John Cole first heard the news Wednesday. He got the update and the news that he said “shook me up pretty good” Thursday. By Friday, it was cemented into the Bridgeport football coach's memory and something he wished he could forget or find out simply was not true.

 

Cole could do neither. I am certain he is not alone.

 

By now, most everyone associated with Bridgeport High School, Notre Dame High School, the family of Sam Romano, or anyone who just has happened to venture on to social media knows about the recently graduated BHS senior.

 

Sam Romano is in Morgantown. He is at Ruby Memorial Hospital. And he is in the intensive care unit.

 

The standout student-athlete, who less than two weeks ago signed a letter of intent to be a two-sport college athlete, needs a heart transplant.

 

In the span of days, a young man’s world and everything associated has turned upside down.

 

Travis Jones let me know Thursday. He shared a post made on Notre Dame High School’s Facebook page about the situation. Prior to transferring to Bridgeport for his senior year where he played football – the Fighting Irish did not have enough players to field a team – Sam Romano was a pretty well-loved student at NDHS.

 

My reaction after reading the post was like so many others, disbelieve.

 

“Any kid that has to go through a health situation like this and you hear about it, it makes you sad,” said Cole. “When you know them and you know just how good of a kid you’re dealing with, it adds plenty to the sadness. Honestly, it makes you sick because this is as good as a kid as there is.”

 

Sam Romano is a young man that landed on the doorstep of the Indians’ football program at the start of the year, likely due in large part to wanting to play the game he loved and was unable to at the school where he was previously enrolled.

 

He was there on day one of practice a little more than a year ago today. He stood out for a couple of reasons. First, he was tall. Second, he had a pretty good curly head of blond hair on his head.

 

I knew that I knew who it was but was not sure. When the coaches told me, it was because it was John and Beth Romano’s son. Although, it is a bit down the cousin line, he is related to me by marriage as my wife is a Romano and there is a brother relationship between a grandfather and a great grandfather way down the line.

 

I bring that up because Sam Romano comes from a big family. He also is part of a family at two schools, and I am certain a social circle that extends to plenty of schools and other well beyond the two high schools he attended.

 

That first day I saw him, he was in a still relatively new environment. Cole said everything progressed nicely from that point forward.

 

“He had a few seniors that lockered with him and took him under their wings pretty easily. That wasn’t a problem because he has such a good personality,” said Cole. “Sam was worried about adjusting to what we did because we did things a lot different (than Notre Dame). He came from a spread team that simply didn’t have enough numbers to have really physical practices to a power team like ours that was very physical, so he had to adjust.

 

“He adjusted, and he contributed,” said Cole. “He punted for us and he was a returner because we knew he could catch the ball and had some speed. Even though we don’t throw much, he kept defenses honest and, boy, did he make a difference in our return game. He changed the complexion of more than one game for us.”

 

He was the perfect tonic. A 6-foot-plus tall kid with a bit of speed and athletic ability on a team starving for both.

 

“You better believe he was important to where we ended up,” said Cole.

 

They ended at a state championship. They knocked off heavy favorite Bluefield. Romano was in the thick of things in the championship journey, and what some may not know, figured to be a key part for an unprecedented seventh-straight title run by the Indians baseball team.

 

Sam Romano was a pretty good pitcher as well. Even though the season was scratched due to COVID-19, earlier this month Romano signed on the dotted line to play college baseball for Glenville State. For good measure, he signed to play football for the Pioneers as well.

 

That was less than two weeks ago. My friend who doubles as my colleague Chris Johnson was on hand for the signing and remembers the joy Sam and has family were experiencing that day.

 

“I saw how happy and excited he was with the opportunity to go play football and baseball at Glenville State. Sam has always been an enjoyable student-athlete to be around. He is a fighter and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family in this difficult time,” said Johnson.

 

Johnson used the term student-athlete. Talking about Sam only as an athlete sells him short as a student, a friend, a son, a brother and so much more. He is pretty much the total package.

 

“There’s a lot more to Sam that just football. He’s such a fun-loving kid that you just want to be around,” said Cole. “Sam is a hard worker too and a fighter.”

 

In the post on the Notre Dame page, it mentions the family would appreciate prayers. If that is your thing, please include Sam. If not, whatever good vibes you can send would be appreciated or, at a minimum, just keep him in your thoughts.

 

Trust me, he has got an army of support behind him. Cole said the Romano family and the BHS football family will be on the front lines.

 

“I talked to Trey Pancake who is one of his best friends on the team and after we talked about Sam, I told him that Sam is going to need his support and everyone’s support,” said Cole. “I know Trey told me not to worry, and they’ve all been keeping in contact the best they can and will continue to do so. Sam needs to know he is supported and believe me, he is.

 

“Sam will face this head on, and that’s important because you are talking about a situation where the first thing you have to do is survive,” Cole continued. “If all goes well and he fights like I know he can fight and gets through it, he’ll be as good as can be. The transplant part is obviously the biggest part of this, but we can’t forget how big the support of his family, his friends, and his community is in letting him know he’s not alone. It’s time for everyone to rally around him.”

 

Indeed, it is. The young man who is all heart in everything he does needs a new one.

 

The medical professionals and God will address that. Until then, try and do what was mentioned above. Pray for Sam. He is worth it.

 

Editor's Note: Top and bottom photo shows Sam Romano with his father, mother and brother during BHS football senior night and when he signed to play at Glenville State, respectively. Football photos and photo of Sam receiving his diploma all by Ben Queen Photography. Photo of Sam Romano and Trey Pancake showing their diplomas as new graduates of BHS courtesy of Jill Pancake.