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Sonny Dykes, James Madison football and more express condolences about death of SMU quality control coach Jamal Powell

Powell, who joined SMU’s staff in 2018, suffered from Guillain-Barré Syndrome and cancer.

SMU football announced Wednesday morning the death of offensive quality control analyst Jamal Powell, who joined the Mustangs’ staff in 2018 as offensive line coach. His SMU bio page says he and his wife, Rachel, have two daughters and a son.

Powell, who played football at TCU, played for the Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, and Canadian Football League teams the BC Lions and Hamilton Tiger Cats. After his playing days, he had coaching stops at Texas A&M, Lamar, James Madison, West Virginia State and Seton Hill, among other schools as a graduate assistant.

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According to an NBC5 story by Pat Doney, Powell was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a disease that weakens the muscles and attacks the peripheral nervous system. (If that sounds familiar, former Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick was diagnosed with the disease as well. The Dallas Morning News’ David Moore detailed his road to recovery here and here.)

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A story in the Daily News-Record detailed how severe the Guillain-Barré Syndrome diagnosis was for Powell.

“He went from 320 pounds to 260 pounds in three weeks,” said Mitch Kirsch, a graduate assistant at SMU, told the News-Record. “He lost all motor skills and could barely move his fingers, could barely lift up his legs or arms, so I remember the day very vividly. I walked into the hospital room and I just kind of lost it. He went from this giant, strong man who I saw as a Superman type of guy and a mentor of mine, and then having to see him at his lowest point, it was awful.”

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In the process of rehabilitation for the Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Powell was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, according to Doney. A GoFundMe was set up to help with medical expenses.

Jamal and Rachel went on the Beyond The Noise podcast to talk about their life story in November 2020, which can be viewed here. At the 24:41 mark, Jamal spoke of what Dykes and SMU meant to him, saying the following:

“Sonny Dykes, the staff and SMU as a whole has treated my family, I could tear up right now, they have been there for us every step of the way. And I mean, every step of the way. Sonny Dykes ... I love this man like a brother. This man, I can’t say what he’s done for us. I can tell you, and I’ve said it to the team, this man is an angel put here on Earth — and I know he is here to help me because he does it without asking. He helped without asking. Then when you try to return, he’ll [say], ‘Man, what is wrong with you? That’s not why I did that. No, I love you and that’s why I did it.’ I believe it. I believe it.”

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Find more SMU coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.