Life lessons learned on the football field

Ben Frotscher

Aug. 20, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- SULLY -- Long-time football coach Ed Thomas was tough on the field.

Over 37 seasons, Thomas was 292-84 with 19 playoff appearances and two state titles at Northeast Hamilton, Parkersburg and Aplington-Parkersburg.

But for brothers Scott and Trent Alberts, he was more than a coach -- he was a mentor.

"He was a man of character -- he was a man of integrity," Scott said. "He made you want to be a better person. He made you want to be a better athlete. He made you want to be a better man."

And that's what made the alleged murder of Thomas by former player Mark Becker so stunning for people statewide, including both Scott and Trent Alberts. Thomas died after being shot multiple times at the Aplington-Parkersburg weight room on June 24.

The elder Scott found out through a phone call, while Trent got a text that day to give a friend a call. Both were initially angered by what happened.

"He was a good guy," Trent Alberts said. "You hate to see a good person go through that and with him being a mentor of mine -- of thousands -- you don't want to see that. That was probably the hardest thing for me -- realizing what he had influenced and that void now being present."

That first night after hearing about the passing of Thomas was especially difficult for Scott Alberts -- he had to help his wife, Stacey, coach the Lynnville-Sully softball team at BGM.

It wasn't easy, but he said a game that night probably made it easier.

"It was very hard, but it seemed to put some perspective on what we're doing, why we're doing it and some reassurances," Scott Alberts said. "I probably cried about three times -- just emotions. It was pretty hard."

For both brothers, Thomas was an integral part of their lives.

Scott Alberts remembers Thomas and Al Kerns, long-time assistant coach and now co-coach, handing out state playoff T-shirts when he was in Kindergarten. He ended up wearing that T-shirt all the way through high school under his pads.

There also was fourth grade flag football under the lights, and then the vivid memories of high school play when Scott was a running back and Trent was a tight end and defensive end.

Scott Alberts' team played in the state title game his junior year, losing a close game to Southern Cal (Lake City).

He remembers a practice before that game very well, something that his stuck with Scott Alberts through the years.

"I remember him saying something of the fact that we'd had a great year, but if you walk off this field and all that you have are the number of wins and losses, the number of touchdowns you scored or the number of yards you gained, then you completely missed the boat," Scott Alberts said. "This game is about so much more than wins and losses, this game is about life and that's what I want you to walk away with this field with.

"I heard those words when he said it, I think I internalized the words but at the time, I don't think I completely understood the words that he was preaching."

Trent Alberts was on the 1993 state title team at Aplington-Parkersburg, the first of two titles for Thomas. He made the playoffs three times during his four years in high school.

"He was just an incredible servant leader," Trent Alberts said. "He was just always there. I can certainly appreciate it now as I raise a family and be a positive contributor to our community."

What Thomas did on the field was truly incredible. What's even more rare is the fact that he didn't show favoritism toward one player, allowing for some tough competition on the field.

"He basically wiped all the biases off," Scott Alberts said. "Anybody was open for a position, and everyone played like they were open for a position. The worst player on the team and the best player on the team was going for a position, and you don't see that very often."

And what both brothers learned on the field has helped him in their professional lives. Scott is president of the Identity Group in Pella, while Trent is a supervisor at Pella Corporation also in Pella.

It's a major reason why Scott got into coaching.

"He's developed such a legacy and such a powerful influence, you just don't want that to ever be gone," Scott Alberts said. "It's not like myself and Coach Thomas had thousands of conversations since I graduated, but I always felt like he was there. He's the reason why my wife and I coach."

And even in death, Thomas had one last lesson for the two brothers -- forgiveness. After Thomas had died, his son, Aaron Thomas expressed love to the family of the alleged killer.

"I didn't immediately feel love for Mark Becker," Trent Alberts. "I guess that's something I learned. To have that in your heart, that's an incredible test of testimony and an example to follow."

Newstex ID: KRTB-1255-37380390