July 28, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers player Mike Rallis during the 2011 Big Ten football media day at the Hyatt-McCormick Place. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE
Senior redshirt linebacker Mike Rallis hasn’t had his hair cut in more than 5 years.
His flow rivals that of Troy Polamalu, and in my opinion, way cooler than Clay Matthews’s. But unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.
For Rallis, it’s coming to an end for a good cause.
Rallis and 60 other Gopher football players are shaving their heads and raising money for juvenile-cancer research. The players will shave their heads next week as part of “Gophers Clip Cancer.”
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Connor Cosgrove, who has been sidelined after being diagnosed with leukemia in 2010, brought the idea to the attention of the team and was surprised by the turnout.
“It makes my heart feel great, just to know that everyone is all in on this,” said Cosgrove to the Star Tribune.
Cosgrove said Rallis was a big reason why so many players signed up in support.
"“I feel blessed, love life. … I’m the lucky one, the way I look at it … As far as a 21-year-old having to go through this, obviously that’s not what I planned. But the fact that there are 3- and 4-year-old doing the same thing — I look around and I’m like, ‘All right, if they can do it, and I never hear them complain, the least I can do is try to give my best effort to model them.” — Star Tribune"
During the home game against Purdue on Saturday, fans can donate $5 by texting HERO to 27722. People at home can donate online by visiting www.stbaldricks.org/participants.
There was no mention if any coaches will be participating.