Full Speed Ahead for Rose

Before he did much of anything at his press conference, Wednesday, BYU basketball coach Dave Rose thanked everyone.

“I am, uh…” he began, choking with emotion. “When…”

He stopped again.

“I’m glad to be here. It’s been a pretty intense couple of weeks for me.”

He then thanked his co-workers, his doctors, his family, and all who sent him well wishes.

“Thank you, thank you everyone,” he said.

“I believe I’m a lucky guy,” he said. “I believe it’s not without its challenges, but it’s a challenge that’s manageable.”

The press conference was to announce that after having his spleen removed, as well as a tumor on his pancreas, there is no further indication of cancer. He said he needs no chemotherapy or radiation.

“The immediate treatment is rest,” he said.

Interestingly, one of Rose’s doctors is Dr. Scott Samuelson, son of BYU president Cecil Samuelson. The doctor said he wouldn’t have been at the press conference, except that Rose wanted him there to answer questions.

Athletic director Tom Holmoe said Rose wanted the news of his condition – both before and after the Wednesday gathering – to be made public, so a lot of rumors didn’t fly.

The timing of the matter – it happened two weeks ago, while on a family vacation at Disneyland – was good for Rose. He had been traveling prior, in Detroit for the Final Four and in South America, but didn’t start feeling poorly until they family got to California. His spleen was removed in Las Vegas, where he had flown for a family reunion.

Rose didn’t sound like he expects his coaching style to change.

“That’s what I do, it’s what I love,” he said, adding that the players “won’t get much of a break.”