WATCH: Bryan Bresee, family acknowledge Florida State tribute to late sister, Ella
While they might be going at it fiercely between the white lines, Florida State extended a lovely gesture to Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and his family, painting the words “ELLA STRONG” in block lettering on Doak-Campbell Stadium right outside the visiting locker room. Bresee’s younger sister, Ella, died last month from brain cancer.
The “Ella Strong” mantra has been something the Clemson football team adopted recently as teammates and coaches sought to support Bresee however they could. And the Seminoles hit the perfect note in showing Bresee and his family that though they may be competitors, there’s lot of things more important than football.
“How beautiful is this gesture by Florida State, to paint the words right on the stadium, ‘ELLA STRONG,'” ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe said. “As Bryan came out to take the field tonight he saw that sign and kissed it. And then his entire family, his dad Richard, mom Meghan, they were there to see. What a beautiful, classy move.”
Bresee and his family were also shown on the broadcast taking a picture with the message on the brick at Doak-Campbell. Bresee spent about two weeks away from his teammates and with his family in the immediate aftermath of his sisters passing.
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“I asked Bryan about it and he said ‘It means a lot to me,'” Rowe said.
It’s not the first gesture another program has extended to Bresee and his family.
Sonny Cumbie had his Louisiana Tech players each write, by hand, a note to Bresee and his family when the two teams played shortly after Ella’s passing. They delivered the notes after the game, which Bresee missed as he spent time with family.
It’s also slightly reciprocal, with Clemson offering up a tribute to the late Bobby Bowden, the long time Florida State head coach.