Bryan Bresee says Tennessee fans starting GoFundMe in sister's honor is 'super special'

A lot of the allure of college football is the physicality and the rivalry of it. That’s especially true come the postseason when it all just means a little bit more. However, ahead of an Orange Bowl that will live up to its name between Clemson and Tennessee, the two found sides recently found a heartfelt middle ground as the Volunteer fans started a GoFundMe in honor and in support of the late sister of Tiger DL Bryan Bresee.

Bresee spoke about what that act meant to him and his family during his media availability on Wednesday. He said it is just the latest example of how the football community has rallied around him and his loved ones this season in a way that shows the sport is about more than just what happens on the field.

“I actually haven’t seen that. That’s awesome, though,” said Bresee. “It’s just kind of a thing that shows football is bigger than a game. And just seeing coaches and other schools reaching out has just been something that is super special.”

“The football community is much bigger than just football and that has shown since all this has happened,” Bresee said.

Bresee is one of the nation’s top prospects on the defensive line. Some pro team will feel lucky to get to select him early in this upcoming NFL Draft. However, the loss of Bresee’s sister, Ella, from a battle with brain cancer threw his redshirt sophomore season off course.

The GoFundMe broke its original goal of $1,000 within a few hours. It then surpassed its new goal of $2,500 and now sits at $3,680 with a new goal of $5,000.

This time has gotten no easier for the Bresee family, regardless of the Clemson’s success this season. Still, sincere acts like this one from the Volunteer faithful have shown how profound the support from the football world can be when tough times like these come. Regardless of what happens between the Tigers and Vols on Friday, this is the sort of thing that matters at the end of the day.