John Cappelletti's Special Gift to His Dying Brother

John Cappelletti is a name not well known outside the world of hardcore football fans. He was a star tailback at Penn State University and winner of the 1973 Heisman Trophy, for outstanding college football player of the year. He had a steady ten-year career as a running back in the NFL and was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

John may be best known for a few brief moments of his life that were unplanned but came straight from the heart. It happened on the night of December 13, 1973 at the ceremony where he accepted the Heisman Trophy. In those few moments, which resulted in tears from everyone in attendance including Vice President Gerald Ford, John would totally redefine the meaning of the words courage and inspiration by looking to someone he knew very closely - his 11-year-old brother Joey.

It was those moments that inspired a novel and a 1977 television movie called "Something For Joey," a movie so touching it's almost impossible for even the most hardened soul not to cry.

John was born on August 9, 1952 and grew up in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Adept at football from an early age, he became a star tailback at his local high school, Monsignor Bonner. During his senior season he was being courted by some of the top football programs in the nation including Penn State.

Joey Cappelletti was born in 1962 and at the age of five was diagnosed with leukemia. He spent a good portion of his life either in hospitals or doctor's offices. He fought through pain and the effects of chemotherapy, mostly headaches and nausea.

Because of his brother's illness it was a no-brainer to John which college he would attend. Penn State was one of the best football programs in college football with a feisty but successful head coach in Joe Paterno. More importantly it was close to home. If something were to happen to Joey, John could race home in no time. Often times this was the case as Joey would have to be hospitalized from weakness and the physical toll his young body was taking on.

In 1972 Joey lapsed into a coma and when he emerged some time later he was confined to a wheelchair until he could learn to walk again. The courage that Joey showed not only during this time but his entire life inspired John on the football field. That inspiration would reach a stirring zenith for both in 1973. By the time the season started Joey was back to his old self and was even playing recreational sports with his friends.

1973 was John's senior year at Penn State. For Joey, every Saturday - football day was Christmas Day. It was a chance to watch his big brother play ball and, if the team was in town, to see the game in person. It was always a struggle for Joey during the week. Every Monday through Thursday Joey would bravely endure everything from spinal taps to chemotherapy to different doctors and medications. Some days he could barely leave bed but every Friday he would remarkably recover and bounce back. Joey knew if he was too ill he would be unable to attend the football game and Joey had become just one of the guys amongst the Penn State football players.

After every game Joey would go to the locker room, slip by the press and go up to John's locker. If John was in the shower he knew the smiling face of his baby brother would be waiting for him. Joey would then go locker to locker greeting every player before slipping into coach Paterno's office for a quick chat. Paterno always told Joey he would recruit him when he was old enough to play college ball.

After every game day Joey would fall back and often needed immediate hospital visits to recover. Parents Anne and John Sr. often tried to dissuade Joey from attending the games but soon realized that it was the one true joy of their son's rough life. Joey's dedication was never lost on John. "No matter how sick he was he always was able to rally himself for the game. That started to be my mentality. He was doing it and so would I," John later said.

This mentality would lead John down the road towards the Heisman Trophy. His hopes were bolstered the last weekend of October, just days before Joey's 11th birthday. In the locker room before the game Joey came to visit John as he dressed. The topic of Joey's birthday came up and John asked him what he wanted as a present. After only a moment's thought Joey replied "I want you to score three touchdowns for me. No, four." John knew that three touchdowns was a feat but four was nearly impossible. Without hesitation John agreed.

Penn State took the field that afternoon against the Mountaineers of West Virginia. John's determination was palpable and he was unstoppable. Before the first half even ended John had already scored three touchdowns. At halftime Paterno informed John he was getting the rest of the day off due to the lopsided score. John nodded without saying a word. In the second half the Cappelletti family became concerned that John was not on the field. Their fears were calmed when they saw John's number 22 sitting on the bench off to the side. Joey's heart dropped as he realized John wouldn't be able to deliver on his birthday wish. Late in the third quarter one of John's teammates took Paterno aside and told him of John's birthday promise. The next time Penn State got the ball Paterno yelled "Twenty-two" and John was back on the field. On that very drive John scored his fourth touchdown of the day and pointed to Joey as he ran off the field.

After the game Joey came back to visit John and thanked him profusely. Being a typical kid who always wanted a little more, Joey asked if John could possibly repeat the feat the very next game. "Forget it! No way" John responded. John looked at his smiling teammates and the disappointed look on Joey's face and knew what he would have to do. He never told Joey he would but that would be his mission one week later.

Joey and the whole family gathered to watch the game on television. Joey laid on the couch as he wasn't feeling well the whole week and hadn't rebounded as he normally would, possibly due to knowing he couldn't see John in person. By halftime John had two more touchdowns and Joey rebounded enough to sit up with his family. By the fourth quarter John had picked up his third touchdown and, late in the game, Penn State was driving again. It was only a matter of time before John picked up touchdown number four. Sadly, fate stepped in. With the ball on the six-yard line John took the handoff from the quarterback and headed through a hole right up the middle looking as if he would score untouched. At the two-yard line John simply lost his grip on the ball and fumbled. Penn State would not get the ball back but did win the game.

The rest of the season was a magical one both for John and Penn State. John would rush for 1,522 yards and scored 17 touchdowns leading Penn State to an undefeated season. John would then lead Penn State to a win over LSU in the Orange Bowl to complete the season at 12-0.

The announcement of the Heisman Trophy winner was almost an afterthought as John was the overwhelming favorite. To no one's surprise John won in a landslide.

On December 13, the night of the award ceremony, John had notes for a speech prepared but didn't really know what he was going to say. Mark Markovich, Penn State's co-captain and John's roommate, remembers getting dressed for the ceremony and seeing an index card on John's desk. Unable to resist, Mark looked at the card that simply said 'To my coaches, my family and friends and someone special.' John came into the room and when Mark quizzed him, John simply replied, "You'll find out."

When John got up to make his acceptance speech all was well. He had thanked Paterno and his friends and then started thanking his family one at a time. When he was almost finished John, after a long pause, took a deep breath and said, "Lastly there is my brother Joseph, who is ill. He has leukemia." Tears started to freely fall down John's cheeks but his composure remained nearly intact. "They say I've shown courage on the football field, but for me it's only on the field and only in the fall. Joey lives with pain all the time. His courage is round the clock. I want him to have this trophy. It's more his then mine because he has been such an inspiration to me."

Joey, watching from the front table, turned to his father to ask what was going on. John Sr. replied, "Johnny just gave you the Heisman Trophy." When John emerged from the podium to thunderous applause amidst sobs, he went straight for the family table and gave Joey a hug.

Ed O'Neil, one of John's teammates, sat at the table with the Cappelletti family that night. Of the tearful moment he said, "I'm not sure that had I been in John Cappelletti's shoes, and that had been my little brother, that I could've said all the things that he did. You're talking about a sibling that you know will never have the chance you do in life. When it was over, I couldn't find the strength in my legs to stand up. And I was supposed to be a pretty tough guy."

Two years later and eight years after first being diagnosed, Joey Cappelletti died of leukemia with John at his bedside. He was 13.

John would go on to play in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams from 1974-1978 and the San Diego Chargers from 1980-1983. Today he is a successful businessman, happily married with four sons and living in California. He still makes personal appearances now and then and is astounded at how much the book and television movie have affected so many people's lives. "People come up to me or write me letters telling me how they never appreciated their family until they saw the movie. Having some small contribution to someone's life is lot more meaningful then scoring touchdowns."

Anne Cappelletti summed up her son's short life by saying, "Joey was an extra special person who loved everyone. When I think back on it now I realize it all had to be as it was. Somehow Joey had to leave his mark."