By: Justin Feil
As comebacks go, this one could be pretty special.
Jordan Culbreath, whose senior season was cut short last year by the discovery of potentially life-threatening aplastic anemia, has been cleared by doctors to return to the Princeton University football team. Culbreath reported with the rest of the Tigers for the start of preseason camp on Wednesday.
"Regardless of what he does between the lines this season," said first-year Princeton head coach Bob Surace, "he is already an inspiration to our entire program."
This could make two years in a row that Culbreath inspires the Tigers. Last year, his battle against aplastic anemia was a source of strength for the Tigers, and his return to the locker room late in the season was an emotional homecoming.
At the time, there was no thought given to his return this season. The priority was making sure that he would live as normal a life as possible.
"I am so excited to be back with my teammates and I am looking forward to preseason camp," said Culbreath in a statement. "I don’t know how everything will go, especially over these first few days, but I know I have missed the game and my teammates, and I can’t wait to get started."
There isn’t much precedent for what Culbreath is hoping to do, but aplastic anemia has touched the sports world many times before. Former U.S. National soccer queen Mia Hamm’s brother died from complications related to aplastic anemia. John D’Amico was a veteran NHL linesman. He was diagnosed with aplastic anemia after his retirement and fought a long battle with leukemia and cancer before passing away in 2005.
Culbreath can take strength from knowing that other athletes have come back. A Canadian diver, Tori Kennedy, was diagnosed with aplastic anemia as an incoming freshman at the University of Arkansas. She went through regular blood transfusions and medication while taking three years away from the sport. She returned to diving in 2007 after finding a matching blood marrow donor.
Culbreath is coming back less than one year after being diagnosed, and unlike the mentioned cases, he hasn’t had a marrow transplant. That means that he will still be taking medication and still undergoing blood transfusions until matching bone marrow can be found. Last year, the Princeton team organized a bone marrow drive to try to raise awareness about Culbreath’s plight.
Culbreath isn’t the type of person to back down from a challenge. He wasn’t even recruited to play at Princeton, but after walking on the team as a freshman, he burst onto the scene as a sophomore running back. As a junior, he led the Ivy League in rushing and most – even opposing coaches – didn’t discount that he’d do the same as a senior.
Then, two games into the 2009 season, Culbreath wasn’t feeling right and an ankle injury opened the door to a closer examination and the discovery of aplastic anemia. His season ended, and the story shifted to focusing on keeping him healthy.
Now, Culbreath is carving a new story and surely gathering a few more fans.
"I told him that he would join Steven Cody and Matt Zimmerman as a captain once again for the 2010 season," Surace said. "We don’t know what will happen on the field this year, but we became a better team when he brought his leadership and work ethic back into our locker room."
Culbreath’s presence alone is a boost. Princeton Football Association president Anthony DiTommaso has been quoted as saying that "every yard we get from Jordan is a miracle." The Tigers aren’t counting on getting even one yard, but they are thrilled to see Culbreath back with the team.
"We are going to take this one day at a time, one drill at a time," Surace said. "We have no idea how he will feel after one practice, or after a full week of practices. Jordan has worked exceptionally hard to earn this opportunity, but we’ll be monitoring him closely through camp and the season."

