Eastern Illinois redshirt senior tight end Joe McNab (82) overcame Guillain-Barre syndrome to establish himself in the Panthers’ tight end rotation. (Photo by Sandy King, EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
Thanksgiving may officially be three weeks away, but every day is one of gratitude for Eastern Illinois tight end Joe McNab.
Four years ago, during his freshman year, the Madison Heights, Mich., native was sitting in a team study hall when he felt unusually tired, coupled with tingling hands and feet.
“I thought they were just falling asleep,” McNab told Prairie State Pigskin.
By the next morning, the tingling sensation had traveled to his knees and elbows.
“I went to the doctor, but they said I probably just had COVID and sent me home,” he said.
Things got worse when McNab lost feelings in his hands and feet and lost his sense of taste.
A second trip to urgent care brought more tests – including a negative COVID result.
“Then, I started getting sick and stopped eating,” he said. “I was throwing up. I was living in the dorms at the time and had to walk (down the hall) to the bathroom.
“I got to the point where I really couldn’t walk anymore. I was crawling.”
McNab wound up in the emergency room where he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre (gee-YAH-buh-RAY) syndrome, a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. It can cause weakness, numbness or paralysis, according to MayoClinic.org.
McNab spent a night at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center before being transferred to Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign. He spent “four or five days in the ICU” while receiving treatment.
His parents were in Tennessee at his sister’s soccer tournament at the time.
“They rushed back home and dropped my sister off and then drove straight down (from suburban Detroit) to Champaign,” he said.
McNab’s parents arrived in the midst of a dire situation.
“It got to the point where I was fully paralyzed and the paralysis was starting to go closer to my organs to where I couldn’t subconsciously breathe any more so I wasn’t sleeping,” he said.
There was a strong possibility that McNab would then be placed into a medically induced coma to keep him alive.
Fortunately, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy turned the tide and McNab’s road to recovery began.
“We slowly started seeing improvement from there,” he said. “I eventually started to be able to move my hands again. Next, I was able to move, (then) walk.”
McNab spent “maybe a month in the hospital slowly recovering and getting back.”
Finally released, he returned to Michigan with his parents for “about another two months before I was able to live by myself again.”
McNab was finally cleared to begin working out and eventually returned to full football activities.
“Football wasn’t really on my mind until the doctor said I’d be able to make a full recovery and bounce back fairly well from it. After I had that reassurance, I stopped being nervous and began to focus on playing football again,” he said.
EIU hosts No. 5 Tennessee Tech at noon Saturday. The game will also mark Senior Day for the 6-foot-6, 260-pound McNab.
“I’m really grateful after going through what I went through. It gave me a different look on football and on life in general, not taking anything for granted,” he said.
Get to know Joe McNab in our Moving the Chains Q&A.
Were you familiar with any other athletes that battled Guillain-Barre?
There was a football player from Temple (Sam Fraley). I got in touch with him and he talked me through his experience. We texted and had phone calls. It helped me a lot, seeing someone else go through the same thing and get back to playing football.
What have you improved on the most during your collegiate career?
I would definitely say my football knowledge of plays as well as offensive and defensive schemes. I didn’t know anything coming into college, and now I can read defenses and offenses and understand concepts way better than I could before.
After your recovery, you made your collegiate debut by playing offensive tackle against nationally ranked UT Martin. What was that like?
That was really exciting. I went into the game thinking I wasn’t going to play. That year we were very injured on the offensive line, so I was the next man up. I was thrown into the fire, but I was prepared. I knew all the plays. I felt really accomplished after going through what I went through. I was able to play in a Division I football game and felt on top of the world for a little bit.
How did that experience help you as a tight end?
It got me to dive really deep into the blocking part of the tight end position. In the offensive line, all you do is block. What I learned in the offensive line room transitioned pretty well into my blocking as a tight end.
What are some things you like to do away from football?
I like to go fishing and play disc golf. My roommates and I have a pool table at our house and we play at least two hours every day.
Halloween is over and we’re into November. Thanksgiving is coming up. What are you thankful for?
My family. My mom and dad have definitely been a huge support. Living pretty far away, they make an effort to come to every football game that they can. They’re always sending me texts and calls to share the love and support they have for me.
I’m very thankful for my teammates. The tight end room is probably the closest position group. We’re always hanging out together, cracking jokes and having a good time. They’re like my brothers. Every day when I come to practice, I play for them. It’s a joy.
When you sit down at the Thanksgiving table, what’s the food you most look forward to eating?
I love some green bean casserole and some mac ‘n cheese. Definitely apple pie with a little scoop of ice cream on top for dessert.
What is your favorite uniform combination that Eastern wears?
I’d say the all-whites. That’s a clean look.
What is your favorite uniform combination from any opponent in your collegiate years?
I like the University of Illinois color scheme, the navy and orange. That looks really clean together.
Here’s a hypothetical question: The EIU basketball coaching staff needs one player from the football team to fill a roster spot. Who are Coach Marty Simmons picking?
I played in high school. I would definitely put my hat in the ring. If he needs a center or someone to get some rebounds and post some people up, I’d like to be the guy.
What is the last show you binge-watched?
I haven’t watched much in awhile. I just started “Ozark”. I don’t really watch many shows, mainly just football and movies.
What is a game, a toy or a movie from childhood that you would still enjoy today?
The movie “Pacific Rim,” to this day it’s still my favorite to watch. I liked the fighting aspect of it, the giant robots fighting the aliens. It seems impossible that the humans would end up defeating the aliens. It just makes me feel good, like I can do anything too.
Earlier, you talked about the tight end room being so close. Who would win an arm-wrestling tournament from the group?
Oh man . . . That’s a good one. I’d have to say if not myself, then Max Loveall. He’s a freak, probably one of the stronger guys in that room.
To follow up on that, could any of the tight ends beat defensive line coach Carlif Taylor?
Whoa! I don’t think so. I’ve seen that guy walk into the weight room, grab the grip tester, air it out and just walk out. He might be the strongest guy I know.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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