Pirates to remember late teammate

The memory of HHS football player, Colin Krigbaum, will be remembered in an assortment of ways tonight when the Pirates take the field for the first time since the loss of their teammate, who died Monday in a traffic accident.
“We have helmet stickers to honor him,” said Pirate Head Coach Mark St Clair, noting that the black circle sticker with Colin’s uniform number - 11 - appearing in white will be not far from the memorial sticker already on HHS helmets in honor of long-time supporter Dr. E.A. Porter, who passed away Jan. 30. 
Each Pirate will also be attired in a special black T-shirt bearing “Krigbaum” and No. 11.
“They’ll wear that under their jersey Friday night,” said St Clair.
Also on display at the game will be red banners bearing Colin’s number and Pirate car flags which also will carry No. 11 on one side.
Other team tributes might also occur, but had not yet been fully discussed or finalized as of Thursday morning, according to St Clair.
“We’ve had a total of about 45 minutes with the team. Tonight (Thursday) we’ll have a team dinner and we’ll have practice. We’ll discuss then what we’ll do,” said the head coach.
In accordance with Missouri State High School Activities Association guidelines there are limits as to what a team can do to memorialize a teammate, according to John Daniels, Hannibal activities director.
“We can’t do the coin toss at the 11 yard line and your whole team can’t wear No. 11. There are things like that, obvious things,” he said. “As far as helmet stickers and things like that MSHSAA has been very supportive in giving us advice.”
According to St Clair, the team has received a note of condolence from as far away as Jacksonville, Fla., where former HHS assistant football coach Ted Monachino is the defensive line coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The University of Missouri has also extended its sympathies to the Pirates, along with a number of area school districts.
HHS Principal Ryan Sharkey stressed that Friday’s game is going on as scheduled at the request of Colin’s family.
“They wished for the team to continue on Friday night,” he said.
Knowing the family’s wishes, members of the football coaching staff, Daniels and Sharkey met with players Wednesday.
“They talked to the kids about if they wanted to play and when they wanted to play. Without question the team was for playing Friday night,” said Sharkey. “We’re going to proceed. We’d appreciate the community coming out to show their support, not only for the Hannibal Pirates, but this young man’s family and to see the new field.”