Family, teachers and teammates were among those who gathered Wednesday at Franklin High to mourn the loss of a football player who died last week after experiencing a medical emergency during the first practice of the season.
Elder Gregory Johnson led the vigil memorializing Leslie Noble, a junior guard on the Indians varsity football team. Upwards of 200 people assembled onto the school’s football field with heavy hearts and somber spirits. Supporters trickled into the stadium with red, silver and black star-shaped balloons and white candles.
“One thing about Leslie, he was not a downer. He was one that was really excited,” Johnson, who is Noble’s cousin, said. “And so, while we are here in his remembrance, we know he has left such a great legacy in his life of just 16 years.”
The 16-year-old collapsed on campus and was found in critical condition by Baltimore County firefighters on Aug. 14 as multiple students were present for tryouts and practices for various school athletics. Medical officials have not immediately released the cause of Noble’s death, but emergency personnel made attempts to resuscitate him.
Noble was taken to a hospital, where he later died, according to a letter sent to students and family by school officials.
Liesl Riley, a Baltimore County Public Schools social worker, spoke on behalf of Franklin High. She said Noble was someone who had a smile on his face and a personality that was larger than life.
“There isn’t a person that I don’t talk to that doesn’t love him or hasn’t laughed at something that he has said or done, he grew into such a beautiful young man,” Riley said, adding that Noble had begun to realize just how special he was.
“The changes that were made in him ... he knew he was becoming his own person,” she added.
Family members wept and friends somberly reflected. Both fondly described Noble as a “big ol’ teddy bear” with a huge heart.
Michelle Elsey, one of Noble’s oldest cousins, said while their family is big, they are all close. Noble was one member of the family who brightened everyone’s day and was always ready to lend a helping hand — whether it was cooking for his mom or bringing smiles with his jokes.
“He was just a big teddy bear,” Elsey said. “He found joy in everything he did because he just made fun out of everything.”
During a Tuesday press conference, Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Myriam Rogers said an athletic trainer was at the school at the time of the tragic incident, according to Baltimore Banner media partner WJZ. More trainers will now be available this school year.
“We have 18 athletic trainers, out of 24,” Rogers said. “The board of education approved 6 additional ones this year. We have hired all of them and they are on staff and at work.”
Franklin High head coach Anthony Burgos said one of Noble’s realizations was that he was just understanding the game and his place within it.
“Leslie was just a tremendous kid. Great Spirit, tremendous potential. Just speaking, he was just getting to a place where he was really understanding the game, where his football IQ had started to raise,” Burgos said.
Students stood looking sad and devastated around tables with candles and a football helmet as they remembered their time with Noble. Multiple written notes by his peers filled the poster boards spread across the tables: ‘I love you’ and ‘rest in peace.’
And after a thoughtful prayer, a count to Noble’s jersey number — 74 — commenced. The crowd joined in unison shouting the numbers before balloons ascended into the sky.
Funeral arrangements will be held for Noble next week. A viewing will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at the Vaughn Greene Funeral Home in Randallstown from 5-7 p.m., with a wake starting Thursday at 2 p.m., followed by service at 3 p.m.
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Myriam Rogers.
