Mack Brown announces North Carolina is dedicating Georgia Tech crab game to Tylee Craft

With their cancer awareness game taking place this weekend, Mack Brown and the Tar Heels have members of their team to dedicate to.

Brown made the announcement on Monday North Carolina would dedicate this to Tylee Craft, a fifth-year member of their program who has been battling lung cancer for two and a half years. However, they are not sure whether he will take part in the duel Georgia Tech on Saturday due to his hospitalization last weekend.

“Let me start by saying this is Cancer Awareness Week for our game. “We dedicate the game to Tylee Craft,” Brown said. “We are not sure if he can come. We hope he will feel better by then.”

Craft appeared in 11 games at wide receiver and on special teams for North Carolina in his first two seasons. However, he missed the final two due to a diagnosis of rare stage four lung cancer. Craft has since retired for health reasons to work as a student coach at UNC.

As for the rest of their memorial events this weekend, Brown said the Tar Heels will select people who have been diagnosed with cancer to honor them. They will also be wearing T-shirts that he wore with his number and the words “Tylee Strong.”

“Each of the players chooses someone in their life who has been affected, affected by cancer or has a family. They’re going to dedicate the week to them,” Brown said. “Pray for Tylee again. I'll be wearing his shirt all week. We will be wearing t-shirts in his honor at the Bell Tower Walk on Saturday.”

Brown also asked his fans to think about the Crafts in the coming days. They will all then do their part to support him and his family as he continues his ongoing battle against neuroendocrine cell carcinoma.

“I appreciate all thoughts and prayers. The GoFundMe set up to help the family? People have really excelled and done great things in this area,” Brown said. “Please keep Tylee and his mother September in your thoughts and prayers. Please continue to support the GoFundMe program as it is so expensive for sick people.”

“This is a big week to pick him up and try to help him along.”