Mack Brown announces North Carolina dedicating Georgia Tech cancer game to Tylee Craft

With their cancer awareness game being this weekend, Mack Brown and the Tar Heels have members of their team to devote it to.

On Monday, Brown announced that North Carolina would be dedicating this to Tylee Craft, a fifth-year member of their program who has been battling lung cancer for the past two and a half years. However, they’re unsure if he’ll be in attendance for the matchup with Georgia Tech on Saturday due to his hospitalization this past weekend.

“Let me start by saying this is the cancer awareness week for our game. We are dedicating the game to Tylee Craft,” said Brown. “We’re not sure that he’ll be able to come. We’re hoping he’ll feel better by then.”

Craft appeared in 11 games at wide receiver and on special teams for North Carolina over his first two seasons. However, with his diagnosis of a rare lung cancer in stage four, he missed each of the last two. Craft has now since medically retired in order to serve as a student coach at UNC.

As for the rest of their commemorations this weekend, Brown said the Tar Heels will choose people who cancer has affected to recognize. They’ll also be wearing shirts, which he had on, with his number on them and ‘Tylee Strong’.

“Each of the players will pick someone in their life that is affected, has been affected by cancer or a family. They will dedicate the week to them,” said Brown. “Again, continue to pray for Tylee. I’m going to wear his shirt all week. We’ll wear t-shirts in his honor for The Bell Tower Walk on Saturday.”

With that, Brown also asked for their fans to keep the Crafts in their thoughts over the coming days. They’ll all be doing their part then in supporting him and his family as he continues his ongoing battle with cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.

“I appreciate all the thoughts and prayers. The GoFundMe that was put forth to try to help the family? People have really stepped up and done a tremendous in that area,” said Brown. “Please keep Tylee and his mom, September, in your thoughts and prayers. Please continue to support the GoFundMe program because it’s so expensive for people who are sick.”

“This is a big week to pick him up and try to help him moving forward.”