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Remembering Their Coach: Mourning George Curry

BERWICK — Legendary Berwick High School Football Coach George Curry died Friday morning at the age of 71. His football career spanned more than 40 years, ...
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BERWICK -- Legendary Berwick High School Football Coach George Curry died Friday morning at the age of 71.

His football career spanned more than 40 years, and he gained the reputation of being one of the best high school football coaches in the country.

It is probably fitting that George Curry passed away on a Friday; there certainly was nothing quite like Friday nights at Crispin Field in the fall, with Coach Curry on the sidelines.

He retired last fall and Friday morning his last team was called together at school to share the news that the coach had passed away. But not just their coach, the community's coach.

Black bunting now hangs on the wall of Crispin Field. A tribute to George Curry grows at a stadium that is filled with signs of glory, stories of success.

That all happened with Coach Curry on the sidelines. He led his Bulldogs to six state titles and USA Today national titles.

Now his Bulldog players are left mourning the legend.

"If this is even possible -- the winningest coach in Pennsylvania, you can't get any better than that -- he was an even better man," said junior Mike Force.

We talked with Max McCabe and Mike Force in front of a cabinet filled with championship trophies. But those Berwick juniors have quite the claim too: they were on Curry's final team.

It's humbling," said Force. "It's humbling to be, just the slightest part of such an elite group of people that he's coached. it's an honor. It really is."

"Every play he's there, he's right on the field with you. He's like your best friend, getting a play from your dad. He's right there with you," said McCabe.

This last season, we all watched as Coach Curry's health failed.  His team saw it more than anyone, and saw how he continued to fight, continued to coach.

"He never showed anything. He was strong to the very end, it's just hard," McCabe said.

"Not once did he complain, not once when he was out on that football field did he show that his health was deteriorating. He was strong as strong can get," Force added.

As they take the field next fall, those players know Coach Curry will still be with them at Crispin Field.

And their new coach Frank Sheptock says he got so much help from Curry in the transition, even talked to his legendary predecessor only days ago.

"No one will match what Coach has done here, longevity, success, impacting lives, but it's truly and honor and a responsibility to follow him in what Berwick is all about and emulate what he's done," said Coach Sheptock.

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