Schools

Farewell to Foothillers: Coach Ron Murphy's Last Meeting With Players

The morning of Feb. 3, football coach battling cancer said goodbye to his players at school.

On Feb. 3, head coach Ron Murphy met with his Grossmont High School football players for the last time. He soon left for cancer treatments in Riverside. His visit in the weight room with the Foothillers that day was captured in photos by Paul Anderson, father of sophomore Josh Anderson.

The next day, Anderson organized a prayer gathering by the new snack bar overlooking the football field.

“I opened up and then introduced [local pastor] Todd [Tolson] to the gathering; he had a short message and then took us to prayer, maybe eight or nine groups circled up,” he said. “Extremely moving.”

Tolson played football for Murphy at Santana High School, Anderson said.

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Murphy died a little before 2 a.m. on Valentine’s Day. A memorial service is set for 9 a.m. Saturday at the Grossmont High School football field. The public is invited.


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