After a seven-month battle with undifferentiated sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, popular Kansas football fan Cole Hayden died Saturday at the age of 7.
Cole’s mother, Shanda Hayden, works as an academic and career advisor for the program. As the youngster withstood illness and various treatments, beginning this past summer, KU football players and coaches rallied around Cole, often sporting #TeamCole accessories of some form on a daily basis.
The Jayhawks dedicated their season-opening victory to Cole and all wore T-shirts to support their fan and unofficial family member before heading to Kansas State for their season finale.
Second-year KU football coach David Beaty on Sunday tweeted out a statement on the impact the boy had on the program.
“It is with great sadness that I share our program has suffered a tremendous loss. Our talented, smart, funny, kindhearted Cole Hayden has gotten his angel wings. Our hearts are broken for his amazing parents, Shanda and Steve. The courage Cole showed us every single day is what will inspire us to move forward. We are forever blessed to be a part of #TeamCole.”
Shanda Hayden, who considers herself a bit of a team mom for the Jayhawks, often had players and coaches checking in on the family and finding ways to show Cole support. She wrote a message about her son’s death on the posthope.org page created for #TeamCole.
“His strength was unmatched and he fought more than any child could as long as he could,” Shanda wrote.
#TeamCole???? pic.twitter.com/jnt2bnCDnQ
— David Beaty (@beaty_david) December 11, 2016
