MINNEAPOLIS — Just before Saturday's rivalry game against Iowa, the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team received incredible news.
Rochester John Marshall graduate Mike Sherels was reinstated just before the game, and he rejoined the Gophers coaching staff full time for the first time since a health scare that nearly cost him his life.
Sherels was first hospitalized in August, and he wound up in critical condition. He had multiple surgeries for a life-threatening intestinal illness. But after some touch-and-go moments, Sherels pulled through. He eventually returned home and gradually worked his way back to health before rejoining the program on a limited basis in September.
For the first time since his health scare, Sherels was on the sideline Saturday against Iowa. He was fully reinstated as linebackers coach just prior to kickoff. Keith Jordan, who is a special teams assistant, served as acting linebackers coach while Sherels was out.
Sherels is in his third season as the Gophers linebackers coach. The former Rockets standout played for the Gophers from 2003-07. He was the team's captain both his junior and senior seasons.
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Sherels is the only player in Gophers history to join the team as a walk-on and go on to become a two-year captain.
The Rochester native also is a key cog in the Gophers recruiting process, particularly at home in the state of Minnesota.
While Saturday's game didn't go Minnesota's way — the Gophers suffered an ugly 14-7 loss to the Hawkeyes — players were overjoyed to see coach Sherels back on the sidelines.
"It was an awesome feeling," Gophers linebacker Jon Celestin said of having Sherels back on the sideline. "Throughout this whole process, to come back to the sidelines and see him was amazing because he lives and dies for the game of football."
