This Saturday at Bison Stadium in Bethany, W.Va., Brett Phillips will win. Maybe or maybe not on the scoreboard in his team’s season opener against Allegheny, but a victory he still shall have.
The first-year quarterback and 2023 graduate of Wheeling Park High School, see, has been chasing physical stability for longer than even he knows. Crohn’s Disease and colitis haunted him during his high school days just as it does one in every 100 Americans, and it’s buckled him, secluded him, grounded him, and it’s scared him, too.
Crohn’s is an inflammatory bowel disease and until an individual is diagnosed, prescribed medications, and then adapts to a different diet, their guts will twist, throb, bloat, cramp, punch, and hurt a person to tears. It causes diarrhea and frequent trips to the nearest restroom, and the disease doesn’t care if you’re watching a movie or marching the Park Patriots’ offense down a football field on Wheeling Island.
Ya gotta go, ya gotta go whether you’re on a bus heading to an away game or if it’s third-and-one on the six-yard line.
Nature calls.
Despite his everyday battle against the disease, Phillips, a multi-sport standout in high school and one of three Phillips sons (Zach, 29, and Nate, 24), completed 326 passes in 541 attempts for 4,906 yards and 52 touchdowns in 26 games for Wheeling Park. He signed with Frostburg State but was struggling with his health when he reported. Brett returned home to his family after just three weeks in Maryland, but that Phillips family sure came to his rescue.
His father, Keith, contacted Crohn’s specialist Dr. David Rubin at the University of Chicago, who actually (and miraculously) consulted on Brett’s case. Keith also touched base with Kelly Bryant, a former Clemson and Missouri quarterback whose played a few pro seasons in Canada despite digestive issues that’s required mayor surgery. He’s helped Brett, as well.
And his mother, Terry, mastered diet after diet for her son so, following a semester of classes at West Liberty University, Phillips could transfer to Bethany College in time for the Spring Semester of 2024. In August, he reported to preseason camp, and head coach Brandon Robinson has named him QB1 for Game One against the Gators.
Allegheny will be Brett’s first “real” on-field opponent since he guided the W.Va. North All-Stars over the South All-Stars 23-10 at South Charleston’s Black Eagle Stadium in June 2023. Phillips was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, and now, finally – FINALLY! – he’ll return to live action this weekend for the first time in more than a year.
“I came to Bethany,” the young man said, “because I believe I can do something special here.”
That’s why, this Saturday at Bison Stadium in Bethany, W.Va., Brett Phillips will win.
How have you prepared differently for this season than you did at Wheeling Park?
Preparing for this season at Bethany has had some similarities, as well as some differences to my time at Park. One major difference being the game itself. Playing at any college level will provide new challenges that you have to prepare for. The game gets a little more complex, and the teams you go against are more talented.
Preparation is a big key to being successful at this level. Breaking down film, learning the playbook, and learning about the other team will all factor into whether we will achieve success or not.
What’s your secret to being a successful double-threat quarterback?
I think the biggest secret to being successful is staying healthy. In order to run the way I do, I have to take great care of my body. The season is long, and in order to maintain my ability to be a threat on the ground, I have to make sure I am always feeling my best.
To make this happen I do a variety of different things, including taking ice baths, stretching, flexibility/mobility work, and eat a good diet.
What are the keys to keeping a healthy balance while a student/athlete with Crohn’s Disease?
The disease provides a numerous set of challenges. However, one of the biggest challenges is managing your diet. There are certain things that I can eat and that I cannot eat. It is all about learning what is best for your body in order to keep it healthy.
I also make sure taking my Humira injection once a week is also a top priority, and another major factor is keeping stress levels down. As a college quarterback, I can be exposed to stress in a variety of majors, and that’s why it’s important to have good stress relief methods.
My stress relief is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My faith is something that I have relied on during hard times, however, Crohn’s made me truly understand my religious calling.
What’s the best advice your father – “Coach Phillips” – has ever given you?
He’s always told me to have confidence in myself. I always play my best when I believe in myself, my ability, and in the hard work that I have put in. There truly is a difference when I play or practice with confidence compared to when I don’t.
In addition, when you play with confidence, the game becomes more fun. When you play with confidence, and when you have fun while playing, your game excels to a new level.
This is some of the best advice that he has given me, and it is something that I tell to my teammates.
Why is Bethany your best choice?
I originally signed with Frostburg State University to play football. However, I had a Crohn’s flare-up and had to return home to seek treatment.
I then proceeded to take a year off in order to get healthy. The time away from the game made me realize how much I love the game, and this led to Bethany College.
Bethany was the best choice for me because of a variety of reasons. The first is that I am close to my friends and family. It is very important to me to be close to the people that I love, and playing at Bethany gives me the opportunity to see my family, and they can also come to my games.
Also, the coaching staff at Bethany truly led me to the school. Coach Robinson is a great coach and a better man. He is someone I truly look up to, and I am excited for our future. Plus, Coach Desanti also played a big part in my decision to come to Bethany. He brings a lot of experience to the table, and I enjoy being coached by him.
These two coaches already have played a big part in my Bethany football career.
