During his two seasons as a CHS football player, Gabe Shaw, Jr. developed into a top player on both sides of the ball. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
His dad, Wolf football coach Gabe, Sr., nabs a post-game pic with Sean and Maya Toomey-Stout. (Beth Stout photo)
Coupeville High School assistant football coach Gabe Shaw, Sr. is leaving Whidbey, as he and his family head to Florida.
Before Shaw, wife Rosmond, and sons Gabe, Jr., and Ben depart Cow Town, CHS junior Ben Smith had a few things he wanted to say.
Gabe. I gotta be real, when I first saw him in 7th grade playing, he looked like an endangered hippopotamus.
The amount of growth and maturity that this kid obtained over the years since he started playing this sport is amazing.
People really don’t see the good sides of football and they may see it as a dangerous sport.
But people like Gabe are a great example of what becoming a guy of character, integrity, and an upmost respectful kid you can be, made of doing these things with the bonding of the team and learning the game like he and everyone else did.
Gabe was always a hard worker, on and off the field.
One of the smartest kids I know.
The amount of effort he puts into anything when you speak about anyone else on the team is hard to match it up evenly with a lot of us.
Everyone works hard, but he has a different work ethic like everyone else and he strived to become better every single chance he got.
I saw him once as a boulder with no dirt on his shoulder to becoming one of the most powerful and furious lineman Coupeville has had.
I’m serious; he literally grabbed ahold of me inside of a crowd of 22 kids and tossed me eight yards forward.
Seen him literally pull a car.
Gabe was a real good friend and one of the greatest teammates I’ve had the pleasure of playing with; its gonna be a real loss to the team losing him and I’m gonna miss him dearly and I know he’s gonna do great things in Florida.
Coach Shaw.
He’s one of the most intelligent human beings I know.
A lot of coaches can be there as a guy who teaches you football and tries to win you championships; he did more than that.
I learned a lot about myself and got a better view on life listening to him; and everything he ever spoke to me, whether it was about football or life, I really understood it.
Was always willing to kick my ass to make me a better player and always was accepting of anyone.
There was definitely times I wish he didn’t have the pleasure of attempting to run me into the ground.
Go to the gym and go lift with him and you’ll be begging to smack any kind of taste that old man has left on his tongue. WORST decision I ever made.
In all seriousness, he loved making people great and as much as he loved coaching, it made him happier to see people succeed from when they’re at their absolute lowest or struggling.
Always believed in me and anyone else and I’m gonna miss his great attitude and everything he did for us.
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