Remembering lost friends

Friends and teammates gathered on West Campus Sept. 27 for an intramural flag football game to remember the lives of two Georgia College students who died in a car wreck Sept. 22; freshmen Alexander Delor and Johnny Harof. The two teams, the Schmowl Bokers and the GoonSquad kicked off at 8 p.m. in memory of the two students. Delor was a team member of the Schmowl Bokers.

Freshmen teammates Matthew Purcell and Matt Johnson organized a whiteout for Alex and Johnny for the game, and about 50 people came out to show their support by wearing white.

Many spectators wore white T-shirts with Delor’s and Harof’s names on the back, inscribed with messages of love and memories.

“White is our team’s color, but it’s also symbolic; it’s peaceful,” Purcell said. “We wanted to represent Alex and Johnny.”

Harof was not signed up for flag football, but the Schmowl Bokers felt close to him too.

“Johnny didn’t play on the team, but he and Alex were always together. We saw them every day,” Purcell said.

Before the game, both teams and all spectators observed a moment of silence to remember and pay tribute to Delor and Harof.

Freshman nursing major Katie Lallky brought notebooks from memorial site to the game for friends to write to Delor and Harof. “We love you Johnny!” and “We love you Alex!” covered the front of the books as friends filled the pages with memories and loving messages.

“Students are writing in the books at the site where the accident happened,” Lallky said. “Once the books are filled up, I’m going to take them to both of their parents so they can see all the people who really do care about both of their sons and how we really do miss them.”

Students from every class and members of the SGA Senate arrived at the game to pay tribute and show support.

“We all decided to come here together and support the students and the passing of these two individuals,” SGA Senator and senior mass communication major Natalie Sorto said.

Director of Recreational Sports Bert Rosenberger identified the game as the Rec Sports game of the week. The Schmowl Bokers lost to the GoonSquad 18-6, the score was not their focus, paying tribute to friends and a teammate mattered most.

Posted by Caitlin Renn on Sep 29 2011. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.