Tyler Trent remembered for his faith and selflessness: 'He inspired all of us'
Thousands of people gathered Tuesday to celebrate the life of 20-year-old Tyler Trent, who died on Jan. 1 after his third battle with a rare bone cancer called osteosarcoma.
Trent is gone. But for those who gathered at College Park Church in Indianapolis to honor him, he isn't forgotten.
"We could not get enough of Tyler Trent," IndyStar sports columnist Gregg Doyel said at the ceremony. "And it’s because, while he had cancer, he wasn’t just taking it. He wasn’t just dying. That kid was living."
"Somehow, this home-schooled kid from Carmel became a Beatle," Doyel said.
The Purdue fanatic's courage, positive attitude and desire to help others despite his own circumstances captured hearts nationwide. It led to him co-hosting ESPN's SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt, who attended his funeral. It led to him earning Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award at the College Football Awards Show. And it led to him earning Indiana's highest civilian honor: a Sagamore of the Wabash.
"Tyler touched the hearts of our nation, and he continually built up others, even in the midst of his battle with osteosarcoma," said Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, who awarded Trent with the Sagamore of the Wabash award. “His courage and conviction have left an indelible mark on us.”
Trent's love of sports was obvious — made more so by the memorabilia that lined the College Park Church stage from end to end. But Trent also had "an undeniable love for the Lord," Purdue quarterback David Blough said at the funeral Tuesday.
"Whether it was an encouraging text he sent with Scripture, or one of his favorite sermons. ... It was evident who he belonged to and who he lived for," Blough said.
Blough was with Trent when he received Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award at the College Football Awards Show in December. He called the 48 hours he spent with Trent and his family in Atlanta the best 48 hours of his life.
"He was able to see the circumstances in front of him as an opportunity to serve others," Blough said. "And if that’s not Christ-like, I don’t know what is."
Blough, Holcomb, Doyel and Trey Mock, who is Colts mascot "Blue," all spoke at Trent's funeral before Trent's family.
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Mock said that when he first met Tyler Trent, he was so inspired by his attitude that he "did something that I never do: I took off my mascot head" and sat down to talk to him.
"Even as he was dying, he lived his life," he said. "Tyler lived his life the way God wanted him to, and he inspired all of us every step of the way."
The first family member to speak was Todd Trent, Tyler's uncle, who began with a question.
"What's different about Tyler?" he said he was once asked. "Thousands of people are suffering with cancer all over the world. Why is he getting all of the attention?"
He said he pondered this question for a long time.
The answer, he said, is that God gave Tyler the opportunity to be Tyler Strong. And that Tyler did it beautifully.
"We, like Tyler, have a choice to live our lives to the fullest," Todd Trent said. "To make the most of each day. To rejoice always. To pray continuously. And thank God in all circumstances, no matter what."