Huskers Host #AveryStrong Day Saturday Afternoon

Video: Avery Joins 'Bud' Shavon at Press Conference

Randy York's N-Sider

Some say a smile increases everyone's face value, and it's no coincidence that most smiles start another smile. Personally, I like Andy Rooney's take on smiles. The one-time 60 Minutes' pundit insists that if you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it, and let the record show that every time Avery Harriman smiles, 6-foot-7 big buddy Shavon Shields smiles, too.

So does the rest of Nebraska's men's basketball team, its coaches and Big Red fans. Everyone smiled when Avery, a 7-year-old, two-time bone marrow transplant recipient, sat next to Shields in the postgame press conference earlier this month and “broke down” Nebraska's 53-43 win over Illinois. Cheryl Harriman, wife of Nebraska assistant coach Chris Harriman and Avery's hard-working, warm-hearted mom, tweeted happy tears & a big exhale when she learned Avery was in remission with no evidence of leukemia. For everyone who follows the inspiring #AveryStrong story, life has become a mirror and when Husker Nation smiles, one size truly fits all. Michigan State visits Nebraska Saturday for a 3 p.m. tipoff at Pinnacle Bank Arena, four days after Nebraska celebrated a 52-49 home-court win over Minnesota.

Saturday's game is part of the National Association of Basketball Coaches Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week, teaming college basketball programs with American Cancer volunteers. To honor Avery and others fighting pediatric cancer, the first 1,500 students through PBA's doors will receive a special #AveryStrong shirt from the Husker Sports Radio Network, and they won't be the only ones turning the Red Zone gold on this special day.

Who'll Be in NU's Student Section Saturday? Mike Riley for One!

Joining them will be Mike Riley, above, Nebraska's new head football coach who will spend the first half of Saturday's Michigan State game in NU's student section. Riley and his entire staff will be introduced during a halftime that puts the spotlight on fighting cancer and how fans can take a cheek swab at the game or go online to become a potential bone marrow donor. After halftime, Riley will rejoin football recruits making weekend visits to Lincoln. Four more Husker head coaches also will change seats and sit in the student section – baseball's Darin Erstad, softball's Rhonda Revelle, plus women's golf coach Robin Krapfl and rifle coach Ashley Rose. Three Husker administrators also will change seats and sit with the students – director of athletics Shawn Eichorst, executive associate athletic director Marc Boehm, who oversees basketball, and Dave Witty, Nebraska's new senior associate athletic director for marketing and communications.

Shavon and Avery have bonded in a unique way, and their smiles are mutually reinforced. “When you're going through a life-threatening illness, it's not only tough on the patient, it's tough on the whole family,” Shields said this week before adding that the Harriman family has the community of Lincoln and the state of Nebraska firmly behind them.

“I think that really helps the family get through tough times,” Shields said. “Avery can say that he really looks up to me, but in reality, I look up to him. I mean, he's been through more in his short life than I have. I'm three times older than he is, and he's been through way more.” A co-captain and biological sciences major, Shields can't help but smile when he explains how Avery motivates him. “Just the way he goes throughout his day, being positive and being happy,” Shields acknowledged. “Me personally, I've learned a lot from Avery. Every once in a while, you need a reminder. He can come and wake up everybody with a great attitude. He puts a smile on people's faces.”

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