Mike Mitchell left Ohio State due to father’s illness, says it was ‘right decision’
Mike Mitchell could have been there with Ohio State as it celebrated the national championship, but a year earlier, he made a decision to leave the program and play for Texas Tech. He didn’t do it because of a coach or because of playing time; he did it to be closer to his family in Texas.
Mitchell’s father, former NFL linebacker Ken Mitchell, suffers from cluster headaches, a syndrome that affects approximately 0.2 percent of the population. There is no known cure.
Ken, 66, suffers from cluster headaches, a rare syndrome that affects an estimated 0.2 percent of the population. He’s tortured three to nine times daily by the condition. Each one feels like a knife to the left side of his brain. Some hit for 30 minutes, some for eight hours. He thought he might die during the worst episode, a 19-hour headache.
“I can be talking to you right here and be fine,” he said, “and then five seconds from now, I’m writhing on the floor.”
Ken told ESPN that he tried to convince Mike, an expected starter at linebacker, to stay at Ohio State. Mike had other priorities.
“I said, ‘Mike, c’mon, we can get through this.’ But he said this was something he had to do. He said, ‘This is more important to me,’” Ken said.
Ken began having headaches in 2012 and currently documents each one. The worst was a four-month span when he “experienced 736 headaches.” He described the headaches as “having brain surgery without anesthesia.” Despite the debilitating pain, Mike says his dad keeps it to himself as to not be a burden to the family.
“He hasn’t told me much about it. He keeps to himself and doesn’t like to worry me. He keeps stuff to himself. He’s a real tough guy,” Mike said.
Despite the success at Ohio State, Mike, a five-star recruit in the 2013 class, doesn’t regret his decision to leave. He said he’s found a “niche” within the Texas Tech program and is ready to make an impact after redshirting at Ohio State and sitting out last season due to the NCAA’s transfer rules.
“I think I made the right decision. I’ve kind of found my niche. I’m in a good situation.”
For more Texas Tech news, visit RedRaiderSports.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
