Of the 22 years that Beverly Ferguson’s late husband, Gerald, was the head football coach at Fremont High School, she never missed a game, and the Oct. 10 homecoming game was no exception.
The 83-year-old was joined by her two sons, grandchildren and great grandchild under the Friday night lights to watch the game against Lynbrook. The whole family came dressed in Fremont colors from head to toe.
While the family had been planning on attending the game for some time, what they didn’t expect was to be brought out to the field at halftime for a surprise presentation of an encased FHS football helmet signed by the entire team and coaching staff.
Gerald Ferguson, affectionately known as “Fergie,” coached from 1958 through 1977. Under his leadership, his teams won 104 games and earned league championships in 1959, 1962, 1964, 1969, 1971 and 1974.
“More than any other head coach at Fremont,” said Gary Ferguson, Gerald’s son, who delivered the pregame speech to the team.
Huddled in the home locker room, the Fremont High varsity football players listened silently.
“He didn’t always have the best talent in the world, but he got 100 percent out of every play, out of every individual, and out of every coach that he was associated with,” Gary said.
When head coach Jake Messina learned that Gerald Ferguson died on July 25 at the age of 86, he knew he wanted to do something special for the family. Right away, the players and coach staff decided they would wear “GF” memorial stickers on their helmets.
“We try to play for the guys who came before us; one of our mottoes is to play for the guys who are here and the guys who have yet to come here and so far we’ve been able to do that,” Messina said. “If you look at any great football program throughout the state, there’s a common denominator–they have a history, they have a past.
“At the end of the day, sure, we’re going to play for our teammates, but the goal to perform at a higher level is usually reached when they know there’s a debt to be paid.”
The players got to hear firsthand from Gary Ferguson about the dedication his father committed to the school.
Born on July 19, 1928, Ferguson grew up in Scottsbluff, Neb., where he attended Scottsbluff High School and excelled in several sports. In recognition of this, he was inducted into the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame in Lincoln as an athlete on Oct. 5.
His career as the head football coach at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale began in 1958, after a move to California. He even coached a couple of players who later went on to play in the NFL, including John Travis, who played with the San Diego Chargers in 1966, Jack Wender of the Chargers and Carl Ekern of the Los Angeles Rams.
“This school meant a lot to my father,” Gary told the players. “I spent a lot of time filling these lockers with not the kind of equipment you have right now, some of the older stuff, but I lived here, my brother lived here, and my dad built a legacy here.
“Today, this season, you guys are going to start another legacy that’s going to go on for a lot of years with your Coach Jake Messina. He’s a heck of a coach and a heck of a human being.”
And despite being a Lynbrook alumnus, along with his brother, he cracked a huge smile and told them to go kick their butts. And indeed they did, with the Firebirds coming out on top 41-7.
But the biggest take away for the family was experiencing the energy at the homecoming game and taking home the helmet.
“It was the icing on cake,” Gary said. “I know for the family it was really special, especially since Dad never really wanted the accolades. He just went about his business. It’s been just a whirlwind since Dad passed, this all kind of puts closure to it.
“It’s something my grandkids and great grandkids will get to know that Dad’s name is not going to go away. It will be around for eternity and that’s pretty cool.”
Beverly Ferguson said she is going to put the helmet where she can see it every day in her home.
“It’s beautiful; it brings tears to my eyes,” she said. “Just seeing all the red and white again and being here, it brings back so many wonderful memories.”
And the memories will continue even for the youngest member of the family who attended, Ferguson’s great-granddaughter, 9-month-old Sophie Grace Walker, whose first football game ever was a Fremont High game.
