BC's Herzlich back after cancer treatment

Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich returned to the practice field for the first time since missing all of last season while undergoing cancer treatment.

The BC linebacker was the Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year in 2008. He was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, the next spring.

Shortly after Herzlich talked about his battle on ESPN. Former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis called to offer support and and an unlikely friendshipt was born. Weis and Herzlich talked often during the linebacker's treatment.

"I never had any feelings one way or another about him, because I didn't know him," Herzlich told the Tribune's Brian Hamilton the week preceding this year's Notre Dame-Boston College game.  "When he called, it was kind of like, OK, well, this is very nice of him. Kind of thought it would be a onetime thing - a lot of people had called me. But the fact that he kept on being supportive the whole time was special and something different. He kind of set himself apart."

Photo: Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich works out at Alumni Stadium today. (Elise Amendola/AP)