LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – Having somehow found the strength to play the season opener on the day of his mother's death, Grand Rapids Rampage fullback/linebacker Travis Reece excelled and then went through the rest of the season with a heavy heart.

Because of his ability to play through such emotions, Reece is the winner of the inaugural AFLWA Al Lucas Courage Award.

Grand Rapids fullback/linebacker Travis Reece

The award is voted on by members of the Arena Football League Writers Association, and is named in honor or Lucas, a lineman for the Los Angeles Avengers who died as a result of spinal cord injury sustained this season in a game.

"For someone to even be brought up in the same sentence as As Lucas with what happened is a privilege and an honor to me," Reece said. "So it definitely means a lot."
Rampage coach Sparky McEwen said Reece is deserving of the award.

"Having the opportunity to have coached a player of Travis' character, integrity and passion for the game truly exemplifies what the Arena Football League is all about," McEwen said. "I am extremely proud that to have crossed the path of such an outstanding citizen and athlete. The courage that Travis exemplifies through his family crisis shows the type of young man that Mrs. Reece raised to become such a great man."

JoAnne Reece, who was ill because of heart complications during the week of the opener, died the morning of Jan. 28 due to congestive heart failure, the day the Rampage would host the Arizona Rattlers.

Travis Reece could have opted not to play, but instead took the field. He even scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, then kneeled in the end zone and pointed toward the sky.
"It just showed me that my mom was with me and would always will be," Reece said.

"Having a strong family, girlfriend, friends and coaches helped me get through something I've never been through in my life.

"It's the hardest thing I've ever dealt with in my life."

In fact, now it's even more difficult for Reece, who no longer has the distraction of the season.

"It hit me driving home from the end of the season that night," he said.

Reece finished the season with 63 yards and three touchdowns on 19 rushes. On defense, he totaled 24 tackles, five quarterback hurries, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.

The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, is a national organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League. Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the AFLWA's founder and executive director.