Opinion > Star Staff
Many in Coppell area grieving over Dallas Cowboys' tragedy
By Dan Eakin, deakin@starlocalnews.com
People all over the nation were touched and saddened by the tragedy Saturday morning that took the life of one Dallas Cowboy and landed another in jail.
No doubt there were none more saddened and grieved than the family of Jerry Brown Jr., who died shortly after the vehicle driven by his best friend, Josh Brent, flipped over about 2:30 a.m. that morning. The accident occurred near State Highway 114 and Loop 12, only a few miles south of Coppell.
Dallas Cowboys team members, who often are excited and noisy when headed for a game, reportedly sat quietly and solemnly on the plane as they jetted for Cincinnati. But the tragedy was likely felt even more deeply within the Coppell city limits than many people may realize.
Over the years, a large number of Dallas Cowboys have lived in Coppell, which is just north of Valley Ranch, the Cowboys' practice facility for years. The Cowboys' administration office will not release addresses of the players for the sake of their own privacy. However, it has been estimated that as many as 25 Dallas Cowboys have lived in Coppell at one time during the past two decades.
The tragedy that struck the Dallas Cowboys over the weekend is a reminder to many of tragedies that struck the Coppell Cowboys only a couple of months ago.
The Coppell Cowboys had the duty of playing the Flower Mound Jaguars on Oct. 19, the next day after the body of one of their team captains, Jacob Logan, had been pulled from Possum Kingdom Lake. Logan had been missing since the previous Sunday.
The entire Coppell community was also grieving over the fact that Jonah Blackwell, a member of the Coppell High School Silver Spurs spirit team, had been found shot to death that same week at a nearby park. Blackwell was an apparent victim of suicide.
The Coppell Cowboys were victorious over Flower Mound, creating a wide range of mixed emotions as they were sad over the loss of the two students and yet happy over the win over Flower Mound.
The Dallas Cowboys found themselves in the same situation Sunday afternoon, feeling sadness over the death of Jerry Brown and the jailing of Josh Brent, while at the same time feeling happiness over defeating Cincinnati.
Our first sympathies obviously are for the family and close friends of Jerry Brown.
We have mixed emotions about Josh Brent. If the accident occurred because he was speeding and had been drinking heavily, then obviously he should be punished. But maybe 20 years in prison would be too much. He is already being punished. He will have to live the rest of his life with the fact that his best friend was killed. His football career is likely over.
Again, mixed emotions.
No doubt there were none more saddened and grieved than the family of Jerry Brown Jr., who died shortly after the vehicle driven by his best friend, Josh Brent, flipped over about 2:30 a.m. that morning. The accident occurred near State Highway 114 and Loop 12, only a few miles south of Coppell.
Dallas Cowboys team members, who often are excited and noisy when headed for a game, reportedly sat quietly and solemnly on the plane as they jetted for Cincinnati. But the tragedy was likely felt even more deeply within the Coppell city limits than many people may realize.
Over the years, a large number of Dallas Cowboys have lived in Coppell, which is just north of Valley Ranch, the Cowboys' practice facility for years. The Cowboys' administration office will not release addresses of the players for the sake of their own privacy. However, it has been estimated that as many as 25 Dallas Cowboys have lived in Coppell at one time during the past two decades.
The tragedy that struck the Dallas Cowboys over the weekend is a reminder to many of tragedies that struck the Coppell Cowboys only a couple of months ago.
The Coppell Cowboys had the duty of playing the Flower Mound Jaguars on Oct. 19, the next day after the body of one of their team captains, Jacob Logan, had been pulled from Possum Kingdom Lake. Logan had been missing since the previous Sunday.
The entire Coppell community was also grieving over the fact that Jonah Blackwell, a member of the Coppell High School Silver Spurs spirit team, had been found shot to death that same week at a nearby park. Blackwell was an apparent victim of suicide.
The Coppell Cowboys were victorious over Flower Mound, creating a wide range of mixed emotions as they were sad over the loss of the two students and yet happy over the win over Flower Mound.
The Dallas Cowboys found themselves in the same situation Sunday afternoon, feeling sadness over the death of Jerry Brown and the jailing of Josh Brent, while at the same time feeling happiness over defeating Cincinnati.
Our first sympathies obviously are for the family and close friends of Jerry Brown.
We have mixed emotions about Josh Brent. If the accident occurred because he was speeding and had been drinking heavily, then obviously he should be punished. But maybe 20 years in prison would be too much. He is already being punished. He will have to live the rest of his life with the fact that his best friend was killed. His football career is likely over.
Again, mixed emotions.
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