'Just (want) to love on them.' Apalachee football coach on 'blur' of a day, loss of assistant

‘Just (want) to love on them.’ Apalachee football coach on ‘blur’ of a day, loss of assistant

Posted by author September 5, 2024 Football

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Apalachee football is mourning the loss of defensive coordinator Ricky Aspinwall who was one of four people killed Wednesday in a deadly shooting at the high school.

Head coach Mike Hancock on Wednesday night was grieving Aspinwall’s loss for the Winder community and for his family.

“He was a great dad, man, and a great father,” Hancock said. “He loved his two girls and he loved his wife. He did happen to love the game of football and he was well respected around this area.”

Aspinwall, 39, was one of Hancock’s first hires when taking over Apalachee’s program last season when Aspinwall came from Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville to serve as the defensive coordinator.

The math teacher was killed along with math teacher Christina Irimie and students Mason Shermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14.

“This whole day and time was just a blur,” Hancock said. “This afternoon, finding out that he passed away, I honestly couldn’t tell you how long it took me to find out.

“He worked his tail off. He coached old-school ways, but he loved those kids. It’s heartbreaking really for our kids, but for his wife and his two daughters…” Hancock said as his voice trailed off.

Hancock was on the football field with a P.E. class when the incident happened. He and boys basketball coach Tyler Rowland got an alert that there was a schoolwide lockdown and they led students into the football fieldhouse. He did not hear the gunshots.

The suspect, 14-year-old Colt Gray, was not a member of the football team and Hancock said he did not recognize the name.

Barrow County Schools has cancelled class for the rest of the week and Apalachee is unsure of its next steps as a football team. Its game Friday against Monroe Area is postponed, unsure if it will be rescheduled. Its next scheduled game is the following Friday against crosstown rival Winder-Barrow.

Once released from school grounds, Hancock said that he has no way of communicating with players except through the team’s football app.

“That’s been the hardest part is that I have to meet with the powers above me just to see when I can get our guys together just to love on them,” he said. “Football is the last thing we’re thinking about. My biggest concern right now is giving a hug and putting my arms around the kids that are hurting.”

Hancock will lean into his faith, saying that he serves a mighty God.

“We’ve got a staff that’s hurting,” Hancock said. “This staff has been together for two years and Ricky has been a big part of it. It’s tough.”