METAIRIE, La. – His name is Frank Moran, and he was one of the first in line to arrive at Will Smith's casket.
He had brought something with him on this cloudy, somber Friday, something to share with Smith and the hundreds of mourners who came to say goodbye at the Saints' training facility.
Moran stood on the indoor practice field, at the 50-yard-line, and lifted his horn to his lips. The sounds of "When The Saints Go Marching In" filled the quiet building. And some of those waiting behind him, in the darkness, began to cry.
Smith’s wife, Racquel, was here for the memorial, in her first public appearance since her husband’s fatal shooting last Saturday in what police call a road rage incident after a night out in the city. She was shot once in each of her legs that evening, and arrived here in a wheelchair. She stayed for more than two hours with her three children, comforted by friends, Smith’s former coaches and teammates, and Saints owners Tom and Gayle Benson.
Saturday is Smith's funeral, and will be held in private, but Friday was for everyone – the public that cheered for him in the loudest of times and now grieve in silence. The Saints opened their facility to the public at 2 p.m. here, but many lined up long before. When people walked in, they saw tributes to Smith along a black ropeline: a photo of him and Racquel; lockers from his high school, from Ohio State, and from the Saints; huge posters of him during his playing days, including one of him closing in on Peyton Manning; and videos of his highlights interspersed with more photos of him with his family. Then there was his casket, covered with flowers, next to the Lombardi Trophy he helped win. Read more...
For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com
He had brought something with him on this cloudy, somber Friday, something to share with Smith and the hundreds of mourners who came to say goodbye at the Saints' training facility.
Moran stood on the indoor practice field, at the 50-yard-line, and lifted his horn to his lips. The sounds of "When The Saints Go Marching In" filled the quiet building. And some of those waiting behind him, in the darkness, began to cry.
Smith’s wife, Racquel, was here for the memorial, in her first public appearance since her husband’s fatal shooting last Saturday in what police call a road rage incident after a night out in the city. She was shot once in each of her legs that evening, and arrived here in a wheelchair. She stayed for more than two hours with her three children, comforted by friends, Smith’s former coaches and teammates, and Saints owners Tom and Gayle Benson.
Saturday is Smith's funeral, and will be held in private, but Friday was for everyone – the public that cheered for him in the loudest of times and now grieve in silence. The Saints opened their facility to the public at 2 p.m. here, but many lined up long before. When people walked in, they saw tributes to Smith along a black ropeline: a photo of him and Racquel; lockers from his high school, from Ohio State, and from the Saints; huge posters of him during his playing days, including one of him closing in on Peyton Manning; and videos of his highlights interspersed with more photos of him with his family. Then there was his casket, covered with flowers, next to the Lombardi Trophy he helped win. Read more...
For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com
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