It requires seminal events sometimes to usher truths heretofore unseen. Or not realized. Truths that tell a happier story. Such is the case with Casey Cochran, whose playing career at UConn has crumbled under the weight of too many concussions.

It's doubtful Cochran has arisen from bed this week with the urge to give the Lou Gehrig Speech. Luckiest man on the face of the earth? Ha. Good one. And yet in many ways, Cochran's story, a cautionary tale for young athletes everywhere, is inspiring enough to be shouted from the mountains and blasted from the fountains.

Casey Cochran, whose life has been framed - publicly anyway - by football, football, football, has always prepared himself for life without it. True enough, maybe he never saw that day coming. But he always prepared for that infamous tomorrow that always has this habit of showing up.

Cochran, always a good student, always aware of a world that didn't revolve around the read option, doesn't need football to succeed. He'll probably live it. Coach it. But he doesn't need it, not with an education and a worldly view as a foundation.

This is important. Because how many kids Cochran's age (20) haven't been as diligent and aren't as fortunate?

How many kids Cochran's age have been allowed to practice sports myopia and would be rendered hopeless if their careers were suddenly imperiled?

Cochran, the product of a great upbringing, always had football, sure. But it was tethered to whether he opened a book. That is to the everlasting credit of his mom, Shannon Russell, and dad, Jack.

Shannon is the true quarterback of the family. And harbor any opinion you want about Jack Cochran. There's no denying he's been a great dad.

Casey Cochran has always been a neat kid, a fun kid, rarely armed without a sense of humor. He was nominated not long ago for the 2014 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team for "players whose charitable involvement and community service contributions stand out."

Cochran is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at UConn, has regularly spoken to students at the Stafford Springs Elementary School about athletics and academics and has been part of a group of football student-athletes that visit elementary schools in East Hartford and Manchester.

Cochran has also volunteered at the New London Community Meal Center, as an Athlete-Reader at the New London Elementary Schools, at the New London Youth Football Skills Clinic and was a coach/counselor with the Monroe Lions Youth Football Program.

He needs to tell this story. And if UConn coach Bob Diaco was correct at his Tuesday news conference that Casey "is ready to move on," he should have made Cochran available to the media. I'm not sure why it wasn't blindingly obvious that Cochran was the primary story of the day.

And the larger point: Cochran needs to tell his story with a fan base that identifies with him more than any other UConn football player. The ultimate football kid has never let football define him. His education has defined him. So have his good works.

We yearn for our kids to see beyond their self-interests. Cochran has done that faithfully.

And in this time of despair, Cochran can actually say he's the lucky one. Because he's got such a wonderful foundation that won't let him fail.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

Twitter: @BCgenius