Commentary: Berry demonstrated special qualities off the field

By: Joel Delgado / Asst Sports Director
I talked to Kendall Berry once. A twist of fate I never realized until I heard the heartwrenching news on March 25.
Called to cover for our football beat, I flew over with the team last November to cover the game between FIU and Middle Tennessee.
A rough game for the Golden Panthers on the whole, but one guy stood out; one player broke through.

#Standing Out#

When the Golden Panthers needed a spark, Berry provided it.
That night he scored three touchdowns and ran for 103 yards on 19 carries in a loss to the Blue Raiders.
In a night when the offense struggled, this redshirt sophomore receiver-turned-running-back, who started the season fourth on the depth chart, burst out and delivered arguably the best individual performance of the season.
We interviewed him after the game, and he talked to us about how they needed to keep working and how they wanted to change things up on offense, among other things. And then we said thanks and he walked back into the locker room.
That simple post-game interview has played in my mind the last few days.
I never thought that would be the last time I would ever talk to him. I never thought he might have his life cut short a few short months later.

#One of Us#

He was a student trying to build a solid foundation for his future.
He was a brother, a son and a friend.
I wish I could have had a chance to talk to him more. But I was blessed to have gotten that opportunity to talk to him for just a few minutes.
Because in those short moments, I knew that he was someone who had a desire to succeed, a desire to keep moving forward.
It was apparent how special he really was.
Despite his great performance on that cold November night, after having to fight for playing time on that field, he was still not satisfied.
He would get back on that bus and look for ways to improve.
Not only himself, but for his team.

#LESSONS LEARNED#

We forget how fragile life can truly be.
Tomorrow is never a guarantee, but it is a gift. Every single day that we are blessed with life is a gift.
And Berry used those gifts to become everything he could be.
Many who were in his shoes – after missing an entire season thanks to a serious knee injury or adjusting to a new position – may have just called it quits or gone on to other things.
No one would have blamed him.
But he persevered. And when the opportunity came, he seized it without hesitation and took charge.
A testimony to the kind of athlete and person he was and an inspiration for all of us.
He made his mark on the field with more than just statistics; more than just touchdowns or yards or receptions.
He made it with determination, with patience and, most of all, with heart.
That is how he was able to come back and perform as he did last season.
That is how I was able to spend those several minutes with him.
That is how he was able to live the life he did.
As we keep the family, coaches, teammates and friends of Kendall Berry, we remember the great memories he left behind and celebrate all that his life stood for.
His legacy will always remain.
We will miss you, No. 19.