Dametrius ‘Meechie’ Walker, beloved Michigan football fan, dies from bone cancer

Dametrius “Meechie” Walker, a die-hard fan of the University of Michigan football team, died Friday after a two-year battle with bone cancer.

>> Read more trending news

Walker was a three-sport star at Muskegon High School and had received several offers from Division I programs, including Kentucky and Michigan State, WDIV-TV reported. At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Walker excelled as a defensive lineman.

But in November 2020, the teen began having knee pain and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, according to MLive.

Walker required a full knee replacement to remove a tumor and spent nine months undergoing chemotherapy treatments, WDIV reported. But in September 2021 he was told cancer had returned and his left leg was amputated.

Muskegon High School tweeted about Walker’s death on Friday morning.

“It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we share that Dametrius ‘Meechie’ Walker has passed away after a courageous fight with osteosarcoma,” the team wrote. “Thank you all for your support. Please continue to send prayers and positive vibes to his family during this time.”

Walker, who had dreamed of playing at Michigan, became an honorary member of the team.

Doctors reached out to Michigan football -- a team Meechie had dreamed of playing for during his high school career.

Walker did realize his dream to score a touchdown at the Big House -- Michigan Stadium.

Word about Walker’s condition reached Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, and the team invited the former high school player to practice on Aug. 13, 2022, ESPN reported.

Harbaugh called a play at the end of practice that allowed Walker to take a handoff, and Harbaugh pushed the player’s wheelchair across the goal line on a rainy day to fulfill a lifelong dream.

“Meechie was hurting so bad that day,” Walker’s mother, Leona Bell, told ESPN. “His whole body was just in excruciating pain and he just smiled like nothing ever happened. Like he wasn’t even in pain.”

Bell called the experience the miracle of Michigan, saying that his visit to the university was a positive jolt.

Walker received a signed Michigan football team and a standing ovation from the crowd during a Sept. 24 game against Maryland, MLive reported.

The team dedicated the win over the Terrapins to Walker and gave him the game ball after the Wolverines’ 34-27 victory.

Several weeks later, Walker was in attendance again at the Big House when the Michigan band spelled out “Meechie” across its usual “Block M” formation, according to MLive.

Walker received a game ball from Harbaugh after the Wolverines defeated No. 10 Penn State, 41-17, according to the news organization.

Punter Brad Robbins tweeted, “Love you Meechie,” with a statement about the loss of his friend.

“We lost a true embodiment of what it means to be a Michigan Man. Meechie and I texted weekly about his experience and outlook on life,” Robbins wrote. “Whenever he was in our facility and around our team, he was so positive and always had a huge smile on his face.”

©2022 Cox Media Group