersey pregame, Western Michigan players wore helmet decals with initials, and the entire Bronco brotherhood linked arms and paid homage during a special tribute. All for a special Bronco. With heavy hearts, Western Michigan football remembered and honored Marshawn Kneeland in an emotional pregame ceremony before Tuesday’s game against Ohio at Waldo Stadium after the former Bronco star died last Thursday. The West Michigan native was in his second season with the Dallas Cowboys but died by apparent suicide in the early morning hours of Thursday after evading police authorities, crashing a car and fleeing on foot. MORE: ‘We’re heartbroken’: WMU mourns death of ex-Bronco, NFL player Marshawn Kneeland MORE: Cowboys DL, a West Michigan native and ex-WMU star, dies at 24 Kneeland was 24. “Our condolences and prayers go out to Marshawn Kneeland and his family, his girlfriend and those of us who loved him,” said Taylor, Western Michigan’s head football coach. “Heartbreaking news this week. We honored his life and legacy tonight and this week. Our challenge as a team was to honor his life by how we played and I’m really proud of how we played today and how we honored him by how our players played.” WMU honored Kneeland with a pair of No. 99s painted on the field, which was Kneeland’s number at WMU, along with special decals on all of WMU players’ helmets that included the initials “MK” and “99.” Taylor, who coached Kneeland during his first season at WMU, sported a No. 99 jersey before Tuesday’s game and the entire WMU team held a moment of silence in honor of the former Bronco before kickoff, followed by a special tribute video that played on Waldo Stadium’s jumbotron. WMU’s gameday captains –– Blake Bosma, Sefa Saipaia, Tate Hallock and Broc Lowry –– then carried Kneeland’s game jersey out to midfield for the coin toss, along with his helmets from WMU and the Cowboys. “It was a collaborative effort and one that took all of our directors and coaches,” Taylor said of the tribute. “We wanted to celebrate his life and honor it in a great way and we had some of his family and coaches text me before the game and thank me for what we were doing, which really meant a lot. “But I thanked them for Marshawn because he meant a lot to me personally, he meant a lot to this university and to this program and I know he’s smiling from above.” Western Michigan went on to win its Mid-American Conference game against Ohio, 17-13, in its first game since receiving the news of Kneeland’s death. It was a performance that Kneeland’s former teammates said he’d proud of. “I hope he’s looking down on us right now and just happy smiling because if he was part of this team, he would have gave it all and he would have balled out just knowing him,” WMU safety Tate Hallock said. “It was a tough week for sure but and my heart goes out to his family. I was fortunate to play with him for one year and tonight, we played for him. You want to make him happy up there and he’s with the Lord in a better place now.” Upon receiving the news of Kneeland’s death on Thursday morning, Taylor notified the team and reminded his players of the importance of mental health and that it’s “okay to not be okay.” “When we found out about Marshawn, we were actually in the building meeting and I broke the news to (the team) and most of them had not heard it,” Taylor said. “Just like all of us who knew Marshawn, he had such a positive impact on all those that he came in contact with. I told our team to always check on those that you love because most people are going through things that they don’t want to tell you. You have to check on your family, your loved ones to make sure they’re okay.” Taylor also told his players that he loved them and encouraged them to express things that are on their hearts. “I think when you talk about mental health, we’re all going through tough things and the ability to open up to others and express those things that are on your heart are really hard to do,” Taylor said. “I really challenged our group with building those relationships where you can ask those tough questions. I thought they handled a really tough week really well.” That’s why it was important for WMU to honor Kneeland by being a great teammate, working hard and being selfless. Because that’s the impact Kneeland had on WMU. “I wanted to make sure that everyone understood that about him, and he left this world a better place because of the positive impact he had,” Taylor said. “He had a great impact on me and he was very special and near and dear to me. I’m proud of the way they honored him and we’re going to continue to honor him by how we show up every day.”
