BELLEVUE, Pa. — Cornell football players took the field Friday for the first time without head football coach Ed Dawson.
Dawson suffered a medical emergency during the team’s game against Rochester last week and died.
“There’s definitely a void,” Cornell Superintendent Aaron Thomas said. “You’d hear his booming voice right about now.”+
Players from both Cornell and Northgate gathered at midfield before Friday’s game in memory of Coach Dawson.
In the center, a flag flew, bearing his image and the phrase “Do it for Coach.”
“At this point in life, everything we do is for him,” MJ Smith said. He waved the flag in the stands. He and Dawson were co-workers and cousins.
“It’s really emotional,” he said. “From waking up this morning, getting ready for the funeral and being here today. It’s really emotional, but it’s important. We need to be there for him.”
Friday’s game wasn’t always a sure thing. Cornell officials tell us they debated on whether to play.
“I was conflicted to have the game or not,” Thomas said. “One thing we didn’t want was our seniors’ last memory to be last Friday night. I know for sure he’d (Dawson) say let ‘em play.”
Both Thomas and Smith say Coach Dawson’s legacy will live on.
“All great coaches have their teams take on their personality and our kids have his personality. They’ll be tough. They’ll be resilient,” Thomas said.
“His son EJ is out there coaching for him. I just see his legacy is never going to fade away,” Smith said.
Proceeds from the night’s 50/50 raffle went to Dawson’s family.
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