'Cherish each day': Akron high school football coaches reflect on deaths of Ethan Liming, Toshaye Pope

The mood within the Akron Public Schools Annual Football Media Day on Wednesday afternoon was serious and at times a bit somber.

There were smiles, laughs and the typical football conversations, but there was also talk about the recent losses of life within the city of Akron that have connections to City Series athletics.

Ethan Liming, who would have been a senior this year at Firestone, passed away in June at the age of 17. Liming played football and baseball at Firestone.

More on Ethan Liming: Three young men arrested in death of Ethan Liming outside Akron's I Promise school

Jayland Walker, a 2014 Buchtel graduate, died in June at the age of 25. Walker was a wrestler and baseball player at Buchtel.

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Toshaye Pope, who would have been a freshman football player at Ellet this season, died in July at the age of 14.

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The violent deaths of Liming and Walker are still being investigated and have been in the headlines this summer locally and nationally.

Pope's passing following a drowning accident happened just last week.

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More on Ethan Liming: Three Akron men indicted on lesser charges in death of Ethan Liming at I Promise School

"This is the darkest of clouds that hang over these young men and their coaches," APS Athletic Director Joe Vassalotti at the Akron Education Association Building.

Vassalotti spoke in a room that included six City Series coaches, 12 City Series football players, AEA President Patricia Shipe and APS Assistant Athletic Director Ron Linger.

"The response of the players and coaches has been incredible," Vassalotti said.

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Shipe reflected on the violence in Akron, and stressed "how important each and everyone of you are" as she addressed the audience.

Shipe encouraged the players to "impact real and positive change in society" and to "inspire everybody."

"There is a whole adult community that is incredibly proud of the work you do each day," Shipe said.

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East is the defending City Series champion and was a Division III playoff participant in 2021. Firestone also made a Division II playoff appearance.

East 11th-year coach Marques Hayes was the first coach to speak at the luncheon after Vassalotti, Shipe and Linger. Hayes offered his condolences as he stood beside East senior leaders Ronin Kelley and Antonio Sandel-Bascomb.

Hayes also welcomed the two new coaches in the City Series — Steve Fasig at Ellet and Doug Miller at North.

Miller took over North's football program after the sudden death of former Vikings coach Sonil Haslam in November of 2021 at the age of 46.

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Fasig became Ellet's football coach after Chuck Shuman stepped down.

Shuman and Haslam each graduated from East High School and the University of Akron.

"This community has dealt with a lot of loss, and the reason I am here is because of the loss of coach Has," said Miller, who stood alongside North junior Elijah Gervins and sophomore Zi'Velle Thomas.

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Fasig was emotional during the luncheon as he sat and listened to coaches offer their condolences regarding the passing of Pope.

"It has been a rough week for us," Fasig said with Ellet seniors Tim Peake and Ramon McAndrews standing next to him.

"I have told the kids there is no playbook for going though the things that obviously the program has gone through, but I can't stress enough the importance of the support that our young people are getting. We are very appreciative of the support from people in the community."

The City Series also lost a coaching legend in July in Tim Flossie, who died at the age of 73. Flossie was an assistant coach at East and then the head coach at Central-Hower, Buchtel, Barberton and Firestone.

Flossie, a Garfield graduate, led Buchtel to Division II state championship wins over Steubenville in 1987 and 1988. One of his grandchildren, Jake Flossie, is a player at Ellet.

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Firestone coach Eric Mitchell, a Garfield graduate, reflected on the tragic deaths of Liming and Pope, two teenagers that would have been preparing for the season.

"For our kids, that was a very traumatic experience," Mitchell said of Liming's death.

"It is something that not just Firestone kids, but also kids in Akron, Northeast Ohio, Ohio and young people in our country can hopefully learn from. You need to know how to communicate effectively and stop resorting to violence as the only solution to your problems."

Firestone seniors Khamoni Jones and Carlos Humphrey flanked Mitchell as he shared that Firestone will wear a No. 12 memorial sticker and a TF memorial sticker on its helmets this season to honor Liming and Flossie, respectively.

"We are going to keep coach Flossie and the Flossie family in our thoughts and prayers," Mitchell said.

More on Tim Flossie: Ohio State and Central-Hower's John Wooldridge remembers Akron high school coaching legend Tim Flossie

Garfield defensive coordinator Ellery Bradford filled in for coach Kemp Boyd, who was unable to attend. Bradford was flanked by seniors Drew Terry and Klinsman Kodjoe.

"We are trying to keep these young men safe and give them guidance," Bradford said.

Buchtel coach Bryan Williams praised Griffins seniors Marcel Boyce Jr. and Tinell Edwards for being "vocal leaders."

Williams reminded each coach that "you are one phone call, one text message away." He also advised everyone to "cherish each day because you never know when it can be your last down, last play, last day, last conversation."

Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow Beaven on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron football coaches encourage players to cherish each day