Michael Pratt, quarterback for the Tulane Green Wave, carries a heavy weight on his shoulders, but not from the pressure of leading his team to victory. Pratt carries the memory of two of the most important people in his life, his best friend Bryce Gowty and his brother David, both of whom tragically passed away.
Michael Pratt looking at the camera
Growing up in Boca Raton, Florida, Pratt always had a passion for football. He honed his skills throughout high school, eventually becoming the quarterback for Deerfield Beach High School. It was there that he met Bryce Gowty, a wide receiver who would become his brother in arms both on and off the field.
Michael Pratt and Bryce Gowty on the field
“After practice, I’d grab one of my receivers and say, ‘Hey, let’s get a little bit of extra reps,'” Pratt recalled. “And then it’d be almost pitch black and Bryce is like, ‘I need two more slants, I need two more go balls.’ He was consistently the same guy every day, always had a smile on his face – the kind of people that you know I want to gravitate towards.”
Their bond extended beyond the gridiron. Gowty, raised by a single mother, had faced homelessness and hardship. Pratt, from a more privileged background, found kinship in their shared love for the game and their dreams for the future.
Michael Pratt and Bryce Gowty in their football uniforms
“Even though we had very different lifestyles growing up, ultimately we both had the same passion – and football – which brought us closer together,” Pratt shared. “And looking into the future and seeing what we had ahead of us was something we talked about a lot.”
Pratt committed to Tulane University, while Gowty set his sights on Georgia Tech. Their futures, bright and full of promise, were tragically cut short when Gowty died by suicide just days before he was set to leave for college. The news sent shockwaves through the Deerfield Beach community and left Pratt reeling.
Michael Pratt during a game
“It was really hard to comprehend because of those talks that we had about the future and getting to go to school and playing college football and, you know, all the perks of that,” Pratt said, his voice thick with emotion. “It was really difficult to to think about what ultimately led to the decisions that he made.”
In the wake of Gowty’s death, Pratt found solace in his teammates and coaches, who rallied around him and his family. He made the decision to honor his friend by switching his jersey number to 7, Gowty’s number, and adopting his motto “Believe in Seven”.
Pratt’s resilience was tested again in 2021 when his brother David, a constant source of support and his biggest fan, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep from complications of the flu. David had just become a father two weeks prior, leaving behind his newborn daughter, Arya.
Michael Pratt holding his niece Arya
“It was tough in a situation like that,” Pratt shared. “It was weird, something that, you know, I’d felt once before with Bryce, you know, but didn’t didn’t feel like I was going to have to feel that again.”
Through immense grief, Pratt found a glimmer of light in his niece, Arya. He cherishes every moment he has with her, seeing his brother reflected in her smile.
Michael Pratt holding his niece Arya
“She reminds me a lot of David,” Pratt said, a soft smile gracing his face.
The tragedies Pratt has endured have shaped him into the leader he is today, both on and off the field. He uses his platform to advocate for mental health awareness, urging others to reach out for help when they need it most.
“Hopefully, my story really inspires other people to help them in whatever they’re going through,” Pratt said.
Michael Pratt’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of brotherhood, and the enduring impact one life can have on others. He honors the memories of Bryce Gowty and David Pratt not just with words, but with his actions, using his platform to make a difference in the world and inspire others to do the same.
