In the summer of 2009, Tommy "Blue" Blumette, Jr. worked out with his team, the University of the Cumberlands Football Patriots, and was ready to start what was going to be his junior season. He had never looked forward to something more. Patriot Head Football Coach John Bland said, "Being on this team is a major sacrifice. To some players, they believe it is their right to play, but to Tommy, it was an honor to play football. He was honored to be a Patriot." On April 18^th, 2009, Blumette Jr. played in the annual spring football game for the Patriots participating in his last days of collegiate football on the gridiron. 

Illness struck Tommy in August of 2007 and he was sent to the University of Kentucky (UK) hospital. His illness kept him from participating in football during the 2007 season, a goal which he had been waiting and preparing for. Tommy, however, was no stranger to sickness. In 2007, he was recruited by Cumberlands during his senior season at South Oldham High School where he started at the defensive nose guard position weighing 230 pounds and standing 5'11".   In preparing to attend college and play athletics, Blumette, Jr. found several obstacles staring him down when a slew of health problems were found. Dropping from 230 to 190 pounds in a matter of months, Tommy was redshirted in 2007 to allow him time to recover from his illnesses. Even with all these obstacles, Tommy was looking forward to attending Cumberlands.

After the whopping weight loss, Tommy went to several doctors in June of 2008. After numerous tests, the doctors discovered Tommy had numerous ulcers in his colon. Due to his family's deep Christian faith, his church and family prayed about what to do asking for God's guiding hand. According to Mark 16, "Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the message of God's good news to one and all. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Soon after the healing service, Tommy's ulcers began dissipating, something the doctors said would never happen. However, Tommy was still not strong enough to play collegiate football his freshman year, maintaining his redshirt status. 

Tommy's medical complications did not stop him from achieving his dream and being a part of a college football team at a place he knew was God's will for him to attend. He had played football since fifth grade and had an overwhelming character and drive to finish what he had set out to do no matter the obstacle. While in elementary school and living in Lake Jackson, Texas, Tommy helped lead his sixth grade team to win the Southern California State Championship in flag football. In seventh grade, his father, Thomas Blumette Sr., accepted a job in Tennessee to teach physical education at Fulton County High School. Blumette, Jr. had the privilege to play football under his father's guidance. 

It's safe to say that Tommy's life was all about football growing up. One of Tommy's best friends and former Cumberlands football player, Aaron Root, said, "Blue was a friend to every single person he met. He was very personable. "Blue used to tell me that he loved the game of football and everything about it."

After seeing a doctor in Louisville, Ky., Tommy began putting weight back on and was feeling much better and received clearance to play football during the summer of 2008. He reported to training camp in August with his weight back up to 195 pounds and was feeling better and had a good attitude. During 2008, Blumette, Jr. played on the junior varsity football team and played against the first team's offense while on the practice squad. As the season went on, he seemed to be getting better and his strength and endurance seemed to be improving as his bench press numbers had improved to 185 pounds and his squat was up to between 240 and 250 pounds at the end of the spring 2009 semester.

Current senior Patriot football player Brian "Butch" Abshire said, "We all loved Blue. He had such a huge heart! I really respected him in that aspect of his life because he always tried his best…even though he was always sick inside. I don't remember a time when he was upset or in a bad mood. He always had a great outlook on life."

During the summer of 2009, Tommy remained in Williamsburg enrolling in summer school classes to ensure his playing time on the gridiron that fall. However, illness struck again that summer and Tommy never played another down of football. He was admitted to UK Hospital in Lexington, Ky. due to what were then, unknown illnesses. Weak and having difficulty walking, the medication for his ulcers was stopped as new signs and symptoms developed. 

Toward the end of August, the doctors diagnosed Tommy with C.I.P.D. which stands for Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy which is basically a disease where the nerves in Tommy's body would eventually die. Tommy was then admitted to a hospital near his home in Cookeville, Tn. He was going through rigorous rehab with the physical therapists when he began to have colon problems again. His weight plummeted to 135 pounds as he was not able to hold down food or medication. 

Tommy's father decided to send his son back to UK Hospital on October 15^th. After a near death experience, the doctors worked hard to get their young patient stabilized. Tommy eventually, once again, was beginning to recover days after. By November 5^th, his weight was back up to 175 pounds and he was released from UK Hospital and sent to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital also in Lexington, Ky. Tommy continued to get stronger and right before Christmas on December 16^th, 2009, he was released from Cardinal Hill. His weight was up to 190 pounds and he could stand up from his wheelchair by himself for the first time in awhile.

Two months later, on the night of March 11, a blood clot formed in Tommy's leg and traveled to his heart, causing him to suffer a massive heart attack which led to his sudden death. He was only 21 years old.

Tommy's funeral took place at Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home on Sunday, March 14, 2010, almost a year after he had played in the 2009 spring football game. Many of Blumette Jr.'s teammates and coaches were there to pay their respects to their fallen comrade. 

Current Patriot football senior Sean Mounts said, "Tommy was a very, very kind-hearted person and would do anything for anyone, even if it was totally out of his way. He was a great friend and was truly a one of a kind angel sent to this earth. He impacted so many lives as well as my own." 

In the upcoming 2010 season, the Cumberlands Patriots football team will wear commemorative stickers in honor of Tommy, lovingly called "Blue" Blumette on their helmets. 

"Tommy has been liberated from taking all the medicines each and every day that he was on," said his father, Thomas Blumette, Sr. "He is now happy in his new body with no pain and suffering. He has a life with Jesus now and I know I will see him again someday."

The Tommy Blumette, Jr. fund to help pay for the medical bills and funeral costs has been established at First State Financial Bank in Williamsburg, Ky. Donations can be made to the bank directly or through University of the Cumberlands Assistant Patriot Football Coach Russ Shearer. Coach Shearer can be reached at 859-582-2363, 606-539-4148, or by email at russ.shearer@ucumberlands.edu. 

Article Provided by Megan Williamson, University of the Cumberlands Sports Information Student Assistant