NFL’s Roger Goodell donates to family of Apalachee High School football coach

“As he learned more about Ricky and the tragedy and the hundreds of people he impacted as a teacher and a coach, the NFL family was thinking of them,” said Brian McCarthy, chief NFL spokesman.

The outpouring of support “has been humbling,” said Apalachee football coach Mike Hancock. Coaches from high school programs across the state, particularly from the northeast region where Apalachee is located, have remained in frequent contact with Hancock and his staff.

Jefferson High School, located roughly 25 miles from Apalachee, replaced the J with an A in the logo painted at midfield for Friday’s football game. North Oconee High, in nearby Bogart, wore helmet decals with an A inside of a heart.

“The stickers and the ribbons, it’s nice,” Hancock said. “It brings recognition. But behind the scenes, coaches are texting and calling, asking what I need and what they can do. It’s genuine. It’s real.”

Apalachee’s game Friday against Monroe Area was canceled. Players and assistants gathered Thursday at Bethlehem Church, about five miles from the high school.

“It was good to hug and cry together,” Hancock said.

Hundreds attended a vigil in Barrow County on Friday to mourn and grieve. Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie, two math teachers at the high school, and Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, two 14-year-old students, were killed. Nine others were injured and some remain hospitalized.

Donation pages for victims can be found on GoFundMe.

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A electronic billboard showing 14-year-old Apalachee High School students Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn and teachers Cristina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall is seen at a vigil at Jug Tavern Park in Winder on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. A 14-year-old Apalachee High School student is accused of shooting and killing the four and injuring nine others at the Barrow County high school on Wednesday. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)