Nittany Lion fights for life: 'All (he) ever wanted was to put his happiness on everyone.'

Editor's note: Bani Gbadyu died on Saturday, Oct. 22.

They all talk about his smile.

A simple, powerful mark of this former Penn State linebacker. It's a light into where he came from, to those who guided him, to his drive to embrace and lift up everyone who would give him a chance.

That's how they think of Bani Gbadyu, those former Penn State football coaches and players, pastors, friends, mothers. You had to notice him, right? His smile, then his laugh, then those flashy clothes − maybe wearing a leopard-print dress shirt to church. He was loud and quick with a hug and pulled you in before you realized what hit you.

So how can he be the one who needs help, so much support now?

Gbadyu, who just turned 34, was recently stunned by a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Soon after, he was hospitalized and is now fighting in intensive care.

Friends have created a GoFundMe page to raise money to cover mounting medical bills and possibly provide for his family. He lives with his wife, Molly, and their three young children in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

"Always had that smile on his face. I don’t remember him having a bad day, always loved life," said Tom Bradley, his defensive coordinator at Penn State.

"Never complained. Was a team guy, gave you everything he had. You never worried about Bani."

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Penn State fans remember him for his last name (pronounced Bah-JU), for his beginnings (he emigrated from war-torn Liberia) and to his place and time in State College. Gbadyu was a top backup during one of Penn State's greatest run of linebackers. He played with Dan Connor, Sean Lee, NaVorro Bowman and Mike Mauti. He was a top backup and part-time starter, stepping in whenever needed.

He graduated and left after the 2010 season.

"His heart was huge. He wanted to do whatever he could for his teammates," said former Penn State receiver Graham Zug. "He could have given up, folded it in and transferred, but that’s not how Bani was.

"Man, he just brings a smile to everybody. It's true. Just literally made everybody smile ... That's all Bani ever wanted, was to put his happiness on everyone."

Maybe that came, in part, from appreciation and salvation. He had lived what most everyone else around him could never imagine.

Bani was just a kid when he fled civil war-ravaged Liberia with his brother and father, fearful for their lives. His mother stayed behind. They eventually left West Africa by boat, landing in New York City. They relocated to Gaithersburg, Maryland, with the help of relatives.

There, Bani gradually melded into his new culture. He met life-long friends and families, who looked out for him. And he found football, just when he admitted needing direction and purpose. He developed into one of the country's top linebacker and running back prospects at Quince Orchard High and verbally committed to LSU. He eventually switched to Joe Paterno's Penn State.

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He never became a college star like those teammates he learned under. He tried out with the Oakland Raiders but was cut early on.

No matter, he returned to Maryland, married Molly and moved to her hometown of Lebanon. He wanted to work with people and starred in various sales position roles, including real estate. He wanted a big family so they had a boy and two girls, the youngest just over a year old.

He helped coach various high school football teams in the area.

He regularly came back to Penn State home football games, even one with his family in September − no idea of the cancer overtaking him.

He only openly complained of stomach pains and issues shortly after. It's all flown so fast since: doctors, tests, a terminal diagnosis, hospital care.

Gbadyu wrote this in a Facebook post from the hospital, a week ago: "I feel blessed that there is an army invading heaven with prayers on my behalf. I know and can feel that God is loving me through this unimaginable time. I know everyone is supporting me, and most importantly, my wife, family and kids believe in me. I hope that my journey can be a lesson for someone, at some point in time. We are going to lean on God and Fight On. #FightOnBani

They've been visiting him now from all over, including childhood friend Joey Sasu, who was the best man in Gbadyu's wedding. Bani was supposed to return the honor in two Saturdays.

"His impact? To me, he uplifts people. He's the kind of person who makes you feel better ... his confidence and personality ... that's who he is to me. That's his impact left. A person you wouldn't forget."

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at  fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on Twitter @YDRPennState.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football: Linebacker Bani Gbadyu fights pancreatic cancer