M-A’s football program showed their appreciation and respect for Omar Hussain by offering varsity players the opportunity to wear a sticker on the back of their helmets with his full name and number, 58. Hussain, a senior last year, passed away just two weeks before graduation due to a heart attack.
M-A football had a similar situation before. Back in December of 2016, Aisea Mataele had passed away. A devastating incident put the M-A community in shock. They wanted to honor Mataele, and by doing so they held a special night for him and put his jersey up in Pride Hall.
Over the summer, the M-A Football Association discussed with football head coach Chris Saunders to see the best way to celebrate Hussain’s dedication to football, and eventually settled on creating stickers for the team helmets.
“Seeing his name every time you put on your helmet is something special,” M-A Football Foundation President Susan Mohr said. “Football is more than just practice and a game. It brings us together as a family.”
“I found out about the stickers on their first game. It meant so much to Omar’s family, friends, and me,” Hussain’s long-time friend and alum Aidan Anguiano said. “I think the stickers for the program are very important, not just for the legacy Omar left behind at M-A but also just how well-loved and respected he was on the team.”
“Omar met so much with this program. He was a contributor,” Jennifer Carson, a teacher, tutor, and supporter of the football program, said. “He represents how a team is greater than self.”
“Every day I would talk to Omar, and he would always talk about football and how much he loved it,” Takarion Avila, another one of Hussain’s close friends, said.
“Omar’s significance in the program was very unique. He was the one player everybody wanted to see succeed,” Anguiano said. “From seeing his improvement from junior to senior year and his endless dedication to the team, it was special. Everyone saw just how much this sport meant to him and respected him a ton for it.”
