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Skyridge senior Calvin Smith (third from right) listens to the cheers from the Falcon fans at halftime of the Region 3 football game against Lehi at Skyridge on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Skyridge students cheer for senior Calvin Smith at halftime of the Region 3 football game against Lehi at Skyridge on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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The Skyridge mascot and a student wear special t-shirts in support of senior Calvin Smith at the Region 3 football game against Lehi at Skyridge on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Skyridge students cheer for senior Calvin Smith at halftime of the Region 3 football game against Lehi at Skyridge on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Skyridge senior Calvin Smith (third from right) receives a scholarship from KJZZ and America First Credit Union at halftime of the Region 3 football game against Lehi at Skyridge on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Seeing a sea of orange shirts at a Skyridge High School football game in Lehi isn’t unusual, since the bright color is often prominent both in the stands and on the sidelines.

But Thursday night’s home game against crosstown rival Lehi had a different feel to it because of what was written on so many of the shirts:

“I (heart) Calvin.”

The student those shirts honored is senior Calvin Smith, a member of the Falcon mountain biking team.

He is someone who is teaching the Skyridge community many incredibly important lessons about life.

For most of the last decade, Smith has been battling brain tumors.

“I had my first brain surgery when I was nine and it keeps happening,” Smith said Thursday. “Six months ago was my fifth, as well as radiation. It’s not fun.”

Because of the impacts of the tumors, Smith had to change how he got to enjoy his favorite sport.

“I can’t do a normal bike, so I have a special bike so I can mountain bike now,” Smith said. “It’s pretty awesome.”

Falcon head mountain biking coach Jason Taylor said the story of how Smith got his bike is inspiring.

“I remember when we started looking at getting him his adaptive bike, the cost was more than $20,000,” Taylor said. “I remember talking to his dad and we decided we would invite the community to help out. If we didn’t raise the amount, we would cover the rest of the cost.”

Taylor said the outpouring of support for Smith was much more than they expected as $70,000 were raised to support the Falcon senior.

“I think with everything going on in the world and all the fighting, seeing everyone come together and unite in a good cause for one person reminds us that there is a lot of good in humanity,” Taylor said. “If we just give others a chance to be a part of our struggles when that’s appropriate, we’ll be surprised at how they react. No one expected that, not even Calvin.”

Taylor described Smith as an athlete who always pushes himself and wants to be his best.

“He has just always been very competitive and very driven to be as good as he can be, which is why this has been so agonizing to watch and just be so debilitating for him,” Taylor said. “It’s so hard seeing something that’s out of his control make it so he can’t fully achieve what he wants.”

But whether it has been when mountain biking or in other parts of Smith’s life, Taylor said he’s seen so many be there to help.

“To see everybody else kind of make up the difference between his ideal, his goal of perfection, and what he’s dealt with as a trial has been incredible,” Taylor said. “It’s inspiring just to see that gap bridged by the community.”

Smith plans on enjoying mountain biking as long as he can and, when asked where his favorite place to ride is, was quick to quip, “the downhills.”

“Mountain biking is so awesome because everyone supports me,” Smith said.

The latest surgery, however, led to the determination that Smith may not have long left to live, so he just wants to make the most of it.

“Live life,” Smith said. “You have to enjoy it because you don’t know when it will all be gone.”

Thursday’s tribute to Smith, which included everyone in the stadium standing in support and numerous chants of “We love Calvin” and “Cal-vin! Cal-vin!” while he stood on field at halftime surrounded by captains from the Falcon mountain biking team meant more to the Skyridge senior than he could express.

“It’s amazing,” Smith said. “It means everything. I can’t even explain it.”

It was a moment Taylor will treasure as well. He took a moment to share what being around Smith has taught him.

“You need to be where your feet are at every given moment in time,” Taylor said. “I think if we all knew the day that would be our last, we would start living today differently regardless of how far away it is. “Unfortunately, Cal’s date is just sooner than maybe we know ours are. But he’s taught me that regardless of how long you have, whether it is six months or six years or 60 years, you should just live it like it’s your last. “The other thing he’s taught me is that not a lot of stuff in this world physically matters. It’s the relationships we have. It’s just a stark reminder when you see an 18-year-old struggling with this.”