At the press conference earlier, Eli Drinkwitz said that Lonnie O'Neal and eight former players came to talk to the team and tell them Aaron's story. The team then voted for Ja'Marion Wayne to wear 25 in his time at Mizzou. Wayne went to Parkway West, O'Neal to Parkway North.
It hit me afterward that Wayne was probably a year old when AO died. It struck me how few people here probably know much about him. That's nobody's fault. It's been 17 years. That's a long time. But it made me think back to the story I wrote on the tenth anniversary of Aaron's death and what Brad Ekwerekwu said:
"It happened ten years ago, these cats, they don't know Aaron. They may know his high school and they may know that so and so wears number 25 now. But it's just a story now.""
It shouldn't just be a story.
The last couple of years, the anniversary of his death passed and I didn't notice it. It's been a few years since I really thought about the 25 jersey. Again,17 years is a long time. But I think it's the responsibility of people who were around the program at that time to make sure it's not. Because if you were around it, as a player, a coach, a media member, a fan, whatever, that day changed something. At least it did for me. I think it's important that people remember Aaron and know his story.
So for those who remember it, and maybe even some of you that knew Aaron or know his family, maybe just a reminder to think about it for a minute. For those who don't know it or weren't around, hopefully people will keep talking about it and keep the legacy alive.
For those who weren't on the site in 2015, here's the story I referenced. Hesitate to link it here because I don't want it to look like I'm fishing for compliments on it. I just think it's a story Mizzou fans should know from those that knew AO.
missouri.rivals.com
It hit me afterward that Wayne was probably a year old when AO died. It struck me how few people here probably know much about him. That's nobody's fault. It's been 17 years. That's a long time. But it made me think back to the story I wrote on the tenth anniversary of Aaron's death and what Brad Ekwerekwu said:
"It happened ten years ago, these cats, they don't know Aaron. They may know his high school and they may know that so and so wears number 25 now. But it's just a story now.""
It shouldn't just be a story.
The last couple of years, the anniversary of his death passed and I didn't notice it. It's been a few years since I really thought about the 25 jersey. Again,17 years is a long time. But I think it's the responsibility of people who were around the program at that time to make sure it's not. Because if you were around it, as a player, a coach, a media member, a fan, whatever, that day changed something. At least it did for me. I think it's important that people remember Aaron and know his story.
So for those who remember it, and maybe even some of you that knew Aaron or know his family, maybe just a reminder to think about it for a minute. For those who don't know it or weren't around, hopefully people will keep talking about it and keep the legacy alive.
For those who weren't on the site in 2015, here's the story I referenced. Hesitate to link it here because I don't want it to look like I'm fishing for compliments on it. I just think it's a story Mizzou fans should know from those that knew AO.
PowerMizzou - The Legacy of AO
Aaron O'Neal died ten years ago today. From Columbia to St. Louis, the legacy of his 19 years remains strong.
missouri.rivals.com
