#BehindTheBears | Night Drives Bears On, Off The Field
3/30/2018 1:14:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
MACON, Ga. - John Michael Night signed with the Mercer lacrosse program three years ago but hasn't suited up for the Bears.
But that doesn't mean he's not a part of the program. In fact, his head coach and the Mercer players say he's a huge part of the program.
And they're honoring his contributions every game.
"I've been in this world for a long time, and I don't know that I have ever met anyone who is as strong, as driven, as team-oriented as he is because in some ways he could have said, 'I'm no longer a part of this team,' but he bleeds the Black and Orange, and he's as big a part of this team as anybody on the roster, any alumni or any future player," Mercer head coach Kyle Hannan said. "So, he's really kept that true appreciation of being a Mercer Bear and being a part of the lacrosse program."
Night, a standout on the Florida high school lacrosse scene, signed with the Bears in 2015. But only two weeks later, he suffered a devastating brain stem stroke at 17 years old, ending his chance to play for the Bears.
Last year, Mercer's team honored Night by carrying his No. 24 jersey out on the field for every game and having it on the sideline. This season, with the idea coming from junior Jake Sadd, the Bears took that a step further.
Every game this season, a different player has been chosen to wear No. 24 to honor Night, and Hannan said it's a tradition that will carry through this season and beyond.
"It's unbelievable, the way that kid fights every day," Sadd said. "I don't think he's had a bad day since his incident. It's unbelievable his strength, his will, his determination, his will to fight is just unbelievable. Any time you think about, 'This is hard, this isn't right' or taking a second off or whatever, you think about John Michael. He doesn't take a second off. It's unbelievable motivation, and it's great to have his number out there. It's a huge honor to wear it."
Sadd said one of his close friends went to high school with Night, so there is a connection there, and Sadd said he certainly felt that when he wore the No. 24.
"It gets late in the game, and you get tired, and you're thinking, 'Man, I don't know if I can make it. I don't know if I can keep going.' I thought to myself, 'If John Michael were here, would he be letting up?'" Sadd said. "From then on, I was like, 'No, no way. I can't give up.'"
That connection is special within the entire program.
Hannan said he typically communicates with Night twice per week via text and tries to see him about five times per year either traveling in Florida or having the Night family travel to Macon. Night's family attended a game last year and will be at the Bears' home game against Furman at Five Star Stadium on Saturday.
Night also was at the Bears' game this month at Jacksonville.
"There's not a day that goes by that I'm not thinking about or believing in JM," Hannan said. "To see the interaction between our guys, our players and him, it's really kind of taught me a lot. You would think after 30 years of doing this, you have kind of seen it all, but what I have learned from this situation has really been a blessing and how JM has been able to open up the world to other people.
"Our team really has a ton of respect for him and love for him. They understand the situation and know how much of a fighter he is. For what he's been through, I've never heard a negative comment, and there's never been a day in his life since the incident that he's just stopped something or given up on something."
Hannan's players also have learned from their relationships with Night.
"We realize even though we're waking up on Monday at 6 o'clock for practice, JM would kill to have that chance," sophomore Brad Hodoval said. "You can't take anything for granted, and every time you get a chance to play, you've got to think, 'This could be my last game' and enjoy it and play for him."
Before each game, the team gets together and reveals who will wear the No. 24. That's a special moment for the team, and it brings about a sense of pride for the player who gets to wear it.Â
"You just want to live up to the number. John Michael Night means so much to the program," junior Hank Morgan said. "Wearing his number brings a lot of value. He works hard every day just to live his life, so you try to play that way in the game and give it your best.
"You're getting tired in the third or fourth quarter, and you do look down at that jersey number and just think about how he's working and think, 'I'm not doing that much compared to what he's going through every day.' "
As the Bears honor Night each game, they continue to grow closer as a unit.
"It's special for the guy who gets to wear the jersey, but a lot of us have tape with 'JM' on it or stickers," Hodoval said. "So even if you're not wearing the jersey, before every game it goes through the guys' minds, and JM will shoot us texts, and we know he's watching, and he's with us all the way. Even if you're not wearing the number, we have it in the back of our minds, for sure."
Night's impact can be felt beyond the Mercer program, as well. Hannan said his daughter, Margo, has switched from the No. 23 she has worn throughout her athletic career to No. 24 for the Stratford Academy lacrosse season.
"He's had an impact on so many people in a positive way, and I just think it's a blessing how people can learn from his situation and how he's handled it with his family," Hannan said. "This is a life-long relationship. This isn't something where he was recruited, and it just didn't work out and would have graduated with this group of sophomores, and you move on. I think Mercer lacrosse and certainly the Hannan family and the Night family are going to be really close for a long, long time."
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Men's Lacrosse, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerLacrosse (Twitter), /MercerMensLAX(Facebook) and @MercerMensLacrosse (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
Â
But that doesn't mean he's not a part of the program. In fact, his head coach and the Mercer players say he's a huge part of the program.
And they're honoring his contributions every game.
"I've been in this world for a long time, and I don't know that I have ever met anyone who is as strong, as driven, as team-oriented as he is because in some ways he could have said, 'I'm no longer a part of this team,' but he bleeds the Black and Orange, and he's as big a part of this team as anybody on the roster, any alumni or any future player," Mercer head coach Kyle Hannan said. "So, he's really kept that true appreciation of being a Mercer Bear and being a part of the lacrosse program."
Night, a standout on the Florida high school lacrosse scene, signed with the Bears in 2015. But only two weeks later, he suffered a devastating brain stem stroke at 17 years old, ending his chance to play for the Bears.
Last year, Mercer's team honored Night by carrying his No. 24 jersey out on the field for every game and having it on the sideline. This season, with the idea coming from junior Jake Sadd, the Bears took that a step further.
Every game this season, a different player has been chosen to wear No. 24 to honor Night, and Hannan said it's a tradition that will carry through this season and beyond.
"It's unbelievable, the way that kid fights every day," Sadd said. "I don't think he's had a bad day since his incident. It's unbelievable his strength, his will, his determination, his will to fight is just unbelievable. Any time you think about, 'This is hard, this isn't right' or taking a second off or whatever, you think about John Michael. He doesn't take a second off. It's unbelievable motivation, and it's great to have his number out there. It's a huge honor to wear it."
Sadd said one of his close friends went to high school with Night, so there is a connection there, and Sadd said he certainly felt that when he wore the No. 24.
"It gets late in the game, and you get tired, and you're thinking, 'Man, I don't know if I can make it. I don't know if I can keep going.' I thought to myself, 'If John Michael were here, would he be letting up?'" Sadd said. "From then on, I was like, 'No, no way. I can't give up.'"
That connection is special within the entire program.
Hannan said he typically communicates with Night twice per week via text and tries to see him about five times per year either traveling in Florida or having the Night family travel to Macon. Night's family attended a game last year and will be at the Bears' home game against Furman at Five Star Stadium on Saturday.
Night also was at the Bears' game this month at Jacksonville.
"There's not a day that goes by that I'm not thinking about or believing in JM," Hannan said. "To see the interaction between our guys, our players and him, it's really kind of taught me a lot. You would think after 30 years of doing this, you have kind of seen it all, but what I have learned from this situation has really been a blessing and how JM has been able to open up the world to other people.
"Our team really has a ton of respect for him and love for him. They understand the situation and know how much of a fighter he is. For what he's been through, I've never heard a negative comment, and there's never been a day in his life since the incident that he's just stopped something or given up on something."
Hannan's players also have learned from their relationships with Night.
"We realize even though we're waking up on Monday at 6 o'clock for practice, JM would kill to have that chance," sophomore Brad Hodoval said. "You can't take anything for granted, and every time you get a chance to play, you've got to think, 'This could be my last game' and enjoy it and play for him."
Before each game, the team gets together and reveals who will wear the No. 24. That's a special moment for the team, and it brings about a sense of pride for the player who gets to wear it.Â
"You just want to live up to the number. John Michael Night means so much to the program," junior Hank Morgan said. "Wearing his number brings a lot of value. He works hard every day just to live his life, so you try to play that way in the game and give it your best.
"You're getting tired in the third or fourth quarter, and you do look down at that jersey number and just think about how he's working and think, 'I'm not doing that much compared to what he's going through every day.' "
As the Bears honor Night each game, they continue to grow closer as a unit.
"It's special for the guy who gets to wear the jersey, but a lot of us have tape with 'JM' on it or stickers," Hodoval said. "So even if you're not wearing the jersey, before every game it goes through the guys' minds, and JM will shoot us texts, and we know he's watching, and he's with us all the way. Even if you're not wearing the number, we have it in the back of our minds, for sure."
Night's impact can be felt beyond the Mercer program, as well. Hannan said his daughter, Margo, has switched from the No. 23 she has worn throughout her athletic career to No. 24 for the Stratford Academy lacrosse season.
"He's had an impact on so many people in a positive way, and I just think it's a blessing how people can learn from his situation and how he's handled it with his family," Hannan said. "This is a life-long relationship. This isn't something where he was recruited, and it just didn't work out and would have graduated with this group of sophomores, and you move on. I think Mercer lacrosse and certainly the Hannan family and the Night family are going to be really close for a long, long time."
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Men's Lacrosse, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerLacrosse (Twitter), /MercerMensLAX(Facebook) and @MercerMensLacrosse (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
Â
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
Mercer 38, Citadel 0 | Postgame Press Conference (9/20/25)
Saturday, September 20
Mercer v U.T. Martin VB Highlight Reel: 9/20/2025
Saturday, September 20
Mercer v North Dakota VB Highlight Reel: 9/19/2025
Saturday, September 20
Mercer v West Georgia VB Highlight Reel: 9/18/2025
Friday, September 19
