East Carolina honors ailing child

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

foxsports

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.

"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."