At Suitland and Northwest High Schools, Learning to Cope in the Wake of Death

The Rams practiced on grass adjacent to the site that will be dedicated as the David "Nick" Lynch Memorial Field prior to their home opener Sept. 12 against Bladensburg. Shields added that all players across Prince George's County will wear an "NL" sticker on the back of their helmets during the season, proof that Lynch's impact stretched far beyond the confines of Suitland.

"It's still a healing process," Suitland Principal Mark Fossett said. "Nick was a big part of this school, this community."

The healing is also continuing at Northwest, nearly six weeks after Miller's death, the cause of which is still unknown. Attending medical personnel, however, told family members that Miller, who would have been a junior, showed signs of dehydration and possible heatstroke. Autopsy results are pending and the D.C. medical examiner's office has 90 days to report the findings, according to a spokeswoman.

For Miller's teammates, who also coped with the death of Shiane Dixon, 12, the younger sister of Jaguars senior Hassan Dixon on June 29, the return of practice and the promise of a new season are welcome arrivals. They will wear stickers on their helmets for both Miller and Shiane Dixon, and hold a moment of silence before their first home game on Sept. 11 against Springbrook. But what the players want most is to work toward the goal that has remained constant throughout the tragic offseason -- winning a state championship.

"Football is how we express our feelings and we built up a lot of feelings over the summer," quarterback Jarrhett Butler said. "We've got a lot of emotion and we're ready to let it all out. Hassan's sister always talked about him winning and Dek always wanted states. Their mission is our mission."

While Saturday was their first experience, it may take the whole season for Suitland players to adapt to a different voice on the sideline and Northwest players acknowledging a different player lining up next to them on the field.

"The vibe is a little different," said Suitland senior Jeremiah Johnson, a four-year varsity player, and no relation to Jason Johnson, "because you don't hear that guy in your ear telling you, 'Let's go. Let's get a little chatter. Who wants to be a leader?' I still heard those things, but it was just a memory. It's not the same."