MSU grants the wish of a young fan to become a Bulldog

STARKVILLE -- Tears built up in Dak Prescott's eyes. Mississippi State's quarterback was one of the last players to leave the football complex on Tuesday. Earlier in the day he met Campbell Dale, a five-year-old MSU fan battling cancer.

"What he's going through at such a young age, and seeing my mom handle it and the way he's handling it, visiting him with the little time I did, it's humbling," Prescott said. "It makes you respect and love life."

Dale's visit with Prescott was just one stop as the Madison native became a Bulldog for a day with the help of Batson Children's Hospital, the Make A Wish Foundation and Mississippi State.

Dale was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in early 2014.

The day began with a flight donated by Mississippi State alumni from the Jackson area to Starkville.

When Dale arrived on campus he became a three-sport athlete.

The five-year-old began his athletic career with Ben Howland and the MSU basketball team. Freshman Malik Newman gave the youngster a T-shirt and junior I.J. Ready handed him a ball. Dale led the team huddle after practice.

After basketball, Dale took batting practice at Dudy Noble Field and talked baseball with coaches John Cohen and Nick Mingione. Outside the cage, players snapped selfies with their newest teammate.

Dale's wish then led him across the dirt parking lot to Mississippi State's football complex. Prescott met him at the door with an autographed football. He also commented on Dale's No. 15 jersey.

Before taking the field, Dale relaxed in coach Dan Mullen's office with his twin sister Avery.They took a break from game film. Instead, the siblings watched Doc McStuffins on the Disney Channel.

The wish's finale took place at Davis Wade Stadium. When Dale finally took the field, MSU handed him a jersey with his name on it.

Dale sat in the locker room then rushed out of the locker room and onto the field with smoke spraying around him, just like the Bulldogs do every home game.

The wish isn't complete. He and his family will visit Disney World too. Former Mississippi State baseball players Wes Rea and Ross Mitchell brought Dale a video on Wednesday. It showed MSU’s baseball team announcing the trip to Florida.

Dale and his family flew back to Jackson Tuesday night. A tweet from Campbell Dale's account said, "What a great day! Our family made a lot of great memories today."

"I hope I made his day or helped in his family a little bit," Prescott said. "Maybe an hour or whatever it was, in his life and their life, I hope they were happier in that second. It was humbling."

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.