A team mourns

Well over 200 people gathered Thursday evening in the Smith Ballroom to remember the life of Portland State football player Ed Macon, who died in a car accident early Saturday morning.

A junior communications major, Macon played two years of football at Portland State after transferring from Sacramento CC in 2004. During the 2004 season Macon played mostly on special teams, making four tackles and notching one 20-yard reception. He sat out the 2005 season with a foot injury and would have been a senior next season.

Macon was involved in a one-car accident at around 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Traveling above the speed limit on Barbur Blvd., Macon’s vehicle hit a patch of black ice and spun out of control. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died.

Despite his limited playing time, Macon was a popular member of the team. As word spread of the accident, over 50 of Macon’s teammates and friends gathered at the hospital. Portland State athletics director Teri Mariani gathered 200 student-athletes together Saturday morning to give them a chance to be together for support.

“It’s always tough when you lose anyone who’s young like that. It hits home when it’s a student athlete,” Mariani said. “This is the first loss for many of them [athletes] and they didn’t know how they should feel. I think we all think we’re invincible so it’s always a wake-up call to live your life to the fullest each day. It was probably the saddest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Macon’s friends and teammates spoke fondly of him at the somber memorial. They recalled a popular, outgoing young man who had an infectious smile, lived for music and loved playing football for Portland State.

“It seems unreal to me today that one of my closest friends is gone,” said Macon’s teammate Adrian Limbrick. “It just doesn’t feel right. It feels like my brother is gone.”

Senior and fellow wide receiver Shaun Bodiford called Macon his best friend.

“His heart was so big. His spirit was filled with joy,” Bodiford said. “He loved the simple things in life, that’s what made him happy. We didn’t want to miss one page or one chapter of each other’s lives.”

“Ed was full of life and full of joy,” said teammate Brandon Jones. “He always found a way to smile, always. A few nights ago Ed’s life was sacrificed. Let’s not let that sacrifice be in vain.”

Portland State head football coach Tim Walsh called Macon a tremendous young man who was going to figure prominently in the next football season and noted the memorial’s strong showing.

“What great friends Ed had and what a great friend he was to us,” Walsh said. “Never have I been so touched by a man through other people. More than 200 people showed up Saturday morning and were there as his friends. What a tremendous compliment to a young man.”