CougCenter - Steve Gleason fights on against ALSWhy Washington State? Well that's a stupid question.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47853/fave.png2014-12-22T20:46:03-08:00http://www.cougcenter.com/rss/stream/37001252014-12-22T20:46:03-08:002014-12-22T20:46:03-08:00Behold, the most violent hit of Steve Gleason's WSU career<iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/OXP7z5jHQBh/embed/simple" width="480" height="480"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Behold: The most violent hit I have ever seen in person. Before Steve Gleason was a special teams ace for the New Orleans Saints, he was a special teams ace for a mediocre WSU team in 1996. We went bananas in the student section after the hit, until we realized that Gleason might actually have killed this guy. The highlight was embedded within WSU's production of <a href="http://pac-12.com/videos/washington-state-football-steve-gleason-pregame-speech" target="new">Gleason's pregame speech from the Apple Cup.</a> (If you want a GIF for posterity, <a href="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2872948/Gleason-Kickoff-Hit2.0.gif" target="new">here you go</a>.)</p></p></div>
https://www.cougcenter.com/2014/12/22/7439383/behold-the-most-violent-hit-of-steve-gleasons-wsu-careerJeff Nusser2014-11-25T09:00:03-08:002014-11-25T09:00:03-08:00Steve Gleason will enter WSU HOF during Apple Cup
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<p>The former WSU football and baseball player - and current ALS sufferer and advocate - will be the lone 2014 inductee during an on-field ceremony.</p> <p>WSU announced <a href="http://www.cougcenter.com/wsu-cougars-football/2014/8/1/5958295/steve-gleason-wsu-cougars-hall-of-fame" target="_blank">back in August</a> that former football player <span>Steve Gleason</span> would be the lone 2014 inductee into the school's athletic hall of fame, and now we know when it will happen: During the Apple Cup.</p>
<p>Never before has a WSU hall of fame class consisted of just one member, but it seems a fitting honor for a man who has been such a superlative representative of the university, first as a football and baseball player (from 1995-99), then as a professional athlete (from 2000-2007 with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a>), and finally <a href="http://www.cougcenter.com/2013/1/30/3936084/steve-gleason-als-amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis" target="_blank">as an ALS patient</a> (diagnosed in 2011) who has raised untold awareness and dollars to fight the disease that afflicts him.</p>
<p>What the actual on-field ceremony will look like is anyone's guess, but as many on Twitter have suggested, it would be a wonderful gesture for athletics director Bill Moos to announce that he will be lending Gleason's name to something related to the field or the new Cougar Football Complex.</p>
<p>We do know one thing: It likely will be awfully dusty in Martin Stadium when Gleason gets the recognition he so richly deserves. Even Huskies will be giving him his due.</p>
<p>Oh, and by the way: The last time Gleason visited WSU in an official capacity, in 2011, he gave a pregame speech to the team. The game? WSU's stunning upset of Arizona State, in which Paul Wulff bypassed <span>Connor Halliday</span> -- who had just thrown for 494 yards -- <a href="http://www.cougcenter.com/2011/11/13/2558179/wsu-vs-arizona-state-steve-gleason-game-ball" target="_blank">to give Gleason the game ball</a>.</p>
<p>Maybe Gleason can bring some more of that voodoo magic with him from New Orleans on Saturday to spur on Ol' Wazzu.</p>
<p>Go Cougs.</p>
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<p>We will honor Steve Gleason (<a href="https://twitter.com/TeamGleason">@TeamGleason</a>) on-field during next week's Apple Cup! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoWhiteFlags?src=hash">#NoWhiteFlags</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoCougs?src=hash">#GoCougs</a> <a href="http://t.co/FjWh86nlSs">pic.twitter.com/FjWh86nlSs</a></p>
— WSU Cougars (@WSUCougars) <a href="https://twitter.com/WSUCougars/status/535500434690285568">November 20, 2014</a>
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https://www.cougcenter.com/2014/11/25/7279615/apple-cup-2014-steve-gleason-wsu-hall-of-fameJeff Nusser2014-05-19T15:00:08-07:002014-05-19T15:00:08-07:00Gleason asks for 'focus on healing' before surgery
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<figcaption>John David Mercer-USA TODAY Spor</figcaption>
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<p>The former WSU football star continues to battle ALS, prompting him to send out a rare request for support.</p> <p>Throughout his public battle with ALS, former WSU football star <span>Steve Gleason</span> has been a bastion of strength, refusing to fade away as many of those afflicted with the disease do.</p>
<p>One thing he doesn't generally do is ask for help, unless it's to support <a href="http://www.teamgleason.org/about/" target="_blank">Team Gleason</a> in its efforts to fulfill its mission to provide cutting-edge technology for suffers of neuromuscular afflictions and research for a cure. But that's exactly what Gleason is doing today as he heads in for surgery:</p>
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<p>Weve lived this <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ALS&src=hash">#ALS</a> journey publicly, no reason to stop now. I am heading in for a semi-planned tracheotomy tonight. Tweet u later -SG <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NWF&src=hash">#NWF</a></p>
— steve gleason (@TeamGleason) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamGleason/statuses/468475469546143744">May 19, 2014</a>
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<p>I believe in the power of intention, prayer, meditation, etc. I appreciate your unified focus on healing. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NoWhiteFlags&src=hash">#NoWhiteFlags</a> -SG</p>
— steve gleason (@TeamGleason) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamGleason/statuses/468475782218928130">May 19, 2014</a>
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<p>I'm not a doctor, so I'll keep any speculation about what this might mean for his condition to myself and simply do what he's asked: Pray for healing.</p>
<p>And whatever God/god/gods/no god at all you believe in, I'd encourage you to do the same.</p>
<p>No White Flags.</p>
<p>Go Cougs.</p>
<p><strong>EDIT: </strong>We can try to pick apart the banana tree metaphor, but I'll just leave it at "seems as if things went OK."</p>
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<p>I am persistent like a banana tree. Cut me down, and I will be back before you know it. -SG <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23nowhiteflags&src=hash">#nowhiteflags</a></p>
— steve gleason (@TeamGleason) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamGleason/statuses/468594301698834432">May 20, 2014</a>
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https://www.cougcenter.com/2014/5/19/5732094/steve-gleason-heads-in-for-surgery-asks-for-unified-focus-on-healingJeff Nusser2014-02-27T12:00:01-08:002014-02-27T12:00:01-08:00WSU collaborates with Team Gleason on software
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<figcaption>John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A group of Cougs is working together with Team Gleason to improve communication through predictive eye-tracking software for typing and text-to-speech.</p> <p><span>Steve Gleason</span> has inspired a lot of people through his fight against <span>amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and that includes a professor and group of students at WSU who are developing predictive eye-tracking software that they one day hope to release as an open-source and, most importantly, free alternative to the costly options available today.</span></p>
<p>WSU computer sciences professor Dave Bakken (a Coug himself, class of 1985) and his team of seniors -- <a href="http://wsm.wsu.edu/s/index.php?id=1097">profiled in this month's Washington State Magazine</a> -- are working together with <a href="http://www.teamgleason.org/">Team Gleason</a>, the former football player's foundation that is "deeply committed to helping people with ALS live productive, inspired lives by providing access to life-affirming events and assistive technology until a cure is found."</p>
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<p>Currently, the assistive technology that allows ALS sufferers to use their eyes to communicate is both slow and expensive. For example, the technology Gleason used to type <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130617/steve-gleason-monday-morning-quarterback/">this Sports Illustrated column</a> allows him to "crank out about 20 words per minute." What kind of speed is that? "For 4,500 words, that's almost four hours to finish this column." Gleason's software is top-of-the-line stuff and costs about $20,000.</p>
<p>Bakken and his team believe they can do better than that using the same concept that allows your smartphone to predict your next word when you're typing a text message.</p>
<p>From the magazine:</p>
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<p>Currently, the students are putting the software on PUPIL, a 3-D printed set of glasses that connects to a computer to translate eye movement into computer action. The program will be open source with no royalties, making it freely available to the public.</p>
<p>By May, the students aim to have prototypes and potentially a tablet that ALS patients could test.</p>
<p>"The scope and impact of this project drew me in," says senior Calin Scott. "Traditionally senior projects are done for a company, but this one could be life-changing for ALS patients and their families."</p>
<p>"Making this kind of technology available to all ALS patients is important," says Gail Gleason, Steve's mother, who works for the WSU Athletic Department and is providing support for the senior project. "There is so much despair when a person loses their ability to speak to ALS, and assistive technology that gives them the ability to communicate gives them some hope."</p>
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<p>There's a lot of cynicism surrounding the academic world, but when they're at their best, colleges and universities across the country do important work in the areas of research and development that have real world impacts in areas of need. This is most certainly that, and makes me incredibly proud of my university.</p>
<p>You can learn more about WSU Team Gleason <a href="http://teamgleason.eecs.wsu.edu/">here</a>. If you're inclined to get involved, they need help!</p>
<p>Go Cougs!</p>
https://www.cougcenter.com/2014/2/27/5440016/wsu-steve-gleason-to-improve-communicationJeff Nusser2014-02-07T12:30:00-08:002014-02-07T12:30:00-08:00Steve Gleason steals the show on Super Sunday
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<figcaption>John David Mercer-USA TODAY Spor</figcaption>
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<p>It's OK. I cried, too.</p> <p>In all the hubbub earlier this week of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> winning <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">the Super Bowl</a> and then signing day, we never paused to appreciate Steve Gleason's contribution to Super Sunday.</p>
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<p>Gleason is a former WSU football player who suffers from amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and he was the centerpiece for a Microsoft ad (above) telling the world what technology can do. Because of the debilitating effects of the disease, Gleason has lost the use of his extremities, and even his voice.</p>
<p>Yet, he narrated the commercial, thanks to the eye-tracking technology that allows him to type sentences and have them spoken in his own voice. The software runs on a Windows operating system.</p>
<p>The ad was perfectly Gleason -- even as the disease has taken so much from his physical abilities, he continues to show that a life with ALS is one that still can be lived fully, thanks in large part to technological advancements. Where ALS patients in years past have been rendered voiceless, Gleason is able to communicate in powerful ways:</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet"> <p>What can technology do? Until we find a medical cure, its my "cure". Spoiler. Heres the official SB commercial: <a href="http://t.co/r5R9D1E0vW">http://t.co/r5R9D1E0vW</a> -SG</p>— steve gleason (@TeamGleason) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamGleason/statuses/430054659345358848">February 2, 2014</a> </blockquote>
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<p>He live-tweeted the Super Bowl, and no, he has not lost his sense of humor:</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet"> <p>I just went to <a href="http://t.co/d9QrpZilia">http://t.co/d9QrpZilia</a> and bought a crate of Doritos and a Mazarati, and I cant even eat or drive. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SBCommercials&src=hash">#SBCommercials</a> -SG</p>— steve gleason (@TeamGleason) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamGleason/statuses/430128018489868288">February 2, 2014</a> </blockquote>
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<p>Nor does he ever miss out on a chance to remind people what's important. As has been his message since his diagnosis, the should be No White Flags for any of us:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <p>Appropriate win or lose: Heres football |--| Heres life |-------------------------------| <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23GetBusyLivin&src=hash">#GetBusyLivin</a> -SG</p>— steve gleason (@TeamGleason) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamGleason/statuses/430171899210260480">February 3, 2014</a> </blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <p>Life is a terminal disease. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23KeepExploring&src=hash">#KeepExploring</a> -SG</p>— steve gleason (@TeamGleason) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamGleason/statuses/431868522499940352">February 7, 2014</a> </blockquote>
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<p>It's worth your time to watch the video below, as well, which goes more in depth into how technology helps Gleason <em>live</em> his daily life. If it's not just a little dusty when you see him interacting with his son, Rivers, you might want to check to make sure you still have a pulse.</p>
<p>And if you want to donate to <a href="http://teamgleason.org">Team Gleason</a>, you can do that here.</p>
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https://www.cougcenter.com/2014/2/7/5390484/steve-gleason-super-bowl-commercial-microsoftJeff Nusser2013-06-18T12:54:49-07:002013-06-18T12:54:49-07:00Gleason's message in wake of classless radio bit
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<figcaption>Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>After some Atlanta radio hosts stooped to an inexcusable low in the name of a few laughs, Gleason seized the opportunity to reinforce his message about ALS.</p> <p>You might have heard that a couple of Atlanta radio hosts tried to make some ill-conceived "jokes" about <span>Steve Gleason</span> and ALS on the air yesterday. I didn't write about it then because, frankly, I didn't want to give those guys any more attention than they already had gotten and wanted the focus squarely on <a href="http://www.cougcenter.com/2013/6/17/4438744/steve-gleason-peter-king-mmqb-monday-morning-quarterback-als" target="_blank">Gleason's published work</a>. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you can catch up <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/6/17/4439108/steve-gleason-790-atlanta-radio-joke" target="_blank">here</a>.)</p>
<p>However, Gleason's response to the whole affair is exactly what we've come to expect from him. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/teamgleason.org/posts/485570461518708" target="_blank">Posted via his Team Gleason Facebook page today</a>:</p>
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<p>Regarding the DJ skit in Atlanta yesterday. I would like to thank the public for their support. 'Defend Team Gleason' now has been officially redefined. Additionally, the DJs have provided genuine apology. Received and accepted. We have all made mistakes in this life. How we learn from our mistakes is the measure of who we are.</p>
<p>I think everyone can learn from this event. Its clear to me that, on a national & global scale, ALS is not understood, which is part of why its under funded and largely ignored. In the past 36 hours lots of people have been talking. Lets talk about this... There are zero treatments for ALS. If you take any action as a result of this event, I prefer it to be action to end ALS. See what we are doing to change that @ <a href="http://teamgleason.org" target="_blank">teamgleason.org</a>. SG</p>
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<p>My first reaction to hearing about the skit was, "Seriously, what kind of a person thinks this is funny?" Which is why my reaction immediately following was actually very similar to what Gleason writes in that second paragraph. I've learned so much about ALS from his struggle, and it's obvious that there still is a lot of learning that needs to take place. </p>
<p>The guys at the heart of this have lost their jobs, and while it's an appropriate response to their mistake, you won't find me dancing on the metaphorical graves of their radio careers. While nobody would want a national conversation about ALS to come about like this, the conversation is here. Let's follow Gleason's lead and have it.</p>
<p>As one Facebook commenter said, "Forgiveness doesn't excuse their behavior. Forgiveness prevents their behavior from destroying your heart." Gleason has learned this lesson well.</p>
https://www.cougcenter.com/2013/6/18/4442656/steve-gleason-responds-to-classless-radio-bit-in-typically-classyJeff Nusser2013-06-17T12:58:11-07:002013-06-17T12:58:11-07:00Gleason guest stars on MMQB, tells his story
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<figcaption>Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>As the Coug continues his battle with ALS, Steve Gleason shares his story with the world in a way that only Steve Gleason can.</p> <p>We say it a lot around here: <span>Steve Gleason</span> is one incredible dude. The all-time Coug and former New Orleans Saint has been living with ALS for the past couple of years, and he never ceases to amaze in both his attitude towards life and what he's still accomplishing with that life.</p>
<p>Another chapter came this morning, when Gleason filled in for NFL writer Peter King by <a target="_blank" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130617/steve-gleason-monday-morning-quarterback/">writing his weekly Monday Morning Quarterback feature</a>. If you're wondering how a man with no use of his extremities or own vocal cords composed a 4,500-word column, well, here you go:</p>
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<p>I have a tablet PC attached to my power wheelchair. This tablet, my command center, sits about 18 inches from my face. At the base of my tablet, I have a black bar that houses infrared cameras that track my pupils. From there, I have a toolbar on the right side of my tablet screen that has mouse commands: left click, right click, double click, etc. So, I look at my on-screen commands for half a second, and those commands select. Then I look wherever I want to click on screen. For example, if I want to minimize my Spotify application, I look at the "left click" command, then gaze at the app's minimize button. If I want to read today's MMQB column, I select the scroll button from my on-screen commands, then gaze at an area in the column. The technology senses where my eyes are as I read, and automatically scrolls down the page accordingly.</p>
<p>Sweet, right?!</p>
<p>It works the same way with my keyboard. This is how I speak: I type whatever nonsense comes to mind, click "speak," and a synthetic voice that sounds hauntingly like my old voice belts out the nonsense for all to hear.</p>
<p>I can crank out about 20 words per minute. For 4,500 words, that's almost four hours to finish this column.</p>
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<p>The first thing I thought was, "Man, four hours is a long time." The second thing, though, was "damn, 20 words a minute is actually pretty fast" when you think about that process. Pretty awesome.</p>
<p>Throughout the rest of the piece, Gleason talks about what ALS is, how he's living (and parenting) with it, how he views football's role in his condition, the work that Team Gleason is doing for patients with ALS, and other random thoughts -- including how he got in tight with Pearl Jam. (Hint: It involves another Coug. Because of course it does.)</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130617/steve-gleason-monday-morning-quarterback/">Please go read it</a>. It's the best thing you'll read all day -- probably all month -- and it's especially informative if you're not as familiar with Gleason's journey as others of us.</p>
<p>The coolest part for me as I made my way through it was finding myself forgetting the painstaking process Gleason went through to write it, essentially forgetting the man who wrote it has no use of his limbs. I think that's exactly how he'd like it to be.</p>
<p>Gleason is living one pretty awesome life, but as he says, awesome ain't easy. No white flags. Go Cougs!</p>
https://www.cougcenter.com/2013/6/17/4438744/steve-gleason-peter-king-mmqb-monday-morning-quarterback-alsJeff Nusser2013-04-27T14:29:19-07:002013-04-27T14:29:19-07:00Steve Gleason makes an NFL Draft cameo
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<p>As usual, the former WSU linebacker with ALS leads a more exciting life than you and me.</p> <p>Those in attendance at the NFL Draft love to boo Roger Goodell. So this year, the commissioner invited some former players to represent each team and announce their picks in the second and third rounds. Representing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> for their third round pick?</p>
<p><span>Steve Gleason</span>.</p>
<p>The former WSU linebacker and New Orleans safety continues to fight the effects of ALS, but as he showed again on Friday, he refuses to let it stop him from doing things he wants to do. At the draft, Gleason used his <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cougcenter.com/2012/5/31/3055453/steve-gleason-voice-computer/in/3700125">speech software</a> to read the Saints' selection of <span>Terron Armstead</span>, an offensive tackle from Arkansas-Pine Bluff.</p>
<p>Gleason rolled out on stage in his wheelchair, and after his name was announced in Radio City Music Hall, he received a standing ovation from all in attendance. Unofficially, that's one more standing ovation than Goodell has ever gotten from the NFL Draft audience.</p>
<p>The irony, of course, is that it was the first time Gleason's name was announced at the NFL Draft, as he went undrafted in 2000.</p>
<p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Draft day is a celebrated day in the NFL. We should have an 'un-draft' day.Celebrate those of us who got picked in the '8th' round.-SG</p>&mdash; team gleason (@team_gleason) <a href="https://twitter.com/team_gleason/status/327505757992013824">April 25, 2013</a></blockquote><br><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Its probably good that I wasn't drafted in 2000. I probably would have dodged it anyway. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23ConscientiousnessObjector">#ConscientiousnessObjector</a>-SG</p>&mdash; team gleason (@team_gleason) <a href="https://twitter.com/team_gleason/status/327936617618747392">April 27, 2013</a></blockquote><br><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/0ap2000000164594/New-Orleans-Saints-draft-Terron-Armstead-No-75">You can watch the video here</a>, and read more about Gleason's fight with ALS <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cougcenter.com/2013/1/30/3936084/steve-gleason-als-amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis">here</a>.<a target="_blank" href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/0ap2000000164594/New-Orleans-Saints-draft-Terron-Armstead-No-75"></a></p>
<p>Oh, and if you're wondering what Gleason was up to before the draft ... oh, you know, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.teamgleason.org/">just climbing Machu Picchu</a>.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/64781849" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/64781849">Team Gleason Experiment: Machu Picchu (#GoPro)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user12339561">Team Gleason</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p></p>
https://www.cougcenter.com/2013/4/27/4275890/steve-gleason-nfl-draft-terron-armsteadJeff Nusser