Some sad news.....

[Spartanhusker]

I may have told you that I have a strong connection to Coffeyville, as my favorite brother in law has lived there for 30 years, and we go to visit/play golf, etc....he's also very close to the basketball coach, Jay Herkelman, who won a national title last year....AND who is coaching one of our recruits for next year, 7 ft. Blaise Kieta from Mali in Africa...Blaise has lived in America for four years, not having been home in that time...his mom passed two days ago and as is the custom in his town, they have the funeral that day...obviously a gut wrenching time for him....

I had the pleasure of meeting Blaise at Thanksgiving at a game....he was injured and did not play, but what a gracious young man...Jay has had a lot of great players, and he LOVES this kid...I DO have a picture but don't know how to post it....

Anxious for him to be ours next year...hope he can play...

 

[dinglefritz]

I may have told you that I have a strong connection to Coffeyville, as my favorite brother in law has lived there for 30 years, and we go to visit/play golf, etc....he's also very close to the basketball coach, Jay Herkelman, who won a national title last year....AND who is coaching one of our recruits for next year, 7 ft. Blaise Kieta from Mali in Africa...Blaise has lived in America for four years, not having been home in that time...his mom passed two days ago and as is the custom in his town, they have the funeral that day...obviously a gut wrenching time for him....

I had the pleasure of meeting Blaise at Thanksgiving at a game....he was injured and did not play, but what a gracious young man...Jay has had a lot of great players, and he LOVES this kid...I DO have a picture but don't know how to post it....

Anxious for him to be ours next year...hope he can play...

We all forget some of the sacrifices kids make to go to college and play sports. In our area we have young guys coming over from South Africa to work with a work permit hoping to some day be able to stay to make a better life for themselves. They'll leave their family for 6 months at a time and live like peasants and be so thankful for the opportunity. During this insane COVID time period, I can't imagine what he's going through and yet you know his mother was elated to have her son have the opportunity he's getting. Prayers for him and his family.

 

[TruHusker]

I may have told you that I have a strong connection to Coffeyville, as my favorite brother in law has lived there for 30 years, and we go to visit/play golf, etc....he's also very close to the basketball coach, Jay Herkelman, who won a national title last year....AND who is coaching one of our recruits for next year, 7 ft. Blaise Kieta from Mali in Africa...Blaise has lived in America for four years, not having been home in that time...his mom passed two days ago and as is the custom in his town, they have the funeral that day...obviously a gut wrenching time for him....

I had the pleasure of meeting Blaise at Thanksgiving at a game....he was injured and did not play, but what a gracious young man...Jay has had a lot of great players, and he LOVES this kid...I DO have a picture but don't know how to post it....

Anxious for him to be ours next year...hope he can play...

Thanks for the update. My guess is you have connections all over the state of Kansas Spartan. I am going to watch your York College team next week, at least I think I am.

 

[Spartanhusker]

Thanks for the update. My guess is you have connections all over the state of Kansas Spartan. I am going to watch your York College team next week, at least I think I am.

Well, when you cheat death as long as we both have, we meet people! Don't expect much from the Panthers...they are pretty woebegone from what I understand....

 

[HuskerBenBerMis]

I may have told you that I have a strong connection to Coffeyville, as my favorite brother in law has lived there for 30 years, and we go to visit/play golf, etc....he's also very close to the basketball coach, Jay Herkelman, who won a national title last year....AND who is coaching one of our recruits for next year, 7 ft. Blaise Kieta from Mali in Africa...Blaise has lived in America for four years, not having been home in that time...his mom passed two days ago and as is the custom in his town, they have the funeral that day...obviously a gut wrenching time for him....

I had the pleasure of meeting Blaise at Thanksgiving at a game....he was injured and did not play, but what a gracious young man...Jay has had a lot of great players, and he LOVES this kid...I DO have a picture but don't know how to post it....

Anxious for him to be ours next year...hope he can play...

My in-laws are from Coffeyville and I had an aunt that lived there and worked at CCC years ago. All three of coach Herks daughters were in our wedding, my wife used to babysit for them when she was in high school.

Over Christmas break we took our boys to a practice and had the pleasure of meeting Blaise, he is such a great kid. I would definitely agree w/ you that Jay and family really think a lot of him! Prayers for him during this difficult time.

 

[Spartanhusker]

My in-laws are from Coffeyville and I had an aunt that lived there and worked at CCC years ago. All three of coach Herks daughters were in our wedding, my wife used to babysit for them when she was in high school.

Over Christmas break we took our boys to a practice and had the pleasure of meeting Blaise, he is such a great kid. I would definitely agree w/ you that Jay and family really think a lot of him! Prayers for him during this difficult time.

We should play Coffeyville Trivia to prove my chops