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Viper Memories Feelings Shared A few days ago, a tragic event occurred. Only this time it was not across the country, but here in Virginia. Not unlike the Columbine High School incident of six years ago, in Colorado, a senseless and violent act happened at Virginia Tech.  I don't have any children of my own, which is one reason why I love coaching so much. It gives me a chance to be a part of the lives of the children of others. My experience with the Avalanche over the last three seasons has been a blessed thing of pure joy for me, and I could not imagine spending a few hours each week any other way than with them.Readers of this article may also know that I coached another team for ten years called the Leesburg Vipers. I started with them in 1995 and stayed with them right up until they graduated from high school in 2005. They made my life special by letting me be a part of theirs. Ten years. Ten years playing, laughing, cheering, encouraging, coaching, and enjoying relationships with nearly sixty different young men. Two of them were with me for all of twenty seasons. I think of many of them as the sons I never had. Seven of the Vipers are sophomores at Virginia Tech. Other Vipers have brothers and sisters who are also there. Two are at Radford University, a sister school near to Tech in distance and in spirit. For about 24 hours, Sally and I were on the phone, on email, text messaging, and IM'ing to find out that Chris Giangi, Chris Hudspeth, Brad Johnson, Tony Soukup, John Beerman, Travis Dezendorf, and Brian Colan were, thankfully, not on the lists of victims or the injured. We were able to connect directly to some of them and indirectly, through their parents or teammates, to others. While our experience cannot compare to what so many families must have felt during that time, it certainly brings into specific relief how precious life is, how fleeting our time here on earth will be, and how we must cherish each other and relish the time we have together. When I sent a text message to Chris Giangi on Tuesday, asking how he was doing, he wrote back saying, "Thanks for thinking of me." And I said, in reply, "I always will." That exchange made me think about some things. And not just about the Vipers at Tech, but all of them. Weeksy, Trey, Lefty, Tim, Sam, Jordan, Dan and Jesse, Owen, Brian Andrew, and Sean Dalby too. Even Chris Whiteman, who is not yet in college, but is on his way next year. I hugged them when they needed hugging--pats on the back when they got older. I encouraged them when they needed that, although all of them grew to be self-assured and strong. But, did I do enough for them to understand how I really feel about them? Whether or not they were great players (many of them are) and whether or not we won all of our games (we did not)--I always thought they were fantastic people to be around, and I hope they know it. Perhaps if there is any doubt about how I feel it is because I never told them that I loved them. I did, and I do, but I never said so. No expression better captures the intensity of the feelings that I have for them. Maybe I didn't even realize it so much. I'm saying it now to you Vipers. I love you, guys. I always will. Play on. |
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