The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- November 8, 1999

Football player gives up season -- and kidney -- for brother

BY KAY HAWES
STAFF WRITER

John Berry, a senior cornerback and captain of the Williams College football team, made a decision this summer that ended his football career but possibly saved his brother's life.

On June 15, Berry donated a kidney to his older brother, DeAngelo, who had been discharged from the Navy with kidney failure.

The transplant procedure, the first done at the National Institute of Health in Washington, D.C., is part of a test the institute is doing with a new kidney drug.

The younger Berry, a two-time all-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) pick, also has been tested, as he chose to donate the kidney and forgo his senior season in football. Instead, Berry has joined the coaching ranks, serving as a volunteer assistant football coach and working for the Williams buildings and grounds department.

Donating the kidney will deny Berry the chance to become all-NESCAC in football for three seasons, but it did land him a spot on the 1999 American Football Coaches Association "Good Works Team."

While flattered by the attention, Berry downplayed his choice to help his brother. "I donated the kidney to DeAngelo because he needed it, not to be a hero or a role model," he said. "My brother needed me and I was able to help him. Besides, I already had the opportunity to experience a perfect season, and now I get to see a different side of football."

Last season Berry successfully returned to the football field from a knee injury that had required surgery and prematurely ended his season the year before. The Ephs went on to a 8-0 record last year, with Berry returning two interceptions for touchdowns, once in the Ephs' opener against Bowdoin College and once against Trinity College (Connecticut). Berry led the Ephs in interceptions last year with four.

"I just see myself as extremely fortunate," Berry said. "Last year was a year I originally was not supposed to play, and we went undefeated, so this year was going to be a bonus anyway, and it was -- just not on the football field. I am lucky that I was able to be there for my brother when he needed me."

Come spring, Berry will return to the classroom, where he is a biology and psychology major on track to graduate in June. He is looking forward to a career in neuroscience after graduation.

Berry, a captain in track and field as well, also hopes to return to the track in the spring semester. In the meantime, he's happy to help coach the Ephs' football team.

At the football team's preseason cookout, head football coach Dick Farley had this to say about Berry and his amazing season last year.

"Maybe this is all divine intervention. JB was the captain of an undefeated and untied team, and he intercepted two passes in his final game to help defeat the archrival. I don't know if he could do that again," Farley said. "We lose our most talented athlete, but we gain one heck of a coach."

The young Ephs would do well to follow Berry's example.