Word began rippling through the Texas Tech Baseball community Thursday, March 10, that former Red Raider Baseball center fielder and Texas Tech Football wide receiver Cody Fuller has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Fuller, a 2000 graduate of Smithson Valley High School in Smithson Valley, TX, spent five seasons as a two-sport athlete for Texas Tech. A terror on the basepaths, Fuller led Texas Tech Baseball in stolen bases twice, 2003 (29) and 2005 (27) and sits at 4th in the Texas Tech Baseball record book for stolen bases in a career with 83, and 2nd behind Jamodrick McGruder with 31 in Big 12 games. He remains T10th for runs scored in a career with 160. Fuller played in 193 games as a Red Raider, good for 9th all-time, and was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection in 2005.
In addition to success on the field, Fuller was an Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection in 2005 and was recognized with the highest GPA on the Texas Tech Football team that year as well.
“Some of these guys only play one sport and they’re barely making it … the big thing about Cody is that he’s an example on the field, off the field, and in the classroom. He’s taking care of business,” Hall of Fame Head Coach Larry Hays explained in a 2005 Texas Tech Athletics article.
Fuller was the Texas Tech Athletics Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 2005, the highest honor bestowed on a single athlete annually. Fuller also spent significant time volunteering in the Lubbock community as part of the Red Raiders Speakers Bureau, The Learning Bridge, and Communities in Schools.
“It’s been a lot of fun. I was always there if they needed me and I said `heck yeah,’ I’ll go speak to these kids,” he said in 2005. “Giving back to the community is something that comes with the territory.”
That spirit of service has continued as an adult coaching youth baseball in San Antonio, where he now lives with his wife Cassie and their four children.
According to the GoFundMe that has been set up to assist with medical expenses, Fuller sought medical attention on Wednesday, March 9 for abdominal pain and was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer that has spread to other organs in his body. He is seeking aggressive treatment from a world-renowned oncologist who has a high success rate, but the treatments will require hundreds of thousands of dollars, and insurance is not accepted.
Red Raiders everywhere are encouraged to lift up the Fuller family in prayer and to contribute financially as you are able at the GoFundMe below.
“I just want to be remembered as somebody who worked hard, was a competitor, and got the job done,” said Fuller in 2005.
Let’s help Cody Fuller and his family get this job done.
