Leukemia-stricken player to serve as Central Michigan's honorary captain for Bahamas Bowl

Derrick Nash will give Central Michigan an extra jolt of inspiration against Western Kentucky in the Bahamas Bowl.

Nash, a freshman, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in May 2013. After undergoing successful chemotherapy treatment, doctors discovered his leukemia had returned, requiring another round of treatment over the past two months.

Chippewas head coach Dan Enos was recently able to hand Nash a piece of good news, though, as he will accompany the team to the Bahamas to serve as honorary captain.

"We had to file a waiver with the NCAA to clear him just to invite him on the trip," Enos said. "When we got the waiver that we could bring him that was a real blessing. Then we didn't know if he was going to be able to go and to have his doctors clear him to go was another blessing."

CMU has honored Nash all season with a helmet sticker and #NashStrong wristbands. Enos said it was a no-brainer to bring him to the bowl game, as he's still an integral part of the team. 

"Our team loves him, he's part of our family," Enos said. "He's been through a lot obviously and I think our team loves to have one of our own as a captain, but a guy like Derrick who we draw so much strength from just watching how courageous he is every day and what an inspiration he is to our entire program."