On Sept. 25th, Brooks Mosier was out ready for another day of football practice, just like every other day. It was to be a fairly routine Thursday, a day before the Royals were to host, and lose to, the Oklahoma City Patriots.

Then it happened.

“It just hit me like lightning out of the sky,” Mosier said.

It wasn’t lightning. It just felt like it.

Mosier had a dizzy spell and more of them as the week progressed. A battery of scans and MRIs followed. Then, Aug. 2, Mosier got the news he hoped he would never hear again.

Doctors confirmed he had a brain tumor.

“I just found out,” Mosier said Thursday. “When the tumor swells, it puts pressure on the brain and affects your equilibrium. I haven’t been to practice all week.”

The 3-2 Royals began the eight-man portion of their schedule Friday at Southwest Christian.

Mosier did not coach the Royals. Instead, offensive coordinator Paul Potter has taken over. As back-up plans go, this is the best-case scenario for the Royals. Potter was the Royals head coach two years ago before leaving for Class 6A’s Mustang when his son, quarterback Chris Potter, wanted to play for the Broncos. Both returned to CCS this season.

“I guess God knew what was going to happen,” Mosier said. “I’m glad Paul came back because I really needed him to run the offense. He’s very experienced and capable. I’m not worried about it.”

Mosier’s treatment for the tumor will begin next week, starting with radiation five days a week in small doses for about four weeks. Then, doctors will perform another MRI to see what affect the radiation has had on the tumor.

“It’s kind of a game. It’s almost like guesswork,” Mosier said. “You have about three people working on this.”

This isn’t the first time Mosier has battled the disease. He had colon cancer surgery in Jan. of 2006. Then he had brain cancer Dec. 24 of last year.

“I guess It kind of jumps around,” Mosier joked.

The 72-year-old coach has been in the business for “about 40 years.” He re-started his coaching career two years ago to take over the program at CCS. He first retired from coaching after a stint with Oklahoma Christian School in Edmond in 2003.