Former Football Standout Brian Freeman (CIT ’09) Cheering Way To Top

Following a standout four-year football career at Carnegie Mellon, Brian Freeman knew he wanted to remain involved in organized athletics for as long as possible. When he was accepted to a doctoral program in biomedical engineering at the University of Wisconsin, he never imagined it could help him get to the Rose Bowl – twice.
    
At 6-foot-5, Freeman was too tall to become Wisconsin's mascot Bucky, so he needed to find another way to become involved with the Badgers. That's when the 2009 Carnegie Mellon grad decided to try out for the Wisconsin cheerleading team.
    
"I didn't expect that I would be cheerleading anywhere, but after my first couple of years in grad school, I missed intercollegiate life and the balance athletics gave to my schedule," Freeman said. "There's no height restriction for cheerleading and since it's not recognized as an NCAA sport, I didn't have any eligibility issues."
    
Freeman's effervescent personality made him a natural fit to run up and down the sidelines at Wisconsin basketball and football games. He has cheered at the Badgers' home football games for the past two years and cheered at the women's basketball games last year. This winter, he can be found cheering on the Wisconsin men's basketball team.
    
When Wisconsin qualified for the Rose Bowl last year, Freeman was able to make the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Pasadena. When the Badgers made it back to the Rose Bowl this year, Freeman made his once-in-a-lifetime trip a second time.
    
"It was an amazing experience. I grew up in Ohio in Big Ten country, and I remember being a little kid and watching the Rose Bowl Parade and game every year," Freeman said. "Being in the parade both years and on the field for the game was wild."
  
While Freeman has had a ball cheering on the Badgers, he has been focused on learning more about the fusion b etween stem cells and heart cells, especially after an individual suffers a heart attack.
    
"Doctors have delivered bone marrow stem cells to heart attack patients and they've found that the heart gets healthier, but they're not exactly sure why yet," Freeman said. "We think stem cells might fuse with the heart cells and create a hybrid cell that could repopulate the damaged tissue and help make the heart healt hier. I'm trying to understand if fusion is occurring and what would happen afterwards."
    
A standout in the classroom and on the field during his time at Carnegie Mellon, Freeman was one of 15 football players across Divisions I, II and III to be selected as a finalist for the Draddy Trophy in 2008. Widely regarded as the academic Heisman, the Draddy Trophy has been renamed the William Campbell Trophy. A three-time Academic All-American, Freeman was also a recipient of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

On the field, the offensive lineman was a major reason the Tartans boasted one of the top 10 rushing attacks in the country during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. In 2006, the three-time  all-UAA performer helped lead Carnegie Mellon to a 10-0 regular season and an NCAA tournament victory.
    
"I had an amazing balance at Carnegie Mellon. To be able to go out there every day on the field and take my mind off academics allowed me to balance my life and keep things in perspective," Freeman said. "I wanted to study engineering and play football at a high level. I'm where I am now thanks to Carnegie Mellon."
    
As a young alum, Freeman has made a point to give back to the athletics program to help support the experience of future Tartans.
    
"Carnegie Mellon definitely shaped who I am as a human being. The program and coaches did so much for us over the years. Being involved with athletics was definitely my favorite part of the university," Freeman said.  
    
Freeman estimates that he has approximately two years left until he completes his dissertation and doctoral degree. Following the completion of his education, he will consider a future career in higher education or private industry.
    
"I don't have to decide just yet. I still have a lot of work left to do on my project," Freeman  said.