A simple bathroom break in the third grade became something extraordinary for Indianapolis Colts defensive captain Gary Brackett.
The Office of Student Life and the Multicultural Center cosponsored Brackett's speech in Pruis Hall on Wednesday night. More than 500 people heard him describe the adversity he's faced in his life, his hardest times and how he came to realize his dream.
He was walking through the hall when he heard a commotion. At first, he thought everyone was crowding around a visiting wrestling star, but when he caught a glimpse of who everyone gathered around, Brackett didn't recognize him.
He asked, and found out the person was then-NFL defensive end Reggie White. At that moment, Brackett decided what he wanted to do when he grew up - play football.
When Brackett told people what he wanted to do as an adult, he said many told him to pick something realistic. He stayed determined, and had a successful football career at Glassboro High School in Glassboro, N.J.
Brackett became so good that he said his high school coach told him if he didn't get a scholarship, he would sell his house. At the end of Brackett's senior year, he had not received an offer. He decided to walk on at Rutgers University, where he received a scholarship after a new coach decided to reward those who worked the hardest.
Brackett said not being rewarded a scholarship out of high school was one of the most disappointing moments of his career.
"My mother always told me, 'Baby, if the mountain was smooth, you couldn't climb it,'" Brackett said.
Brackett also discussed one of the hardest moments in his life - losing his mother, father and brother in a 16-month span.
In 2003, Brackett was playing with the Indianapolis Colts after being signed as an undrafted free agent. That October, he got a call and learned his father had passed away. The tragedy happened during a bye week, so he took the time to go home and be with his family.
When Brackett signed with the Colts, he knew he wanted to do something helpful with his new earnings. He wanted to buy his mother a house. Unfortunately, eight months after his father's passing, his mother had a massive stroke due to complications during a hysterectomy, causing her to lose function in half of her brain.
The next day, his mother lost all brain function, and Brackett had to make a decision. While members of his family didn't think he should take her off life support, he thought it was best.
"They said, 'What if God decided to perform a miracle?'" Brackett said. "I said, my God created the Heavens and the Earth, and he did it without a life support machine."
Brackett took his mother off life support, and she died shortly after.
"My mother was superwoman," Brackett said. "I was always inspired by her strength."
Four months later, Brackett learned his brother had cancer.
At that time, Brackett was competing against Rob Morris for a starting position on the Colts. All of that stopped when he received a phone call saying that his brother needed a bone marrow transplant.
Brackett said he talked to then-coach Tony Dungy, who understood Brackett's decision to go home and help his brother. His brother died a year after the transplant.
"It was then that I realized something," Brackett said. "We should give flowers to people when they are still alive."
Brackett said he believed the best way to honor the dead is by how he lives his life.
With that in mind, Brackett founded the Gary Brackett IMPACT Foundation, which he said is his way of honoring his brother.
The foundation provides opportunities and resources to children affected by cancer, along with interactive programs and resources to benefit those families.
Throughout his presentation, Brackett used jokes, cartoon slides and stories that kept the crowd laughing.
Ball State offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner attended the event and presented Brackett with a Ball State coaching shirt.
"I think it was very positive," Faulkner said. "Anytime you can take one thing away it's worth the effort."
Mitch Isaacs, associate director of student life, helped organize the event, and presented Brackett with a custom Excellence in Leadership football when he was done speaking.
"I think the event went excellent," Isaacs said. "Gary was a strong speaker with a great message that was informative, inspirational and funny."
After being told by so many that he wouldn't be successful as a football player, Brackett is enjoying his accomplishments.
"I think the biggest revenge is massive success," he said.
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