10/21/09 - Madison County
The 2009 season has been one to
remember for the Lambuth Eagles.
On one hand, the Eagles are 7-0
and ranked number six in the
country.
On the other, Lambuth has gone
through almost unspeakable
tragedies. On Sept. 10, Dayne
Mullins and Fletcher Cleaves,
freshman wide receivers, were
involved in a serious car
accident, leaving Cleaves
paralyzed and seriously injuring
Mullins.
Senior linebacker Jason Ware
lost his mother to cancer that
same week. Lambuth was off that
week, and the next game the
Eagles took on West Georgia, and
Ware played.
"It was really emotional for
me," Ware said. "It's been that
way the whole season. I've
learned, just, give God thanks
for another opportunity."
Ware also credits his teammates
for becoming his "bigger family"
and helping him through his
loss.
Ben Aigamaua and Sunday Meaole
have also been touched by
tragedy. The senior defensive
players call American Samoa
home, and had family on the
island on Sept. 29 when a
tsunami devastated villages and
towns.
"The first thing that came to my
mind was my family," Aigamaua
said. "I couldn't do anything, I
was here in the South, they were
in the South Pacific. I felt
helpless."
He says the entire Lambuth
community--not just the football
team--offered any help they
could provide.
"It's heartwarming for me," he
said. "I'm not from around here,
and people were just reaching
out to help us."
Head coach Hugh Freeze credits
the leadership of the team for
holding things steady during
these trying times.
"Our team has great chemistry,
especially the seniors," Freeze
said. "In all of these
situations, they've been right
there for the people going
through the hurt."
Lambuth travels to McKenzie on
Saturday to take on Bethel.