She’s a supportive grandmother battling cancer, who never misses a Carroll Tiger football game. But this time, it was the team cheering her on.<\/p>\n
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas \u2014 High school football in South Texas may be over for the season, but one moment from a Corpus Christi ISD matchup is still making headlines and touching hearts far beyond the Coastal Bend.<\/p>\n
RELATED: Flour Bluff mascot makes Citrus Bowl debut with help from mom<\/a><\/p>\n The moment happened during the Carroll vs. Ray JV football game on October 30 and has since caught the attention of ESPN\u2019s SportsCenter, quickly spreading online.<\/p>\n At the center of it all is Tammy Nichols, also known as, \u201cMimi.\u201d<\/p>\n Nichols is a Mary Carroll High School<\/a> alum herself and a devoted fan who never misses a Tiger football game. She\u2019s also a grandmother currently battling cancer for the third time.<\/p>\n After the October game, Tammy’s grandson Caedyn, his teammates, and their coach came together with a plan to surprise Nichols – each player presenting her with a rose to thank her for her unwavering support and to show they are cheering her on through her fight.<\/p>\n Nichols says the moment completely caught her off guard.<\/p>\n \u201cTotal surprise! I had no idea! I saw them with the flowers and I thought they were coming to give them to their mothers,\u201d said Nichols.\u00a0<\/p>\n For Caedyn, the surprise was deeply personal and meaningful for the entire team.<\/p>\n \u201cThey [the team] were together with me,” he said. “They understood what was going on.\u201d<\/p>\n Nichols says supporting her grandson has always been second nature.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve just always gone to all of his sports games – always have! I love seeing him play and supporting him!\u201d<\/p>\n Caedyn said the team wanted to make sure his grandmother felt how much she means to them.<\/p>\n \u201cI really love my Mimi – it would have brought her a lot of joy and make her feel special on the inside and as a team we have a lot of bonding together so it really nice for all of us to get together and do it for her.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Carroll co-defensive coordinator, Coach Ryan Ben-David, says the moment reflected something far bigger than football.<\/p>\n \u201cIt goes to show the character of our kids in the program they were all about it,” said Coach Ben-David. “Even though the game didn’t go how we wanted it, they were all about it. It was something bigger than the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben-David says lessons like this are exactly what he hopes players take with them beyond the field.<\/p>\n \u201cIt does become a brotherhood and that’s what we want and for them to learn that and to learn that it is more than just a game, and that this stuff will carry you on through life.”\u00a0<\/p>\n The video of the surprise was recently shared by SportsCenter online, bringing national attention to the touching moment. Nichols says even now, watching it back still feels surreal.<\/p>\n \u201cThose boys don’t realize what that meant to me,’ Nichols said. “Seeing their smiles, their encouraging words their hugs\u2026 I’ll never forget it.\u201d<\/p>\n Nichols has an appointment this Friday at MD Anderson as she continues her cancer treatment.<\/p>\n As her story spreads across the country, one thing is clear: she\u2019s gained a whole new team of supporters, prayer warriors, and well-wishers cheering her on every step of the way.<\/p>\n Originally, the video was uploaded to Instagram via the MCHS Carroll Tiger Football account. You can view it here: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DSvT8ctj0xR\/?igsh=OXBydnVwYWM3cWU3<\/a><\/p>\n The roses in the video were purchased at a local flower shop, Rose Soiree<\/a>, who was excited to join in on the special surprise, even dying some of the carnations a Carroll Tiger\u00a0blue.\u00a0<\/p>\n