BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (May 25, 2017) - Earlier this week, LIU Post football red-shirt senior defensive lineman Dylan Cafarella (Albertson, N.Y.) was bestowed the prestigious John Smillie, Jr. Award by the East Coast Conference at its annual awards banquet in Bridgeport.

The John Smillie, Jr. Award is given annually to a student-athlete or student-athletes, who have overcome personal or physical challenges and hardships to pursue their intercollegiate athletic careers.

Cafarella was enjoying his summer vacation in August of 2015 when he passed out and began to seizure. After becoming conscious, he was sent to the hospital via ambulance for further evaluation. It was there that Cafarella was administered a catscan. Results showed that there was some type of growth on the right frontal lobe of his brain. He was quickly referred out to a neurosurgeon. Following several tests, including a biopsy on the growth, it was determined that Cafarella had a cancerous Type 3 Astrocytoma of his brain.  

Two days after the diagnosis, Cafarella was back at the hospital for the removal of the tumor. A metal plate was placed in his head. Once he recovered, Cafarella began both radiation and chemotherapy. This was quite challenging considering that he was registered for a full slate of classes that fall semester. In the midst of this grueling task, Cafarella completed his class load and was named to the honor roll and dean's list. Once treatment was completed in late October, he would get an MRI every other month to ensure that this tumor had not grown back.  

In early November, Cafarella was given the green light to begin working out. Over the next five months, his activity was increased. His goal was to get back on the field and finish his career under his terms. In July 2016, Cafarella was cleared to return to the field in a full contact capacity. These were unchartered waters for someone with a plate in his head to participate in a full contact sport such as football.
 
Cafarella never made an excuse on this journey. He remained driven and worked endlessly to get back. He never missed a day during his senior year, while playing defensive line and special teams for LIU Post's championship-winning team.

For a complete release from the ECC on the 2017 John Smillie, Jr. Award, please click here.