Jefferson football coach Travis Noland has grappled with being a leader in wake of unexpected death.
Nearly two years ago, Dragons star wide receiver Elijah DeWitt was shot and killed. Noland, who has coached at high schools in northeast Georgia for nearly two decades, said returning to the football field helped his players recover from the “suddenness” of what happened. But feelings were complicated as gracious gestures from opposing teams and fans turned each Friday night into a reminder that DeWitt wasn’t on the field.
“There’s no playbook,” Noland said. “There’s no answers. You’re never prepared for anything like that until you’re in it.”
That’s why Noland called football coach Mike Hancock after Wednesday’s shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County. Ricky Aspinwall, a 39-year-old math teacher and the football team’s defensive coordinator, was one of four people killed. Aspinwall, called Coach A by many, was an “intense coach,” who “loved being a girl dad,” to his two daughters, Hancock said.
Noland said he told Hancock he needed to get his players together as soon as they could.
“It doesn’t go away tomorrow,” Noland said. “This is a thing that lasts.”
Hancock’s players and assistants gathered Thursday at Bethlehem Church, about five miles from the high school. Nothing said was as important as simply being together to grieve.
“It was good to hug and cry together,” Hancock said.
Apalachee’s game Friday against Monroe Area was canceled. Cross-county rival Winder-Barrow postponed its game against Seckinger. Winder-Barrow football coach Robert Paxia has talked with Hancock multiple times this week, too.
“I don’t know the best way to go about it, and I hope to God I don’t ever have to deal with this type of situation,” Paxia said. “But whatever they need, we will help them to the best of our ability.”
Apalachee and Winder-Barrow are scheduled to play Friday. Hancock and Paxia agree that the annual rivalry matchup, called The Battle for Barrow, could help the community in wake of the shooting. Both also expressed the need for sensitivity regarding when the game should be played.
“It can be a great healer for camaraderie and togetherness, but I’m not 100 percent sure this Friday is the best time for it,” Paxia said. “It will be a special game when it does happen.”
Classes were canceled Thursday and Friday for all Barrow County public schools. Apalachee and Winder-Barrow football teams didn’t practice.
“Eventually we are going to want to step out there and play some ball and get after it and honor Coach A in that way,” said Jordan Rushing, Apalachee math teacher and the football team’s offensive coordinator. “I know without a shadow of a doubt he would want to go play some football.”
Noland replaced the J with an A in the logo painted at midfield of Jefferson’s field for Friday’s game against Stephens County. The football teams for Buford High, in Gwinnett County, and North Oconee High in nearby Bogart, had decals honoring Apalachee placed on their helmets for games on Friday night.
Noland’s coaching staff plans to provide meals in the coming days for each member of Apalachee’s coaching staff and their families, too. Noland talked to his players Thursday about what happened at Apalachee. The schools are roughly 25 miles apart.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
“We understand our neighbors down the road are feeling a sick hurt that we felt two years ago,” Noland said.
DeWitt had plans to play college football. He was 18 when he died. Two of the three suspects charged with his killing pleaded guilty to murder in July. They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
On Wednesday, authorities arrested Colt Gray, 14, an Apalachee student. Gray was charged with four counts of felony murder after allegedly shooting and killing two teachers and two students. Nine others were injured, including eight students and one teacher.
Gray’s father, Colin Gray, 54, faces four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children.
Hancock and Rushing both said they have questions about the shooting that might not ever be answered. But Hancock pointed to Noland, Paxia, Kevin Reach at Monroe Area and Korey Mobbs at neighboring Jackson County High among those who helped him formulate a plan.
“The coaches of northeast Georgia are a great group of people,” Hancock said. “The outpour of support from those men has been special.”
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