Spring Break
The Daily OrangeHoward's death a time for reflection with collegiate athletes, coaches
By Brett LoGiurato
Posted: 10/26/09, 11:40 PM EST Section: Sports
For Herb Gainer, it was just another horrifying trip down Memory Lane.
Gainer awoke last Sunday to hear the news from his wife about the tragic death of Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard. The Miami native was fatally stabbed at a school-sponsored dance last Saturday night.
Gainer then read about the two players who were by Howard's side in his final moments. That's when he thought he was reading his story from over 20 years ago, while he was in an eerily similar situation as a member of the Florida State football team.
In September 1986, Gainer was also at a school-sponsored dance with about 20 teammates. He left that dance with one fewer teammate, as Seminoles starting offensive tackle Pablo Lopez was shot to death outside a university gymnasium. He held Lopez's hand as he lay on the ground.
"No one could really believe what happened," Gainer said. "Pablo's death had a profound effect on a lot of people.
"There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about it."
Gainer is one of the few across the country who can relate to the sullen hearts on the Connecticut campus. Howard's passing has brought perspective to coaches and players across the country about the pain caused by deaths in their own programs. And it has brought an outpouring of sympathy and understanding from those who have already experienced the burial of a teammate, coach, or friend.
Gainer said he can relate to the two players who were by Howard's side in his final moments, identified later this week as sophomore wide receivers Kashif Moore and Mike Smith.
Like the situation in Connecticut, Gainer's dance was also interrupted by a fire alarm. As students emptied outside, Lopez became involved in a dispute. Gainer had already ventured back inside the dance when two women rushed in and told him Lopez had been shot. He rushed to Lopez's side and was with him until the ambulance arrived.
"It's just surreal to see your buddy on the ground and not able to move," Gainer said. "You just keep saying, 'You're going to be okay. You're going to get up any minute.'"
Gainer awoke last Sunday to hear the news from his wife about the tragic death of Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard. The Miami native was fatally stabbed at a school-sponsored dance last Saturday night.
Gainer then read about the two players who were by Howard's side in his final moments. That's when he thought he was reading his story from over 20 years ago, while he was in an eerily similar situation as a member of the Florida State football team.
In September 1986, Gainer was also at a school-sponsored dance with about 20 teammates. He left that dance with one fewer teammate, as Seminoles starting offensive tackle Pablo Lopez was shot to death outside a university gymnasium. He held Lopez's hand as he lay on the ground.
"No one could really believe what happened," Gainer said. "Pablo's death had a profound effect on a lot of people.
"There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about it."
Gainer is one of the few across the country who can relate to the sullen hearts on the Connecticut campus. Howard's passing has brought perspective to coaches and players across the country about the pain caused by deaths in their own programs. And it has brought an outpouring of sympathy and understanding from those who have already experienced the burial of a teammate, coach, or friend.
Gainer said he can relate to the two players who were by Howard's side in his final moments, identified later this week as sophomore wide receivers Kashif Moore and Mike Smith.
Like the situation in Connecticut, Gainer's dance was also interrupted by a fire alarm. As students emptied outside, Lopez became involved in a dispute. Gainer had already ventured back inside the dance when two women rushed in and told him Lopez had been shot. He rushed to Lopez's side and was with him until the ambulance arrived.
"It's just surreal to see your buddy on the ground and not able to move," Gainer said. "You just keep saying, 'You're going to be okay. You're going to get up any minute.'"
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