As a Cohen male, it probably wouldn't surprise people if I said that I'd like my three sons to grow up to be just like a Cohen. It might surprise them, though, when they discove this Cohen isn't related to us.

Marcus Cohen, a football and track standout for The Citadel, has become a hero in our Wofford-dominated home in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

David, my oldest son, will be 12 in March. He eats, sleeps and drinks Wofford athletics. He attends all home and away Terrier football games, travels on the bus with our men's basketball team and serves as the batboy for the Wofford baseball team. He's also a historian for the Terriers, playing an instrumental role in the recent induction of a baseball player from the 1890s into our Athletic Hall of Fame.

David found it quite intriguing that there was a Cohen playing for another Southern Conference school. That intrigue grew when he learned that the Cohen also was from Spartanburg.

We met Marcus briefly in a chance encounter in the local YMCA parking lot a few years back. David was later curious what elementary school Marcus attended. After this fall's football game in Spartanburg, a contest in which Marcus played very well with a touchdown-saving tackle and a fumble recovery, we tracked him down on the field.

When David discovered that Marcus went to the same elementary school that he was attending, hero worship took on a new level.

A short time later, I found myself outside the Bulldog locker room where I saw a man and woman wearing No. 45 buttons. I asked if they were family members of Marcus since he wore No. 45. It was indeed his mother and stepfather. I introduced myself and told Marcus' mom how David was so excited to speak to Marcus and how gracious he was with his time on the heels of a tough loss.

A few weeks later, she called me to say that Marcus was so appreciative of us speaking with him that he wanted to drop off some souvenirs from The Citadel when he came home for Thanksgiving.

Our house is not your normal home. Two of our sons (Adam, 10; Steven, 5) are autistic. Things most families take for granted are an everyday struggle for us. Life and patience can be very challenging for my wife and me. When Marcus came to our home, it was as if Santa Claus had arrived.

David, who truly believes the universe begins and ends with Wofford, received a Marcus Cohen-autographed Citadel football. It is now proudly displayed on a shelf in his room, not far from his new Bulldog football poster.

Adam has a more severe case of autism than Steven. The feel and texture of items can be mesmerizing and soothing to him. He received a Citadel basketball from Marcus. That ball and Adam are now inseparable at bedtime. Adam will lie in bed rubbing the ball before finally going to sleep with it tucked underneath his arm.

Steven enjoys hitting a baseball in the yard. We're going to sign him up for underhand coaches' pitch baseball this spring as a way to acclimate him into activities with normal kids his age. When Marcus brought him a soft plastic Citadel bat and ball, it was the perfect indoor gift for Steven to hone his skills for the diamond.

Beyond the gifts, most impressive about the visit from Marcus was the time he spent with the boys. It wasn't just "come to the house, drop the items off and head back out." He really wanted to visit with the boys.

Marcus came back for another visit shortly after Christmas. He and David were like lifelong buddies as they played a football video game in David's room. Obviously, it involved a pair of Southern Conference teams squaring off. David, who doesn't like to lose and sometimes doesn't handle it well, was excited that he only lost by 14 points in a video game to a SoCon player. He looks up to SoCon players like I did to professional athletes when I was growing up.

Adam, who doesn't warm up real well to strangers, was insistent on sitting next to Marcus and sharing our recliner chair with him. Rather than being bothered by Adam's odd vocalizations and hand-flapping, common traits among some autistic individuals, Marcus really seemed to enjoy his company.

Marcus Cohen is an ambassador for The Citadel. He loves his school and is an outstanding human being. He's kindhearted, articulate, genuine and first class in every regard. We consider him an honorary family member. We're as proud to know him as I'm sure The Citadel is to call him one of its own.

I hope my three sons grow up to be just like Marcus Cohen.

Mark Cohen is the associate athletics director for media relations at Wofford College. This article previously ran in the February 2005 issue of The Blue & White, the monthly publication of The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, and is reprinted here with permission.