'Still life to live': Grandfather of Auburn's Cardwell AUTLIVES cancer

AUBURN, Ala. – Dylan Cardwell has always been a fan favorite at Auburn. Whether he’s taking his shirt off on the jumbotron at football games or chest bumping fans during basketball games, he’s always having fun and bringing joy to others.

His grandfather, Thomas Johnson, is the exact same way.

Like Cardwell, Johnson is always dancing, always laughing, always joyful. He’s the center of attention in any room he walks into. He has that same infectious personality.

“We’re the same person,” said Cardwell, the center of attention at any sporting event he attends. “I learned who I wanted to be by watching him. He’s the leader of our family tree, and he’s a great example of the man I want to be.

“I always tell people if he went to Auburn, he’d be a better Auburn Man than me.”

The two even share a namesake as Cardwell’s middle name is Thomas after his grandfather.

Growing up, Johnson was Cardwell’s biggest fan. When Cardwell transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia as a junior in high school, Johnson still made an effort to attend as many of his games as he could from his home in Augusta, Georgia. When Cardwell was a freshman at Auburn, Johnson traveled to every single home game and made it to any of the road games within driving distance.

Even at 80 years old, Johnson did not miss an opportunity to watch his grandson play. 

It was supposed to be that way again last year with Johnson coming to see Cardwell play any and every chance he got, but Cardwell got a phone call the same day Auburn opened the season against Morehead State and found out Johnson had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was crushing. Johnson was unable to attend any of Auburn’s games.

For Cardwell, it was especially difficult at last year’s AUTLIVE game against Texas A&M where he held up one of the placards with Thomas Johnson’s name on it.

“It was emotional because I wanted my grandfather to be at that game,” Cardwell said. “It’s just hard. From going to all my games to missing all my games, it was tough for me. I sent a picture to him at halftime and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got you covered.’”

It’s been over a year since Johnson got the initial diagnosis, and he’s still battling the disease. He’s got more radiation treatments this week. However, while Johnson has not been able to see Cardwell play in person since the 2020-21 season, the two talk almost every day.

“Our relationship has always been strong, but with him having cancer, it’s grown a whole lot more because I get to be more intentional with the time I spend with him,” Cardwell said. “Now I know how fragile life is. I’m grateful I have a grandfather like my own and that I can talk to him each and every day and that he’s still here on this earth. He’s not gone.”

This year’s AUTLIVE game is Saturday. Cardwell will once again have his grandfather’s name written on his placard, but there’s a chance, if all goes well this week, that Johnson will be there in Neville Arena when Auburn hosts Alabama. Not because it’s a rivalry game. Not because College Gameday will be in town. But because it’s the AUTLIVE game.

“I honestly don’t think my grandfather would be trying to come to the Alabama game if it wasn’t the AUTLIVE Cancer game,” Cardwell said.

AUTLIVE itself started in 2009 (as OUTLIVE) with Bruce Pearl when he was the head coach at Tennessee. It was in recognition of former Volunteer Chris Lofton who beat testicular cancer through early diagnosis and local treatment. Pearl brought the initiative to Auburn with him, and it has grown every year with the emphasis on raising awareness of cancer prevention and detection.

“Cancer is such a scary term,” Cardwell said. “I just love the term AUTLIVE because it says to go beyond that – to outlive it and outlive the circumstances that you’re in. I just feel like it’s such an inspirational thing to get behind because of the stories behind it with Chris (Lofton) from Tennessee. Having cancer shouldn’t put you in a box. That’s not the end-all, be-all. There’s still life to live.

“The fact that we get to go on the court and raise up a sign about who we’re fighting for and who we’re playing for, it just reminds us of our reason why.”

That “why” for Cardwell is his grandfather, his best friend. He hopes more than anything that Johnson will be able to attend Saturday. He wants his grandfather to truly experience The Jungle for the first time. He wants him to see Auburn shock the world. But more importantly, Cardwell simply wants his grandfather to watch him play in person again. Because tomorrow is not promised.

“If I see my grandfather in the stands, it’s going to mean the world to me,” Cardwell said. “I pray it’s the best game I’ve ever played in my life. That’s what he deserves.”