RE: Nate Evans
Hi Everyone,
I'm Nate's mom, Brandi Evans. It's taken me over a year to get on this message board. I just wanted to say thank you to all of you that have shown your love and support for Nate. Nate made a huge impact at W&M in such a short time there. On the field, I think it was obvious he was a passionate, fearless competitor, willing to go up against people 2x+ his size to protect his QB. In the locker room and on the sideline he was a cheerleader, hyping up his team, cheering them on and encouraging each of them. He had to work extra hard, being an undersized player (something he hated being called), but he did it anyway. He did whatever it took to get on the field and when he got his chance, he gave it all he had, ever single play. Off the field, he impacted every person he came in contact with, through compassion, encouragement, love, light and the brightest smile I've ever seen. He had the purest soul and he gave the most selfless love. He judged no one. But he struggled with hurts that I won't get into on this site, but things that some young men may have bee able to take in stride, but Nate, could not. He was a deep thinker and a deep feeler. And while that may have made him hit lows during bouts of depression, that deepness, enabled him to be passionate about social and racial justice & equality and more than anything, to spread love & light to an entire community.
I'm grateful to those that have reached out to me, for those that don't know me, but you gave to his GoFundMe, I thank you for that as well. We are just over a year since the most precious angel was stolen from our lives and it hasn't become any easier to handle the emptiness we feel without his presence. My daughter has begun the process of creating a foundation in Nate's honor. It will be called the Nate Evans Love & Light Foundation. There are still many details to work through, but we hope to support causes Nate was passionate about as well as bring awareness to mental health issues, especially in student-athletes.
The Quarterback Club recently awarded Tyler Crist with the first annual Nate Evans Playmaker award. This award was given the to the player who best exemplifies Nate's extraordinary ability to create plays through athleticism and effort. I couldn't be more proud of this. He would be shy and humble about it. Just like he was when he was all over Sports Center for his play against Maine. When I left the game that cold, wet and dreary evening and then found out he was on Sport Center, I couldn't believe it! I called to congratulate him with an enormous about of excitement, his response was, "It's no big deal mom. We didn't win and that's what matters." He was humble and a real team guy.
I love him and I miss him more and more. He was the brightest ray of sunshine and I couldn't be more proud of the life he lived. He wasn't perfect. He was a struggling 19 year old. But I think we can all agree that we would not want to be judged for the worst of us or for one night, rather the life we lived. He was an absolutely amazing human, with a heart too big for his body.
His love will live on For3ever
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