REALLY special opening statement by P.J. Fleck (worth the ENTIRE listen): - Wore this blue wristband, our community has been through a lot, that’s why Heather and I love it here so much…today was a special win, we had Fletcher’s 3 buddies, and his brother join us yesterday from the Annunciation shooting. Fletcher (Merkel) was one of the young people that lost his life. Their Dads came and spent a lot of time with us yesterday. - One of Fletcher’s greatest memories was the USC game last year, which was talked about his funeral. - It’s the most unthinkable, tragic, catastrophic feeling you probably could ever have, losing your child. - @MikeWierzbicki did a tremendous job of hosting them, and bringing them into our family - They all got a game ball, kids are really resilient, but we don’t know how that will really impact young people - This is what Row The Boat is all about. Can’t bring Fletcher back, can’t make it easier, but I hope that for 45 minutes in my office, for pre-game, to that locker room, they could smile, and I thought they did. - This goes way bigger than football, everybody. I get paid to win, but I understand my role as a head football coach, I understand the obligation I have, the job I have to do and who I represent. - People can say Row The Boat is corny, it’s 13 years everybody, move on, find a new word, almost 100 wins…corny? It’s never give up. It’s what we just talked about with Team Fletcher, if you’re going to call that corny, you have issues and problems. - What our team showed tonight was resolve and the resiliency of what RTB is all about. I’m so darn proud of them. I don’t know if I’ve been a part of a win like that, that meant so much, and you didn’t even know it. - Coming off of a loss like that, they found a way to win. - #1 reason I love being a football coach is changing lives.