Brucifer, Bruce Almighty, Brutus...

When I received an email from the Chapman women's head soccer coach earlier this summer, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of their first home game. This was to be a special soccer game because they were dedicating the game to my dad and also dedicating a seat in the stands in his honor. My dad played soccer and lettered all 4 years in college at Chapman University and even coached after his graduation. Who would have thought my dad would end up in sunny southern California for his college days, but among the palm trees and ocean, he excelled both on and off the field. My dad never ceased to amaze me and from getting a double major in Political Science and French Literature from Chapman (what a combination, right?!) to helping the women's team for their 2010 season, he will forever be in the hearts of the players who he helped along the way. My dad recently got involved again as an alumni and for the entire 2010 soccer season, he not only helped with recruiting and scouting players, but he helped build their strength of schedule, hosted elaborate team dinners all across the country (Oregon, California, Texas) and provided unyielding financial and emotional support to a team of soccer players that he lovingly adopted. My dad had a giant porcelain panther on his desk as a coach at Chapman and it sat on his desk in Oregon until he gave it to the women's soccer team right before their 2010 season because a panther is their mascot. The girls take the panther to all of their soccer games and he usually sits on the bench with the girls for their road games and is in the locker room during home games. They came up with all sorts of nicknames for the panther: Brutus, Brucifer, Bruce Almighty, just to name a few! 

The girls first home game just happened to be Labor Day weekend and while I would only be in L.A. for 24 hours, I knew the trip would be worth it and I wouldn't have missed the game for anything. This meant that I would be away from Anna for the very first time on an overnight trip but my wonderful brother in law (we lovingly call him KW) upgraded my seats to me to an emergency row on the way there and to first class on the way back. I haven't sat in first class since my sister and I used to fly as unaccompanied minors and we got to sit up there if the seats were open. It was such a treat!! Anyway, I flew into LA first thing on Saturday morning and immediately raced to the rental car place to make the 11 am soccer game. My dad's youngest brother, Chris, lives in Del Mar and he made the 75 mile drive to Orange to meet me for the game. In typical Burrow fashion, he beat me to the game by about 15 minutes and had already made his way into the game for free, met the coaches and the players, sweet-talked his way onto the field and was talking to parents of some of the players and those that knew my dad. He was deeply touched (as was I) with all the kind words the players/coaches/parents had to say about my dad. Chris said to me that he really thought my dad was trying to find meaningful things in his life as of late and wanted to be a philanthropist and to really make a positive impact. I think he truly found this with the Chapman women's program. He found such joy in helping with all aspects of the team and I know he would be proud that Chris and I made such an effort to attend this game. The coaches and players did my dad's dedication at halftime and one of the captains put together a 2 minute tribute of kind, thoughtful and endearing quotes from all the players. Here is that tribute:

A plaque was unveiled on the 50 yard line with my dad's name on it and from that moment on, there wasn't a dry eye between Chris or myself. My dad truly left a legacy and an imprint on this team and my heart swelled with pride. 

Sadly, the girls team lost 4-0 but it was a spectacular day to be a part of. Chris even took 14 of us out for a late lunch afterwards and I jokingly said to the team that all the Burrow's are alike because if my dad would have been at the game, he would have also taken everyone out to lunch! My sister and I hope to be able to someday soon have a scholarship in my dad's honor that benefits the women's soccer program at Chapman. As he would always say, "A closed mouth doesn't get fed." and we feel like it is very important that we continue with helping the program as much as my father was able to. We love you dad!