Coach Gibbs was a mentor, a family member, and a huge part of everyone's life in the state of New Jersey, especially at Ramapo High School. He was a man who wanted to make everyone more happy. He was everyone’s biggest supporter, from the band, to theater, to the gymnastics team, to even helping teachers be better in the classroom. Gibbs was a big influence to everyone. To me, he really taught me how important being on the football team was. Outside of football, Coach made everyone feel welcome, he didn’t leave anyone out and knew how to make everyone come together. Without Coach, I wouldn’t have most of the friends I do now, he made people that didn’t know each other bond, come together, and have fun. He was always there when you needed him and would always encourage you and could make you a better person as well as an excellent football player. 

He was a man that I was proud to be coached by. Personally, for me, my favorite memories of him were when he would always congratulate me on good plays I would do. After every play he would congratulate me on, he would always say, “Nice going Murr! Proud of you!” Even though he was always looking for the starters to make the plays, when it was me or one of the scout team players making them, he would always give them a holler and a pat on the back. Coach Gibbs was a man who wanted to see everyone succeed and come home from football being better than they were before. 

With him gone, nothing is going to feel the same again, but that doesn’t mean we can’t overcome this tragedy. Yes, he will always be in the back of our mind’s but everyone just has to come together and know that he would want us to push forward in life. He was everyone’s sunshine when they were down and made everyone’s mood positive when they were with him. This is going to be a tough next couple weeks throughout the playoffs, but we will push through it and do what he would want us to, just go out and play as one.