Friday, April 10, 2020
I'd run into Collin from time to time over the years in random places and every conversation would end in a laugh or a story of something that would make us both smile. There's a cliche that is over used in sport, but in Collin's case it is so true - he left it on the field. He gave his all.
We played a game before school started and the weather was HOT. It was at a school with artificial turf. That always made it extra hot! This was before heat index was measured that would have postponed games. It was a tough game and players were zapped after it was over. He and his cousin Gabe rarely came off the field. I was in the office buttoning stuff up, making calls, usual post game stuff that takes an hour or so after a game and I went to close the team room door. There was Collin and Gabe laying on the cold tile floor, soaking up whatever coolness they could. I asked if they needed to go to the hospital. They said they didn't. They just needed to lay there. They left it on the field. The pictures, stories and tributes all seem to tell that same story. He always gave it all he had. He left it on the field. He left a piece of him in us. It was an honor to be a small part in his big life.
