Super fan Belcher flies first class with Titans
NASHVILLE — Darrell Belcher received the first phone call a few days after the Tennessee Titans’ annual caravan stop in Chattanooga this past May. Someone in the organization had read about Belcher’s son Blake being first in line for the players’ autographs and wanted to learn more.
The 25-year-old who has dealt with both cerebral palsy and cancer had never had a chance to see his football heroes play in person. The Titans, especially coach Mike Mularkey and general manager Jon Robinson, were determined to change that.
“We’ve been in contact probably every week since then,” Darrell said.
On Saturday evening, with the Titans practicing in front of season-ticket holders at Nissan Stadium, that contact turned face-to-face, hand-to-hand, hug-to-hug. Darrell, Blake, Blake’s mom Misty Murphy, his stepmom Elizabeth Belcher and his brother Taylor were all guests of the franchise.
“I’m glad you’re all here,” Mularkey greeted the group not long after they arrived. “I’ve got some coaching meetings, but I’ll be back soon.”
By the time he returned 30 minutes later, his assistant, Kristen Sheft, and the organization’s Carly Mygrants were ushering the Belcher clan to meet-and-greets with quarterback Marcus Mariota, defensive lineman Jurrell Casey, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and a second chat with Mularkey.
“I think I’m going to cry,” Murphy said as Mariota shook Blake’s hand, posed for pictures with the group, signed a poster and a football, then said, “Have some fun today, OK?”
Then it was Casey’s turn to put his arm around Blake, sign the football and the poster and tell the Belchers, “Guys, thank you so much for coming out.”
When they next met Mularkey and Blake excitedly talked of his time with Mariota, the coach burst into a grin and exclaimed, “Holy cow! This is your lucky night.”
After the coach signed more items for Blake and posed for more pictures, he added, “Again, we’re so glad you’re here, and we’re going to try to put on a good show for you.”
And had it ended there, if the Belchers had been ushered to seats in the stands and been thanked for coming, the
night still would have been unforgettable for Blake, who when asked his favorite Titans player, emphatically answered, “All of them.”
But the fun was just beginning. The field passes the Belchers and Murphy were given before the workout were good for the entire practice, which meant Blake — dressed head-to-toe in Titans gear — could stand as close to the action as any coach or Titan not playing during the scrimmage segments.
When all the Titans walked to the stadium’s railings to sign autographs for the fans in the stands before practice began, Blake took the opportunity to collect the signatures of offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, running back Derrick Henry, defensive lineman Austin Johnson, wideout Corey Davis and former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga star Corey Levin — whom the Titans selected in the sixth round of April’s NFL draft — among others.
He also posed for pictures with the Titans cheerleaders and T-Rac, the team’s raccoon mascot. And when the 101st Airborne Division took the field for the national anthem, Blake was right there for that, too.
He even did a pretty fair dance step and karaoke effort to Bruno Mars’ smash hit “Uptown Funk” as it blared from the loudspeaker. Clearly, the Titans weren’t the only ones putting on a good show inside Nissan Stadium.
And somewhat amazingly, the Titans’ gift to Blake and his family isn’t yet done. On Saturday, Aug. 19, they’ll return to watch Tennessee’s exhibition game against the Carolina Panthers.
Of course, there aren’t many fans out there as passionate as Blake, who always wrote in the top right corner of his homework and tests at both Lake Forest Middle School and Polk County High School, “Go Titans.”
You wonder about fate and serendipity at times like this. Especially with Blake returning to Vanderbilt this week to find out if the cancer discovered this time last year is in complete remission. Had Elizabeth not made sure her stepson got to Academy Sports and Outdoors at Hamilton Place early enough that first Saturday in May to be the first in line, he might not have become the focal point of the newspaper item that caught the Titans’ attention.
But she did make sure. Just as Darrell somehow made sure to rise by 8:30 Saturday morning after not getting to bed until 2 1/2 hours earlier, after the conclusion of his work shift at Volkswagen. He’d promised the family a full day in Nashville, beginning with lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, and he was going to keep his promise.
Then, of course, there were the Titans, who, in Murphy’s words, “Have done everything imaginable to make this trip memorable.”
A single example: When Darrell called Sheft about Blake bringing a football to be signed, she told him, “Don’t worry about that. We’ve got a ball and a pen ready to go.”
As this dream come true unfolded around them, Elizabeth said, “This means the world to me to have Blake get to come here and have a good time. As much as he’s been through, he deserves this and more.”
Added Murphy, her eyes moist, “This is the biggest, best day of Blake’s life.”
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.