Winless In Seattle
Steve Sauro
Elliott SmithSnohomish Legend
February 17th 2011 05:30
:
Coach Gilbertson passes.
"Just got an update on Gilby saying they do not expect him to make it through the day."
This is a text I got around 1pm on Monday, Feb. 14th, 2011. It was from a high school buddy and football teammate of mine, who now is among the Snohomish School District coaching ranks himself.
This news shouldn't have been totally out of the blue. I had heard word last month that Coach was struggling to fully recover from a quadruple bypass he had just after the New Year. He'd been battling lingering heart and respiratory issues since coming out from under the knife.
But it took me a second to fully grasp what the text said. Then it kind of hit me. And I can honestly say it took me back a step.
Now I'd be lying if I said I kept in contact with Coach Gilbertson over the years, but that's the thing with old coaches. At least the good ones. You didn't have to, their lessons should still be with you - whether or not you realized they were lessons at the time they were being beaten into your head by way of an ear rattling tap on the helmet with an old wooden clipboard.
"First downs, son. That's all we want out of you. Give me 10 extra yards - or more. First downs. Plural."
About halfway though my sophomore season I took over kick return and punt return duties for the varsity team. Coach Gilbertson was in charge of "us speedsters". He told me those words every single time I took the field to return a kick. You could say they stuck with me.
I can imagine him saying something along those lines to the Dr's when they told him he wasn't expected to make it though the day. "Today? No. I'll give you a few more. Plural."
"Coach Gilby was taken off life support today. Fitting that it is a sunny day [it has been steady rain here since Monday], he will be missed."
Text received 7:00pm tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 16th.
First downs. Plural. Two extra days. Plural.
Thanks for everything Coach.
To read more about Coach Keith Gilbertson Sr., please click here.
Plans for a memorial are currently in work. As of right now, it sounds like Monday at 1:00pm at Snohomish High School. I'll update this information as more becomes available.
This is a text I got around 1pm on Monday, Feb. 14th, 2011. It was from a high school buddy and football teammate of mine, who now is among the Snohomish School District coaching ranks himself.
This news shouldn't have been totally out of the blue. I had heard word last month that Coach was struggling to fully recover from a quadruple bypass he had just after the New Year. He'd been battling lingering heart and respiratory issues since coming out from under the knife.
But it took me a second to fully grasp what the text said. Then it kind of hit me. And I can honestly say it took me back a step.
Now I'd be lying if I said I kept in contact with Coach Gilbertson over the years, but that's the thing with old coaches. At least the good ones. You didn't have to, their lessons should still be with you - whether or not you realized they were lessons at the time they were being beaten into your head by way of an ear rattling tap on the helmet with an old wooden clipboard.
"First downs, son. That's all we want out of you. Give me 10 extra yards - or more. First downs. Plural."
About halfway though my sophomore season I took over kick return and punt return duties for the varsity team. Coach Gilbertson was in charge of "us speedsters". He told me those words every single time I took the field to return a kick. You could say they stuck with me.
I can imagine him saying something along those lines to the Dr's when they told him he wasn't expected to make it though the day. "Today? No. I'll give you a few more. Plural."
"Coach Gilby was taken off life support today. Fitting that it is a sunny day [it has been steady rain here since Monday], he will be missed."
Text received 7:00pm tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 16th.
First downs. Plural. Two extra days. Plural.
Thanks for everything Coach.
To read more about Coach Keith Gilbertson Sr., please click here.
Plans for a memorial are currently in work. As of right now, it sounds like Monday at 1:00pm at Snohomish High School. I'll update this information as more becomes available.
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