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Matt Miller and Bennett Black share a friendship that goes back to their childhood days and has endured despite a traumatic brain injury to Bennett through their love of ASU football. FOX 10’s Steve Nielsen has the story.
TEMPE, Ariz. – Two best friends who went down completely different paths continue to build a friendship through their shared love of Arizona State football.
One was a budding star receiver at ASU. The other, a teenager fighting for his life in the hospital.
Before Matt Miller was catching TD's for ASU in the early 2000's, he was a four-year-old getting bullied in preschool.
"I was born with a cleft palate had a lot of surgeries. I had to wear a swimming cap and ear plugs," says Miller.
Sitting next to him is his best friend, Bennett Black.
Bennett always had Matt's back and the next-door neighbors became best friends.
Photo courtesy of Cindy McDonald
"Bennett would always stick up for me back then. We kind of became close," said Miller.
They were just typical boys causing mischief.
"Oh you can't forget those kinds of memories! I think one year we took the neighbor's Christmas bulbs, unscrewed them and broke them in his driveway… accidentally!" said Black.
Fox 10 has told you before what happened next: 14-year-old Bennett was crossing the street when he was hit by a car going 45-miles-per-hour.
FOX 10 Photojournalist Brad Gass spoke to Cindy and her husband about the risks they took to help their son
"I flew up on his hood, dented it in and shattered his window. I rammed my head into the top of his windshield frame," said Black.
It took him a year to start healing from a traumatic brain injury and 3rd degree burns all over his body. Recovery became a lifelong challenge.
"We spent every day together. We grew up in Superman capes running around the backyard and then my best friend is lying there in the hospital, can't move and all sorts of wires tapped into his head. It's scary," said Miller.
After that, Matt and Bennett's lives went down different paths but the friendship remained.
"I love Bennett. Best man at my wedding. Yes, I value our friendship so much," said Miller.
Photo courtesy of Cindy McDonald
Bennett used to defend Matt, but as Matt moved on to ASU football, that role changed.
"I made sure he always could do the things he wanted to even though he had his brain injury. It wasn't fair people were treating him differently," Miller said.
Matt always set aside a ticket for Bennett, a joy for him to look forward to.
The years after the injury were challenging. Depression led to anger, but then something changed.
"Once I reached acceptance was when I was able to really, really, really begin to recover from my accident," Bennett said.
A powerful approach that taught Matt a lot too.
"I got really depressed after my senior year. I tore my ACL at my NFL Pro Day. I was supposed to go in the 4th round and I couldn't accept the fact I had to hang up the cleats, but I'd come over here and Bennett would make me feel better. Acceptance took me a while to figure that out," Miller said.
Now, as the two enjoy the current ASU football season together and a College Football Playoff appearance, they're reflecting on the friendship they've formed.
One that's never been shaken despite the challenges they've both faced.
"Bennett taught me no matter what you go through, you can get through it. It will make you stronger in the end," Miller said.
"I've learned so much. I've grown so much stronger and I've seen now it wasn't God trying to hurt me but make me who I needed to be," said Black.
Matt says if the Christmas magic hits ASU and the team makes it to the National Championship Game, he and Bennett will go to the game together,cheering on the team they love as best friends.
The Source: Information for this story was gathered by FOX 10’s Steve Nielsen.
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