Football coaches and players were faced with shocking news to kick off their season.

Cindy Murray, LHS nurse from 1989-2009 and “mother figure” to the football team, passed away on Aug. 3.

“I was shocked,” senior Drake Hofer said. “It’s a real tragic story how everything happened, and no one was expecting it.”

Tom Murray, Cindy’s husband, still works with the LHS football players during their off-season. Both Tom and Cindy are close family friends to Coach Dirk Wedd and were very supportive of the football program as dedicated Lion’s fans.

“Tom doesn’t miss a football game, and Cindy was always there with him,” Wedd said.

The Thursday after Murray’s death was the first football meeting of the season, as well as Murray’s funeral. Wedd popped up to the meeting late and in a suit, something that puzzled football players: their coach in a suit and arriving late.

“As a team we discussed why I was late, where I’d been and what she meant to Lawrence High,” Wedd said.

Wedd wanted to honor her in some way because of the large impact she made on LHS. To remember Murray, football players will wear a sticker on their helmets with her initials, “CM.” This decision was made by Wedd, but the players were excited to hear about the new addition to their gear.

“Everyone immediately was very happy to [wear the stickers],” senior Josh Seybert said. “Coach Wedd was very involved with their family. It was his idea, and everyone wanted to support it.”

Wedd also intends on having Tom’s close friends, football moms who were close to Cindy and faculty wear buttons with a picture of the initialed helmets on them. Wedd has done similar things in remembrance of other important people who had an impact on LHS but said it isn’t done very often.

Wedd also believes that Murray’s spirit will bring the Lions some luck this season.

“Maybe she’ll be that guardian angel for us,” Wedd said.