Senior night is a tradition in college football. Graduating athletes run from the tunnel onto the field in front of their fans for the final time in their careers, sharing the moment with their family.
For one athlete at Michigan State, however, the day was made special in a unique way.
Former West Mesquite standout Josh Butler took the field on Saturday with his two dogs, Roxy and Remi, by his side. The crowd roared as the three entered Spartan Stadium:
Josh Butler, in Spartan Stadium for the last time. pic.twitter.com/WE18LkBcl4
— David Harns (@DavidHarns) November 30, 2019
The senior cornerback lost both of his parents while in college.
Hours before Butler was set to play a game against Penn State in November of 2017, his father Steven died of a heart attack. Less than a year and a half later, in April of 2019, his mother Ladrida Bagley died after a battle with Stage 4 breast cancer.
According to Butler on the dogs’ Instagram story, where he’s been answering questions ever since Saturday, Roxy and Remi were given to him by a friend who he sees as a brother.
Butler raised the boxer-pitbull mixes since they were bottle fed as puppies. Roxy and Remi’s Instagram account is active with regular posts about their life, including one from senior night:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5g_7gkDKEi/?igshid=yjqnul3114z0
Butler graduated with his undergraduate degree in December of 2018 and will receive his Master’s in media and information later this month.
