Syracuse QB free of cancer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Rex Culpepper is back. The smile on his face said it all.
The redshirt sophomore quarterback had his first full workout with Syracuse on Friday after overcoming testicular cancer. He said he broke down and cried when he was told he was cancer-free a week ago at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.
“When they took my IV out, it was magical,” Culpepper said. “To finally walk out of there, I couldn’t put it into words. I can’t even describe the euphoria.”
Culpepper was diagnosed after returning from spring break. In between cancer treatments and playing with a bald head under his helmet as evidence of the struggle, he tossed a touchdown pass to end the Orange’s spring scrimmage in mid-April and was mobbed by his teammates. He then continued with 100 hours of chemotherapy treatments.
“I’m appreciative of the small things in life and how we might take them for granted,” Culpepper said.