Ben Murphy didn't expect one of the most meaningful moments of his college career to come off the football field. A premed and exercise science major at Maryville College, he first encountered the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) as a freshman, when the football team partnered with the organization to recruit new donors. "I knew nothing about it," Murphy said. "Never heard about it before. Didn't even know that was a thing to be able to help people, especially cancer patients and other people with diseases."
He signed up on the spot, encouraged by teammates and coaches who made the event part of the team's culture of service. Later, that simple act would lead to a life-changing phone call.
A Call That Changed Everything
This past spring, Murphy received unexpected news. "About two months ago, I got a phone call, being like, hey, you're a match, you're a potential candidate," he recalled. "I was really excited immediately. I was like, yes, I'll absolutely donate, no hesitation."
For Murphy, the decision felt bigger than himself. "This is a blessing from God," he said. "Just to be able to even be a match." Within weeks, he was preparing for the donation process, juggling his coursework, football commitments, and travel arrangements with the same discipline he brings to the field.
Sacrifice for a Stranger
In the days leading up to the procedure, Murphy began a regimen designed to boost his body's stem cell production. "The four days prior up to donating, you take this drug," he explained. "It increases your stem cell count and makes your body go into overproduction so they can pull it off in a safe way—better for you and better for the patient."
The side effects were manageable. "It was more so just like a soreness in my back and then a small headache," he said. "It wasn't too bad, and I would do it again if I had the opportunity."
On a Monday morning, Murphy boarded a flight to Seattle. The next day, he arrived at the clinic before sunrise. "It was like a six-hour process," he said. "I was donating stem cells. It was very similar to how plasma is pulled out of your body. They have one IV in one arm and another in the other arm, and they just run it through a machine and pull out the stem cells and put the rest of what they don't need back in your body."
The donation itself took about four hours. "It's a quite cool process," Murphy said. "And I'd do it again."
A Team Effort on and off the Field
Maryville College football head coach
Ben Fox said the entire program rallied around Murphy's decision. "We were really, really proud of Ben for being able to make the sacrifice," Fox said. "He signed up to be on the registry a couple of years ago, got selected, was a match, and was able to go out and do his stem cell donation. It was very sacrificial of him, and it was very inspirational for our team and for everybody around."
The team's partnership with NMDP has become a point of pride. "We've enjoyed partnering with NMDP, and it's been great events," Fox said. "Our guys look forward to doing it. They work really hard. We've registered and gotten a lot of people on the registry, and knowing that we have a chance to help people when they are out of options—I think the education that's happened for our players has been a huge benefit."
Fox credits the campus community for supporting the effort. "I'm just really proud of our team and appreciative of the campus for letting us do this event," he said. "Proud of our team for how hard they work at it."
Paying It Forward
Murphy now encourages others to join the registry, emphasizing how straightforward and supportive the process was from start to finish. "They were very accommodating," he said. "Made sure I had any questions, they would answer it. Everything was covered, paid for. If I had work and needed cover, they would get that handled and give me pay as well."
For Murphy, the experience has reinforced the values he's learned through football—sacrifice, teamwork, and service. "It was overwhelming at first," he said. "But I knew it was the right thing to do."
As he continues his studies and prepares for another season with the Scots, Murphy carries the experience with him as a reminder of the impact one person can have. "I'd tell anybody to sign up," he said. "You never know whose life you might save."
