Eric LeGrand ESPN Interview

This morning ESPN aired an interview that Tom Rinaldi conducted with Rutgers Defensive Tackle Eric LeGrand. Tom Rinaldi does a great job with pieces like this and the LeGrand interview is no different. I haven't seen the TV version yet so I don't know if this is the whole thing but here is a clip ESPN has posted online.

He injured his vertebrae earlier this season in a game against Army. Since then the Rutgers and sports communities have come together to help raise money for him and his money as they face years of medical bills.


On October 22nd Rutgers sent out a press release announcing the creation of the "Eric LeGrand Believe Fund."

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (October 22, 2010) – Rutgers Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tim Pernetti announced today the establishment of the “Eric LeGrand Believe Fund” to support Eric LeGrand (Avenel, N.J.) and his family. LeGrand, a junior defensive tackle for the Scarlet Knights, suffered a spinal cord injury Oct. 16 vs. Army. 

Contributions to the fund are not tax deductible and can be made by sending a check payable to the“Eric LeGrand Believe Fund” to:

“Eric LeGrand Believe Fund”

PNC Wealth Management

Attn: Kimberly G. Kingsland, Senior Trust Advisor

One Palmer Square Suite 201

Princeton, NJ 08542

All proceeds of the fund will go directly to the LeGrand family. For more information, visit www.ScarletKnights.com/Believe.

Prior to the Rutgers/Pitt game this season there was a "Moment of Cheer" at Heinz Field.





There is a tribute song recorded by a singer from New Jersey. Proceeds from the sales of the song are going to Eric LeGrand. You can buy the song in MP3 format by clicking here.





Rutgers Football has a TV show that airs on SNY and inside the stadium. They did this story on LeGrand earlier this season.





The family has already received financial assistance from the $75,000 from Devin Harris and the New Jersey Nets, $20,000 from Tracy McGrady, T-shirt sales from Scarlet Fever, a store near campus, raised $90,000. Wristband sales on campus, a student-organized effort, raised another $65,000. Those figures are from a local newspaper article (the article also mentions smaller donations from schools in the area) that also quotes the owner of the store. 

When the line formed on the sidewalk outside the store, when the internet orders alone topped 2,000, he knew he had to print more — and fast. Ostergren wrote a check to the Eric LeGrand Believe Fund for about $89,500 recently.

“We’re still selling shirts,” he said, “and we’ll keep selling shirts as long as people want them.”

Erica Bowden, a junior from South Plainfield, decided to sell wristbands with the message “Eric LeGrand #52 Believe.” She thought it was a risk to order 200. The current tally, her father, Bill, said, was close to 19,000.

You can buy the LeGrand shirts here. 


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