Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
UM’s Gaynor turns thoughts to friends at Stoneman Douglas
CORAL GABLES — For much of Wednesday morning, Corey Gaynor’s focus was where it typically is this time of year: on football.
But as the sophomore walked off the Greentree Practice Field in Coral Gables, his thoughts turned north where at Marjory Stoneman Douglas — his alma mater — students were beginning a new school year.
On Feb. 14, Douglas was the site of one of the deadliest school shootings in American history. Seventeen students and teachers were killed and another 17 were injured when a gunman opened fire in one of the school’s buildings. Among the fallen was assistant football coach Aaron Feis, who has been hailed as hero for his efforts in trying to protect students that day.
Gaynor, now the backup center for the Hurricanes, played for Feis. His younger cousin, Gage Gaynor, is still on the team at Douglas. And on Wednesday, Corey Gaynor struggled to keep his emotions in check as he spoke about the coach, his alma mater and his former football team.
“My brother, he was a junior at Douglas when I was in eighth grade, so I got to meet coach Feis then. I’ve known him for five years. It’s a very tough loss,” Gaynor said. “[Coach Feis] was my offensive line coach freshman, sophomore, junior and senior year. Great guy. Everything you’ve read is him. That man’s a hero.”
Though being a college football player and student at Miami takes up a good chunk of Gaynor’s time, the lineman said he’s made it a point to return to Douglas and stay connected with the still-grieving Eagles.
He met with the team when coach Willis May and several Douglas players visited Coral Gables during spring practice earlier this year and he spent time with them during their summer workouts, too.
And like most Douglas alums across the country, he’s wanted to make sure the current students know they are supported and not forgotten, even months after that horrifying day.
“I was actually back a couple weeks ago. They were doing summer workouts,” Gaynor said. “It’s just crazy to see how much stronger they are as a family and it’s awesome to see.”
As to what’s next for Gaynor in Coral Gables, the lineman is looking to build on a solid freshman season. He played in 10 games last year, starting one and even saw playing time at fullback when the Hurricanes needed help at that particular position.
Now a veteran for the Hurricanes, Gaynor says he has a better understanding of what’s expected of him, not just in camp, but beyond. His goal remains to continue improving, a task he noted is made easier when he is forced to line up against the likes of defensive tackles Pat Bethel and Gerald Willis in practice every day.
“My strength [and] my knowledge of the game is improving,” Gaynor said. “It still needs to be better. Playing center, you need to know everything. Everything is still there from last year, just improving.”
Aside from continuing to play better and learn from Gauthier, Gaynor made it clear on Wednesday his personal goals include making his family, especially his father, proud.
And he made it a point to note he has plenty of pride in his former high school and how his former coaches, teammates and classmates have handled their darkest days.
“My thoughts and prayers are over there all the time. It’s a day you’ll never forget. But when you step on the football field, that’s something you have to forget,” Gaynor. “Now that I’m off the football field, that’s something I can definitely think about, talk to coach Willis May about. It’s just. … I’m proud of everybody at that school. We’re starting back up again, MSD Strong.”