The Allen Eagles will take the field Friday night without one of their closest teammates. Senior Adam Garry died on Saturday after a battle with gastric cancer.
“Adam was special in several ways. Not just one. How he lived his life, how he was a teammate, and what he represented as a person,” said Allen head football coach Terry Gambill.
Adam loved Allen Eagles football, and though a battle with gastric cancer forced him to the sidelines in 2016, he remained there for every game, inspiring his teammates to fight harder on the field, as he was fighting for his life.
“He would’ve given anything to be playing with us. He was always cheering us on on the sideline, because that’s just the person he was,” said Allen offensive lineman Trey Stratford.
As the devastating news of Adam's death made its way through the Allen High School campus, students created the #FlyHighAdam on social media, sharing their own stories of a friend to all, who shined brightly through the darkest of circumstances.
“These last few months, I never heard him say a negative word. He was just fighting. He never stopped, he never gave up, he never said I can’t,” Stratford said.
And now, as the Eagles prepare for their final regular season home game, they will honor Adam’s legacy with his initials on their helmets. A daily reminder to reflect on blessings they’ve been given and the opportunities ahead.
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“Every play we play is for him and his family. At the end of the day, he was a great influence on everybody. Like I’ve always said, he’s the definition of an Allen Eagle. He represents everything we stand for,” Stratford said.
“Come Friday night, the officials only allow you to play with 11. We’ll have 12. It’ll be a neat night,” said Gambill.
Friday night is also "Senior Night" for the Allen Eagles. The team will start the ceremony honoring Adam by giving his parents a special #63 jersey.
