West mourns the loss of Johnnie Magbie

Johnnie Magbie, c/o 2021, died heroically in a boating accident on May 9 attempting to rescue his brother.  

A three year letter-winner and All-MEC free safety, Magbie scored 14 career TD's as a RB and recorded 9 interceptions as a Free Safety.  Magbie was voted Team Captain in 2021.

Coach Hickman shared his thoughts below.

At no point in my life have I felt as inadequate as I have the last two days. Parents should not have to bury kids. Coaches should not have to stand before a team and try and make sense of the untimely passing of the most popular kid in the locker room. But here we are.

John 15:13 states that no greater love exist than a man who was willing to die for his friend.

We use that verse in sports often as if it is a life and death proposition. It's not.
Johnnie Magbie put it all on the line every Friday for his teammates. Its one thing to throw your body around to make a tackle. Its another thing to die a hero as he was trying to save his brother. That should not, and cannot be lost in this. Johnnie died doing the most honorable thing a man can do.

I've been asked countless times over the last two days about Johnnie as a player and a person and what was my relationship with him like? 
Every night, Sara and I lay our two boys to bed. And any parent of young children knows, the two hours before bed time are just pure misery at times. They are tired, cranky, and moody. But there you are the next morning and you fall in love with them all over again.

That was the essence of my relationship with Johnnie. He was as close to me and I to him as any player/coach relationship could be. He could be, in the famous words of an ole ball coach...."a pain in the rear" But you know....he was MY pain in the rear.

You see, when I showed up here in 2018, I met my match in terms of stubbornness. "No Johnnie, we dont talk at pregame meal." "No Johnnie, we dont pull our pads off on the sideline." "No Johnnie, we dont sleep in class without consequences.".

He'd just smile and say yes sir. I'd fall in love again.
It was a three year process of me challenging him to be the best version of himself he could be on and off the football field.

We all have that family member who drives us crazy, but the moment anyone says anything negative about him, we are ready to fight ....yea....that was us.

Even early in his career, Johnnie showed up and played great as a 10th grader at the start of a rebuilding process. The great run on the toss sweep he had at Ashley when we were 1-4 really began the turn of the whole program. That was our second career win. We've won 19 more since then..... including the playoff game where he scored a TD and secured the win with a 4th quarter INT. This sent our program to the State Quarters for the first time since 2003.
Over the course of time, he became the soul of our program. The guy who knew what every man on the team needed. The guy who knew the game plan like the back of his hand by Tuesday afternoon. The guy who became my mouthpiece on the back end of the defense....and everyone who knows me knows how much I value that in a football player.

He didn't have a good career playing football at West; he had a great one. 14 career TD's. 9 career interceptions. Three-time All-MEC free safety. He was a great high school football player....so in lieu of the this weeks events, a great career, and the fact that I just darn want to I'm also announcing that no one will wear #11 as long as I am the Head Football coach here. That might be a week from now....it may be 25 years. But I'm not watching another kid wear Johnnie Magbie's number.

I've cried enough for everyone. Yesterday, was probably the worst day of my own life. And my heart continues to wreck for his family. But I'm done crying....I'm celebrating a kid who loved his teammates, his coaches, and his family. I hope you'll join in and bring your own favorite Johnnie story for the mic. I even hear Henry Hickman might lead the Trojans in a victory dance.....because that's what his mom wanted!!!!

Love you forever man.

Coach Hick

The WBHS Memorial Service honoring Johnnie may be seen here

https://youtu.be/jKveG0PcWkQ

Johnnie's career highlights can be seen here.

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11236959/609aabbbda5b3f10d8216aaa