While today is supposed to be about a fresh start, the headline is anything but that for a young man who had his entire life in front of him. Broward County officials have ruled the death of Deerfield Beach (Florida) wide receiver Bryce Gowdy a suicide.
Two weeks ago, Gowdy, a 4-star college football recruit, signed his Letter of Intent to play college football at Georgia Tech, one of the nation’s top academic schools. Today, family and friends at Deerfield Beach and Tech are left searching for questions.
Bryce Gowdy GoFundMe
It’s the latest chapter of a story that’s becoming all too familiar to all of us.
A good friend of mine, Pennsylvania Hall of Fame high school football coach Jim Tkach has felt the pain of a life gone too soon. Coach Tkach’s son Bo Tkach, a two-time all-state high school football player at Northern Lehigh in Slatington, Pennsylvania committed suicide in 2007.
Over the past decade, Coach Tkach has spoken to thousands around America about mental health issues, especially among the country’s youth.
He founded the Bo Tkach Foundation, not only to keep Bo’s memory alive, but to help others who are suffering.
I did a couple of interviews with Coach Tkach in 2012 and 2013 on the High School Football America Radio Show about Bo and how his death is helping others more than 11 years after his passing. You can listen to those interviews below:
High School Football America Radio Show
2013 interview
2012 interview
Make a donation to the Bo Tkach Foundation at botkach.com.
If you or anyone you know is contemplating suicide, call or text the 24-hour hotline at 800-273-8255. For more information, go to www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
