UCLA’s matchup with Colorado on Saturday couldn’t be better timed as far as Buffaloes coach Mike MacIntyre is concerned. It falls on the same weekend as San Jose State’s game at Navy, creating a confluence of the four teams with strong ties to Houston Texans second-year offensive lineman David Quessenberry.
Quessenberry, who was diagnosed with lymphoma over the summer, will be honored when all four teams wear stickers with his initials on their helmets, including Quessenberry’s two younger brothers.
UCLA starting right guard Scott Quessenberry and Navy defensive end Paul Quessenberry are just two of the people involved in the pair of games that have relationships with the 24-year-old David. MacIntyre, in his second season at Colorado, was the head coach at San Jose State when David Quessenberry arrived as a walk-on tight end before transforming into a 2013 sixth-round draft pick.
“Best leader I’ve ever been around as a coach or as a player,” MacIntyre said of David earlier this week. “He’s in his seventh round of chemo. He’s got a long fight ahead of him, but if anybody can beat it, David can.”
The cancer was discovered after David experienced coughing and fatigue during a Texans OTA practice in early June. Tests revealed fluid in his lungs and he was eventually diagnosed with non-Hodgkin T Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, a form of the most common blood cancer.
Scott, the youngest of the Quessenberry brothers, graduated La Costa Canyon High School five years after David and two years after Paul. Scott started six of the last seven games for UCLA as a true freshman last season and David is a senior starter on Navy’s defensive line.
Much of MacIntyre’s coaching staff at Colorado, including offensive line coach Gary Bernardi, mentored David at San Jose State.
During Colorado’s bye week prior to facing USC Oct. 18, MacIntyre noticed the fortuitous schedule of all four teams and began discussions to honor his former player.
“I called all the coaches about it,” MacIntyre said, “and they were all excited about it. All of them wanted to do something. All of them are into it. All of them believe in it and understand the battle ahead for him, not just for DQ, but to kind of get the word out there about this.”