Colgate Coach Casey Vogt: Fighting Through the Pain

It started with a backache. Colgate offensive line coach Casey Vogt chalked it up to long car rides as he recruited the newest class of Raider football players. He eventually consulted a team doctor who ordered x-rays and a MRI. Turns out, the culprit had nothing to do with recruiting, car rides or coaching in general. Vogt had a tumor on his spinal cord.

“I was shocked,” Vogt said.

It was early 2008 when Vogt was diagnosed with Ependymoma, a rare cancer that causes tumors on the spinal cord or brain, most common in children. A little more than two months after being diagnosed with Ependymoma, Coach Vogt had the tumor removed. The surgery was a success; doctors believed they had removed the entire mass. All the while, his players did not know the extent of the diagnosis. They all knew he had back surgery, they just didn’t know about the cancer.

“It wasn’t until 3 years later before we opened up to some of his players,” Vogt’s wife Amber says.

And that’s when the team sprung into action, choosing this year to raise money and awareness for Ependymoma.

“I was honored that they wanted to do that for me,” Vogt says.

Current and past players say the decision was easy since Vogt is an inspiration to them.

“Even in his most painful time, bed-ridden with a 6-day beard on his face, Coach Vogt always had a smile on his face,” recent graduate Greg Hadley said.

Kevin Morgan’s praises speak to Vogt’s character. “Coach, outsde of my parents and direct family, has been one of the most positive influences in my life,” Morgan says. “One of the biggest things he has taught me is how much caring and supporting others means to those who you care and support.”

The Vogts are appreciative of the attention the disease will get because of Colgate’s efforts this year. They admit their frustration is that little is known about Ependymoma. It was very hard for them to find information online. Enter the Collaborative Ependymoma Research Network or CERN. The Colgate Chapter of Uplifting Athletes has chosen the CERN Foundation (www.cern-foundation.org) in particular with the upcoming Lift For Life.

The CERN Foundation has one ultimate goal – curing Ependymoma. CERN members are selected for scholarly excellence and commitment to cooperation in the effort to cure Ependymoma. Through team member collaboration and work with external and scientific advisory boards, the CERN Foundation comes closer to a cure every day.

So far, Casey’s prognosis is good. He has several scans and checkups every year and so far, everything has checked out. Casey had a slight scare this past season, but doctors believe he was experiencing side effects of the surgery and not from the disease.

Casey has even more reason to fight Ependymoma: his son.

“He makes me be more conscious of my health,” Casey says of his 22-month old.

Meanwhile, Vogt’s players are conscious of his contributions to the team.

“No matter what we accomplish this year, nothing can equate to what he does for us on a daily basis,” current player Ryan Risch says. “Coach treats us not just as numbers on a roster, but also like his own sons.”

It’s the ultimate compliment for a coach.