In athletics, the greatest victories aren’t shown on the scoreboard or in the standings. Instead, they come from the lives and hearts that are touched and changed forever. Lives like that of Ryan Newbanks — a friend of Chargers Football who passed away last year after his battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
This past week, Hillsdale College announced the creation of a merit-based scholarship to honor Newbanks. According to a joint press release from Coach to Cure MD and Hillsdale College, The Timothy Ryan Newbanks Scholarship will be awarded to a student who exemplifies the qualities that Ryan lived out: overcoming adversity, shining a bright light of hope and joy into the world, demonstrating unconditional care and kindness to others, and a “never-give-up” attitude.
Former Hillsdale punter Matt Eltringham ‘14 played a key role in establishing the scholarship.
“Matt took the bull by the horns and wanted to honor the time he spent with Hillsdale College,” Head Football Coach Keith Otterbein said. “So he went ahead and worked with the administration to come up with this scholarship in Ryan’s name.”
The announcement of the scholarship comes as a part of Coach to Cure MD week, a week in which college football coaches across the nation will wear an arm patch to raise awareness of Muscular Dystrophy.
As part of this special week, the Newbanks family will be honored during halftime of Hillsdale’s football game against Michigan Tech. this Saturday. This ceremony will be especially meaningful because of Newbanks’ relationship with Hillsdale College football program.
According to Otterbein, the team began to grow close to Newbanks in 2010, when then-punter Matt Eltringham mentioned the Newbanks family to him. Eltringham had met Newbanks while working at the Newbanks’ home as part of his lawn care business in high school. After coming to Hillsdale, Eltringham and Newbanks kept in touch.
“Eventually I brought up the Newbanks family with Coach Otterbein, and we started praying for them before every game,” Eltringham said. “I would bring him signed footballs, and t-shirts, and fun things for him to keep in his room.”
Finally, in 2014 — Eltringham’s senior year — Newbanks made it to a game.
“It was a really special weekend” Eltringham said. “Ryan and his family were guests of honor at our dinner. They came to the team activity, a volleyball game, and the whole team sat around him. He got to bond with the team.”
Newbanks acted as an honorary captain the next afternoon, leading the team out of the tunnel, and calling the coin flip at midfield. Hillsdale won the toss.
As part of the celebration of Newbanks’ life, two of his brothers — Jack and Nick — will lead Hillsdale out of the tunnel and accompany the team captains to midfield for the coin toss.
“It will be so special because Ryan did just that,” Eltringham said. “Ryan is no longer on this earth, but I know he will be smiling down on that and it’s neat to see his brothers taking the torch.”
