Head coach sends championship ring to parents of deceased football player
Gone but never forgotten.
Nathan Harris, who played defensive back for Troy University, died April 30, 2016 in a motorcycle accident. Harris, who died at 19, was a freshman who made the team as a walk-on.
Harris left quite an impact on his teammates and his coach, Neal Brown. In fact, some two years after Harris’ death, Brown made an incredible gesture it was learned this week, to honor Harris and his family.
Troy Athletics Mourns the Death of Football Student-Athlete Nathan Harrishttps://t.co/7dzEebv3Up pic.twitter.com/DU0yFdqvkw
— Troy Athletics (@TroyAthletics) April 30, 2016
The Trojans completed a fantastic year in 2017, going 11-2 to win the Sun Belt Conference. They earned a bid to the New Orleans Bowl and beat North Texas 50-30 at the Super Dome on Dec. 16.
Brown sent Harris’ parents a championship ring the team won in 2017 by beating North Texas in the 2017 New Orleans Bowl.
Awesome gesture- https://t.co/UOLDXiYxaJ
— TheJoshFields (@TheJoshFields1) July 15, 2018
In a hand-written note to Harris’ parents, enclosed with the ring, Brown said their son is a big part of the team and deserved it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlMvGpBH0wJ/?taken-by=coachblackmon
“Thinking about you all. Nate’s impact is still being felt in our program. I’ve enclosed a championship ring that he earned. You are all very much a part of our football family. God Bless — Neal Brown,” he wrote to the player’s parents.
Brown’s letter was posted by Ben Blackmon, Harris’ former high school coach at Gulf Shores High in Alabama.
What a class act Coach Neal Brown is. I’m glad he is leading the Troy Trojans. This is a hand written letter to Nathan Harris’s parents and a championship ring that he earned. Nathan is… https://t.co/kZLi2GoaTL
— Ben Blackmon (@coachblackmon) July 14, 2018
Blackmon had spoken very highly of Harris upon learning of his death.
“Everyone in that community loved him because he was such a great kid. He was sincere, genuine, humble, a true servant of the Lord,” Blackmon told AL.com. “He was tough, gritty. He was such a special young man. He lived such a special life. He loved people. He loved Jesus. Of all the players I’ve ever coached, there was never a doubt in my mind that Nathan would be with Jesus one day. He got up every day and read his Bible.”
At the time of time of Harris’ death, Brown talked about the impact Harris had on the team.
“Nate was a tremendous person and a very caring young man. While his time here at Troy University was brief, his impact was felt by many. He was loved by his teammates and had a positive effect on our team’s culture in a short time,” said Brown, reported Bleacher Report.
Former Troy, Gulf Shores football player Nathan Harris remembered as an 'encourager,' a 'fisher of men' https://t.co/j9sjRBExrp
— AL.com Mobile (@ALcomMobile) May 6, 2016
What a wonderful gesture by Brown and the Troy University Trojans.
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