In 2024, the BYU hosted the Kansas State Wildcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Before the game, Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson launched an online fundraiser to help his high school principal, Chris Botts, undergoing cancer treatments.
Johnson pledged to donate for every touchdown he scored during the season. That campaign began with Kansas State’s trip to Provo.
Although Johnson did not score a touchdown against BYU, the fundraiser took off. BYU fans and others donated more than $50,000, far surpassing the original goal of $20,000.
Johnson said watching Botts battle cancer was difficult because he saw someone who loved life gradually lose the ability to do the things that brought him joy.
“It just made me think of wherever I get injured or I can’t play football and the type of joy it takes away from me,” Johnson said. “Trying to be there and show him that we are appreciative of him and how much he did mean to me meant a lot.”
Botts was able to attend several Kansas State games and spring practices after the fundraiser.
“He’s always been super good to me,” said Johnson. “... He’s always shown me love. I knew this is where he wanted me to be so it’s super good to be able to give back to him and just be there for the people that you love.”
While Botts is not yet cancer-free, Johnson said the overwhelming support from BYU fans, and others, restored his faith in humanity.
“There’s a lot going on in the world today,” he said. “It really just showed that there’s really still a lot of good people out there in the world. I think a lot of times all the bad things that happen in the world can kind of be overlooked and outshine the good things, but there's a lot of good people in the world, and there's a lot of people who do things the right way.”
Despite the competition on the field, Johnson said kindness transcends football and sports altogether.
“We live in a culture now where if you do something wrong, it’s more popular and it’s going to get more likes and shares than people doing the right things.”
For Johnson, the fundraiser was more than a way to help a friend. It was a reminder that kindness still exists in the world today.