BUFFALO, N.Y. WKBW — Young players, fellow coaches, and family members gathered for the vigil of Norzell "Nore" Aldridge Thursday night. On that same field where Beast Elite football coach Nore Aldridge coached his last game.
"He was the super coach, everybody loved Coach Nore," said Keion Paris, the team's commissioner.
Aldridge died after he was shot following a fight outside the stadium, near Sycamore and Koons, after Saturday's youth football game.
Darlene Blackmon has grandsons who play on the team, a granddaughter who's a team cheerleader, and a son who coaches. She proudly showed off the Ducks' championship rings, noting Aldridge brought the team it's first YFL national championship. Blackmon said, however, that Aldridge was more than just a coach to his players.
"All the kids would come to him wanting to know this, wanting to know that, and he would always give them advice, good advice, great advice, at all times," Blackmon said.
The tears were also met with calls to action. Pleas to stop the violence by putting a stronger emphasis into positive activities like youth football.
"His legacy will always be never give up, give it your all, and now his legacy is through his son," Paris said.
Blackmon said that competitive spirit will be the teams fire the next time it takes the field.
"We try to bring home the victory, and that's what we're gunna do, we're gunna do it for him and for the team too," she said.
