Aug 13, 2026 · 0 min · 8 segments
In this episode, host Cleon Wall takes you through two more inspiring stories from Big Stories Season 3 on BYUtv. First, meet Graham Harrell — Texas Tech legend and Ring of Honor inductee. Beyond his…
Now, if you know anything about Red Raider football or paid attention to college football games in the mid-2000s, you're going to know the name Graham Harrell.
Think about how last year's team meant so much to Texas Tech fans, and you will know how much they loved Graham and the Red Raiders squad in 2008.
However, despite all of the accolades and accomplishments Graham has received from his time at Texas Tech, he feels that it's only one piece of his story.
Because Graham didn't just see success on the field, he saw opportunities and experiences that he knew were bigger than himself.
My eyesight started leaving me when I get hot, and so I went to a specialist, and that guy told me I had multiple sclerosis.
I
didn't really know anything that was going on.
So for me, it was an incredible five years or four years that I was here and three years that I played.
And Dad was going through some really tough times that we didn't even know about.
Raised enough money and sent him to Panama to get stem cell treatments done.
I went to Panama the first time in 2010.
And the first two times, I didn't see any change.
And I thought, well, I'm going to go a third time and see.
And for whatever reason, I became what I would say is just symptom-free and pretty normal for probably eight or nine years.
It gave us our dad
back, but, you know, the people that may benefit the most are the young guys that he got to coaching in.
Those stem cell treatments have allowed Sam Harrell to feel much better and spend more time around his family and also some of the high school football players he coached.
Graham also trusted God through his playing days and into his chosen profession of coaching college football.
Coaching gave him many opportunities to be involved in the game he loved, but it also resulted in the constant upheaval of his family's life.
Then he got fired from his job as Purdue's offensive coordinator, but he and his wife saw this as a blessing.
Graham ended up getting a job as Abilene Christian University's offensive coordinator.
In Coach Harrell's first year at the school, the Wildcats made it to the FCS playoffs, losing in the second round.
Now, if you know anything about Red Raider football or paid attention to college football games in the mid-2000s, you're going to know the name Graham Harrell.
Think about how last year's team meant so much to Texas Tech fans, and you will know how much they loved Graham and the Red Raiders squad in 2008.
However, despite all of the accolades and accomplishments Graham has received from his time at Texas Tech, he feels that it's only one piece of his story.
Because Graham didn't just see success on the field, he saw opportunities and experiences that he knew were bigger than himself.
My eyesight started leaving me when I get hot, and so I went to a specialist, and that guy told me I had multiple sclerosis.
I
didn't really know anything that was going on.
So for me, it was an incredible five years or four years that I was here and three years that I played.
And Dad was going through some really tough times that we didn't even know about.
Raised enough money and sent him to Panama to get stem cell treatments done.
I went to Panama the first time in 2010.
And the first two times, I didn't see any change.
And I thought, well, I'm going to go a third time and see.
And for whatever reason, I became what I would say is just symptom-free and pretty normal for probably eight or nine years.
It gave us our dad
back, but, you know, the people that may benefit the most are the young guys that he got to coaching in.
Those stem cell treatments have allowed Sam Harrell to feel much better and spend more time around his family and also some of the high school football players he coached.
Graham also trusted God through his playing days and into his chosen profession of coaching college football.
Coaching gave him many opportunities to be involved in the game he loved, but it also resulted in the constant upheaval of his family's life.
Then he got fired from his job as Purdue's offensive coordinator, but he and his wife saw this as a blessing.
Graham ended up getting a job as Abilene Christian University's offensive coordinator.
In Coach Harrell's first year at the school, the Wildcats made it to the FCS playoffs, losing in the second round.
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2 of 2
From Rejection to Leadership
His painful past ultimately became profound empathy
The Treatment That Changed Everything
A devastating diagnosis transformed their entire family
1 min 56 sec of audio in all
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