Heart goes out to Nelson

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Of all the Florida and Ohio State coaches and players that were at the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game Media Day on Friday morning, the one that drew the most attention did not talk to the media.

Gators junior safety and All-American Reggie Nelson, who is still reeling from the death of his mother, Mary Lakes, two weeks ago, was the only player or coach not made available to the media.

Your heart has to go out to the kid. There wasn't a person at University of Phoenix Stadium who didn't want to talk to him--find out how he's holding up and how the tragedy has effected him.

It should be noted, most media members, myself included, didn't want to ask him about it. Who wants to talk about the death of their mother? Why would you want to relieve that awful experience? I can't even begin to imagine what he's going through.

But, the fact remains that Nelson is the Gators' best player on the field, arguably a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft if he opts to leave early, so people want to know.

Nelson has always been shy around the media. He doesn't like to do interviews, and he has always seemed uncomfortable answering questions.

I had the opportunity to speak to Lakes before she passed, both on the phone from her home in Melbourne and in October I had the chance to meet with her at the UCF game--the last one she saw her son play in person--for a story I did.

She was the nicest, sweetest lady, and one of the few Gators' parents that was happy to take the time to talk to me.

Like I said, Nelson doesn't like talking to the media. But when I was working on the story, I found that if you asked him about his mother, whom he talked to more than once a day, he would go on for hours.

Now, there is a rule that if a player does not talk on media day they can't play in the game. Florida officials have said that they cleared it with the BCS committee before deciding not to let Nelson play.

UF Coach Urban Meyer, however, did offer some insight today on how Nelson is holding up.

"He is (at the stadium for media day)," Meyer said. "I asked him last night--we had a little talk last night. He is going to not come out here today and appreciate everbody's (privacy)--the media has been fantastic. They backed off him.

"He is doing great. I am concerned about it, but Reggie Nelson is not a good football player, he is one of the best football players I have ever been around, not just a defensive back."

Nelson has been dominant all season, and on the biggest stages he has seemed to rise more.
Tiger Woods and Brett Favre are just two athletes who have recently been inspired by their parents' death, performing their best in the biggest moments.

There's no reason to think Nelson won't do the same. His mom told me in October that Nelson's boyhood dream was to win a national championship for the Gators.

And there is nothing she wanted more than to see her son live out his dream. She won't get to see it happen, but there's no doubt in my mind Nelson will be playing for her--harder and faster than he ever has.

And that's a scary thought for Ohio State receivers.