Bureau Valley football rallies around the Freeman family

MANLIUS — The Freeman family learned last week the loss of their husband, father and son wasn’t just their own, but one shared by the whole Bureau Valley family and community.

Craig Freeman, 41, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident on Sept. 11. He left behind his wife, Gina, daughters Morgan and Ellie Freeman, and son Ethan, a freshman member of the Bureau Valley football team.

But they were not alone.

Bureau Valley head coach Mat Pistole took the whole Storm team to Freeman’s visitation by bus last week, all wearing their jerseys.

The Storm made Ethan an honorary captain for last week’s varsity game with Newman, and he got to flip the coin and put on a varsity jersey.

The Storm also will be featuring “CF” decals on their helmets starting this week in honor of Ethan’s dad, Pistole said.

The freshmen boys organized a 50/50 drawing for Friday’s game, and all the proceeds went back to the Freeman family, raising more than $850.

More than anything, Pistole didn’t want the Freeman family to think they were ever alone in their time of sorrow and need.

“None of this will bring back Ethan’s father, but the point is to make sure Ethan is fully aware that he has a huge ‘huddle’ that is standing behind him and that will help him in any way we can,” Pistole said. “I hope we have helped in some way bring the Freeman family some sort of comfort in an awful time in their lives. I also hope that our boys can learn and realize from this situation that sports can do so much more for them than just wins and losses. The bond we have is very special and should be cherished. I know Craig would have wanted that.”

Gina Freeman was very much appreciative of the Storm’s support.

“It was pretty amazing for me and my family. All the kids on the football team and coaches have just been an amazing support for my son and family,” she said.

Freeman said it was pretty awesome to see her son go out there with the varsity team Friday team, including her nephew, BV senior James Macklin.

Pistole worked with Craig Freeman for a short time, and considered him a friend.

“He was a tremendous father and a huge supporter of his kids and Bureau Valley,” Pistole said.

Pistole said the Freeman tragedy reminded him when Danny Nelson of Princeton was killed in an accident four years ago. Nelson was in Pistole’s wedding and was one of his wife’s (Lindsey) best friends. He was deeply moved how the Princeton basketball program rallied around the Nelsons.

“I’ll never forget the visitation when the entire Princeton basketball program came in on a bus to show their love and support Danny’s family,” Pistole said. “I wasn’t coaching football at the time, but I knew right then and there that I needed to get back into it, and the next year I was coaching at Newman.

“There is something incredibly special about having a big ‘huddle’ that sports can give us. We stressed this to the kids that they are lucky to have 50 brothers that they can lean on in situations like this. ... Not everyone does. We had to be there for Ethan because nothing was going to take away the pain that Ethan was feeling, but knowing he isn’t going to have to deal with it alone is about as comforting as anything could be in that situation.”