Austin Woods lives his fortune
He didn’t know it was lucky when he first put it there on July 1.
Offensive lineman Bronson Irwin and former offensive lineman Brian Lepak, along with Woods, went to the Asian Buffet in Norman near 12th Street and received their customary fortune cookie at the end of the meal.
Woods read his fortune, calculated the date in his head and tucked it away.
His fortune read: “Remember three months from this date good things are in store for you.”
Since the spring game,Oklahoma’s back-up right guard battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He went through chemotherapy treatments throughout the summer, preseason and once school started. He missed one or two practices during the preseason because of treatment. He missed a couple more during season for the same reason.
Woods knew back in July that if everything stayed on track and his scans continued to come back excellent, he would end his chemotherapy around the start of October, but he still had many treatments to go.
In order to raise awareness, the offensive line stepped up in support of Woods. Fellow lineman Gabe Ikard created jersey-like tank tops. On the front it said “Beat Cancer.” The back had No. 50. Fans and teammates began to tweet at and about Woods using the hashtag #BeatCancer. At one point, the entire offensive line even shaved their heads.
The outpouring of emotion, Woods said, made it easier to get through the treatments.
On Oct. 2, the 6-foot-4, 293 pound lineman walked into the meeting room to speak with the media. He was smiling.
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