East Carolina honors ailing child

East Carolina honors ailing child

Published Apr. 21, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

If imitation is the greatest form of flattery, what Nebraska did to honor an ailing young boy at its spring game sparked a similar tribute from East Carolina University on Saturday.

The Cornhuskers honored Jack Hoffman by letting him run for a touchdown a week ago.

The good vibe provided a spark for the Pirates, who replicated the act as a kind gesture for 8-year-old Noah Roberts, who is battling cancer.

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"He came out about two years ago and wasn't doing too well and it was good to see him out here now still and you know it was a cool experience for him and us,” junior linebacker Jeremy Grove told WCTI.com.

Roberts will return to the hospital Monday, and the team is hoping the act provided a boost.

"You kinda get chills in moments like that," quarterback Shane Carden said. "It's just it's really nice to just be able to be a part of that with Noah and be able to do that for him with the whole team around him. It was a special moment."

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