Redshirt junior defensive back Robert Nelson gave his pink gloves from his first interception against Colorado to his mother, Carlene, in honor of her struggle to defeat breast cancer. (Photo courtesy of Robert Nelson)ASU junior cornerback Robert Nelson is usually one of the first players to approach the equipment manager during the week. He has to make sure he’s got the right accessories for the upcoming game.
Maroon headband. Check.
White sleeves. Check.
White towel. Check.
But last week against Colorado, he was thinking pink for his mother, Carlene Gray.
Nelson witnessed one of his biggest inspirations stand toe-to-toe with breast cancer and knock out the disease. So he dedicated his biggest play as a Sun Devil to his mother, who motivates Nelson while he’s 2,100 miles away from home.
Gray was diagnosed with breast cancer during Nelson’s freshman year at Louisiana-Monroe, where he spent his first two seasons. He played in eight games as a true freshman, and even a month as a point guard on the basketball team, but all he could think about was his mother.
“I didn’t know what to do when that happened to my mom,” Nelson said. “That’s my right hand right there. I wanted to go back and take care of her. That’s my heart right there.”
It was his first time away from the comfort of his family. While he grew up in Lakeland, Fla., Nelson went to North Gwinnett High in Georgia. Gray thought her son would have a better opportunity if he lived with his aunt.
Nelson contemplated transferring closer to home, but Gray would not allow him. She told Nelson to stay in school, get his education and keep God in his life.
“It took a toll on me where I was getting to a point in my life where I didn’t want to play this sport that I’ve been playing since I was four years old,” Nelson said. “I never felt like that, and it hurt me that my mind was put in a state where I didn’t want to play no more and go provide for my mom.”
Nelson said his mother kept a positive attitude throughout her treatment that made him work harder toward accomplishing his ultimate goal — providing for her.
“It’s tough knowing your family member has breast cancer or any type of sickness that could lead to death,” junior safety Alden Darby said, whose aunt passed away from breast cancer two years ago. “It’s tough knowing that you have that in the back of your mind, and that there’s still things in your life that you haven’t accomplished that you want that person to see.”
Both Nelson and Gray took monumental steps two years ago. Gray completed her treatment and has since been breast cancer-free. Nelson transferred to ASU after his sophomore season under former coach Dennis Erickson.
“I’m cured now and I thank God,” Gray said.
She respectfully declined to speak about her battle with breast cancer.
Due to transfer rules, Nelson had to sit out last season. It was the same year the NCAA allowed players to wear colored gloves, including pink during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
“I never got a chance to wear pink to actually represent the mothers with breast cancer,” Nelson said. “I’m just glad to be in a program where we have an opportunity to wear pink and represent everyone who has had breast cancer.”
The team laced up in pink gloves and wristbands against Colorado last week, but Nelson won’t get his pair of gloves back. He gave his gloves to his mother that happen to be the same pair he used to collect his first interception as a Sun Devil.
“We have people obviously with their families fighting breast cancer and we’ve had people who’ve lost people to breast cancer,” coach Todd Graham said. “I just thought it was important to our players.”
The Sun Devils defensive line pressured Colorado junior quarterback Jordan Webb out of the pocket as he underthrew his receiver in the fourth quarter.
It was exactly what Nelson wanted him to do.
“I kind of baited the wide receiver and the quarterback so he could throw the ball,” Nelson said. “(The defensive line) got some pressure on him, so he could throw the ball and he threw a bad ball. I just broke on it. I tried to take it to the house but my legs died out.”
Gray watched on from her living room as her son made the play. She hasn’t had the financial means to watch Nelson in-person as a student-athlete, but she’s been able to watch Nelson on television because of ASU’s nationally scheduled games.
“It was very exciting,” Gray said. “It was very exciting for me.”
Nelson is very private when it comes to his personal life. He said he never told his teammates his mother had breast cancer, but he expressed his emotions through social media after the game.
“First Interception gloves at #asufootball these for my mother Carlene Gray for beating her breast cancer lov (sic),” Nelson posted on Instagram with a photo of his pink gloves.
The moment brought back memories of Gray battling cancer, but the play gave him the confidence he lacked at ASU.
“At Monroe, I was a starter and I’m not used to backing someone up,” Nelson said. “It’s just with me, it’s a confidence thing. I felt like I wasn’t good enough to start this year. I felt like I wasn’t prepared. That just brought back a lot confidence in my head and a lot of room for improvement. It just made me want to work harder everyday to compete with these guys.”
Graham said Nelson has had an incredible week of practice leading up to Oregon. The interception reassured Nelson could make plays at the Pac-12 level
“I think it was great for him and I think he built upon that this whole week,” junior cornerback Osahon Irabor said. “He worked hard and came out and practiced hard, practiced smart and played smart. Like coach Graham always says, he likes smart players on defense. He had a great week of preparation and I think his confidence is sky high right now.”
Nelson will be on the field in nickel-and-dime packages against a fast Oregon defense. He’s also prepared to fill in for Irabor or senior cornerback Deveron Carr at boundary and field positions when they need a break.
Nelson’s mother will be watching 2,100 miles away.
Reach the reporter at mtesfats@asu.edu
